MARCH 28
1936: Gospel giant Bill Gaither was born in Alexandria, IN. He wrote “He Touched Me,” recorded by Elvis Presley, whose version ranks among country’s 500 greatest singles in the Country Music Foundation book “Heartaches By The Number.”
1941: Session musician Charlie McCoy was born in Oak Hill, WV. A versatile instrumentalist, he played on classics by George Jones, Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison and others on his way to a 2009 entry in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1948: Gerry House wa born in Covington, KY. The morning show host for WSIX-FM in Nashville, House doubled as a songwriter, writing Reba McEntire’s “Little Rock,” George Strait’s “The Big One” and Pam Tillis’ “The River And The Highway.“
1950: Hank Snow recorded “I’m Moving On” at Brown Radio Productions during his first Nashville session.
1955: Reba McEntire was born in McAlester, OK. The winner of multiple Entertainer of the Year awards, she became a country icon while expanding into movies, Broadway and even a couple of TV sitcoms, entering the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
1958: Angry that Chuck Berry was selected to close the show, Jerry Lee Lewis set his piano on fire during “Great Balls Of Fire” at Alan Freed’s Big Beat Show at the Brooklyn Paramount. Also appearing: Buddy Holly, Frankie Lymon and The Chantels.
1966: Decca released Loretta Lynn’s “I Like ‘Em Country” album.
1969: Rodney Atkins was born in Knoxville, TN. He hits his stride with the 2006 album “If You’re Going Through Hell,” which notched four hits, including the title track and “Watching You.” His later successes include “It’s America” and “Take A Back Road.”
1973: George Jones & Tammy Wynette recorded “We’re Gonna Hold On” in an afternoon session at the Columbia Studios in Nashville.
1974: Roger Miller hosted as the Academy Of Country Music awards were telecast for the first time, on “ABC Wide World Of Entertainment.” Charlie Rich walked away with three victories in the event, taped three days prior in Los Angeles.
1980: Tom T. Hall and Conway Twitty joined the Grand Ole Opry.
1981: Hank Williams Jr.’s “Texas Women” hit #1 on the Billboard country chart.
1984: Keith Whitley recorded “Ten Feet Away” and “Miami, My Amy.”
1992: Reba McEntire went to the head of the class in Billboard, reaching #1 with “Is There Life Out There.”
2003: CMT placed Johnny Cash at #1 when it lists “The 40 Greatest Men Of Country Music.” Rounding out the Top Five: Hank Williams, #2; George Jones, #3; Willie Nelson, #4; and Waylon Jennings, #5.
2012: Banjo player Earl Scruggs died in Nashville. A bluegrass pillar, he helped established the genre as a Bill Monroe sideman, a member of Flatt & Scruggs and a solo artist, earning a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
