Marty Robbins had his first recording session for Columbia Records at Hollywood’s Radio Recorders in 1951. That day he recorded his debut single, Love Me Or Leave Me Alone.
Hank Williams makes his first national TV appearance, on CBS-TV’s The Perry Como Show in 1951, performing Hey, Good Lookin’. Here’s a fun video of Perry covering Hank’s famous tune.
In his very first session in 1956, Jerry Lee Lewis recorded The End Of The Road and Crazy Arms at the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis.
In 1960 Time magazine coined the term “The Nashville Sound,” applied to country records that use a softened approach in an attempt to gain broad appeal. The phrase becomes standard Music City jargon.
Wynn Stewart and businessman Don Spafford opened a Las Vegas club, Nashville Nevada in 1961. They called attention to the club’s hours–it’s open 24-hours-a-day–by dropping the key to the front door from an airplane into the desert.
Gary Stewart recorded She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles) in Nashville in 1974.
Crystal Gayle received her first gold sales certifications–a gold single for Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue and a gold album for We Must Believe In Magic in 1977.
United Artists released Kenny Rogers’ album The Gambler in 1978.
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton agree to settle a $3-million lawsuit filed by Wagoner in 1979. The settlement divided numerous businesses they’ve owned jointly for 12 years. That same day, they also considered making a duet album.
Charley Pride records the Hank Williams classic You Win Again in 1979.
MCA released Vince Gill’s When I Call Your Name album in 1989.
The late Charlie Rich’s Behind Closed Doors album went quadruple-platinum in 2002.
Holly Dunn died of ovarian cancer in 2016. A former Grand Ole Opry member, she emerged on MTM Records in 1985, nabbing eight Top 10 country hits through 1990, including You Really Had Me Going, Only When I Love and Grammy nominee Daddy’s Hands.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Songwriter Gretchen Peters was born in Bronxville, NY in 1957. She wrote hits hits like Faith Hill’s The Secret Of Life, Martina McBride’s Independence Day, Patty Loveless’ You Don’t Even Know Who I Am and Pam Tillis’ Let That Pony Run
