The Carter Family recorded Wabash Cannonball during a morning session at the Atlanta Women’s Club in Atlanta, GA in 1929.
Decca released Brenda Lee’s holiday classic Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree in 1958.
The Most Beautiful Girl takes Charlie Rich to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart in 1973.
Wanted: The Outlaws–featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter–becomes the first country album to receive the new platinum certification, signifying one million units shipped in 1976.
Governor Lamar Alexander recognized Johnny Cash with the Pride of Tennessee Award for his work in battling illiteracy in 1981.
Paul Overstreet and Albert Gore (the songwriter–not the politician) wrote the future Randy Travis hit Diggin’ Up Bones in 1983.
Teddy Wilburn died of congestive heart failure at Nashville’s Southern Hills Medical Center in 2003. As a member of The Wilburn Brothers, he was part of a hitmaking group, a syndicated country TV show and a publishing house that represented Loretta Lynn.
In 2006 Guitarist Jimmy “Spider” Wilson quit the Grand Ole Opry house band after 53 years, incensed that he was frequently kept off the televised portion of the show.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Guitarist Tommy Allsup was born in Tulsa, OK in 1931. A member of Asleep At The Wheel, The Texas Playboys and Buddy Holly’s Crickets, he plays on hits by John Anderson, George Jones, Tanya Tucker and Kenny Rogers, among others
Steel guitarist Johnny Sibert was born in Indianapolis, IN in 1933. As a member of Carl Smith’s band, he appears on most of Smith’s hits, including It’s A Lovely, Lovely World, Loose Talk and You’re Free To Go
Mandolin player Adam Steffey was born in Norfolk, VA in 1965. He joined Alison Krauss’ bluegrass band, Union Station, performing on When You Say Nothing At All, before leaving the group in 1998. In late 2009, he helped form the bluegrass band The Boxcars.
