May 12, 1951
Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart” reaches #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
May 12, 1955
Kix Brooks is born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He co-writes hits for John Conlee and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band before forming Brooks & Dunn with Ronnie Dunn. Together from 1991-2010, they become the most-successful country duo of all-time
May 12, 1961
Leroy Van Dyke records “Walk On By” at the Bradley Recording Studio in Nashville
May 12, 1892
The Ryman Auditorium opens for public services as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in downtown Nashville. It eventually hosts the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-1974
May 12, 1928
Pop songwriter Burt Bacharach is born in Kansas City, Missouri. Best known for the songs he co-writes with Hal David for Dionne Warwick, Bacharach earns country hits by writing Ronnie Milsap’s “Any Day Now,” Marty Robbins’ “The Story Of My Life” and Sonny James’ “Only Love Can Break A Heart”
May 12, 1942
Billy Swan is born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. A one-time security guard at Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion and longtime guitarist for Kris Kristofferson, he gains a #1 pop and country hit in 1974 with “I Can Help”
May 12, 1964
Bobby Bare wins Best Country & Western Recording for “Detroit City” in the sixth annual Grammy Awards
May 12, 1975
Capitol releases Merle Haggard’s “Movin’ On,” the theme song from an NBC-TV series
May 12, 1984
Crystal Gayle makes the cover of TV Guide
May 12, 1984
Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson share the top spot on the Billboard country chart with “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before”
May 12, 1989
Ricky Skaggs sings at Keith Whitley’s funeral in Madison, Tennessee. Pallbearers include: Skaggs, record producer Garth Fundis, Ralph Emery and David Frizzell
May 12, 1990
Travis Tritt nets his first #1 single in Billboard with “Help Me Hold On”
May 12, 1992
RCA releases Martina McBride’s debut album, “The Time Has Come”
May 12, 1997
The Raybon Brothers, Marty and Tim, record a country version of “Butterfly Kisses” at the Soundshop in Nashville
May 12, 1998
MCA releases Tracy Byrd’s “I’m From The Country” album
May 12, 2003
Following a three-year split, The Mavericks hold a session at Nashville’s Ocean Way Studios, officially marking their reunion as a recording unit
