NOVEMBER 30
1736: The first documented fiddling contest in the U.S. took place in Hanover County, VA. As the tradition evolved, it confirmed for country pioneers that an audience exists for their genre.
1927: Jimmie Rodgers recorded “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas)” along with “Away On The Mountain,” “Ben Dewberry’s Final Run” and “Mother Was A Lady (If Brother Jack Were Here)” at the Victor Studio in Camden, NJ.
1929: Dick Clark was born in Mount Vernon, NY. Best known as the host of the pop show “American Bandstand,” Clark produced the American Music Awards and the Academy Of Country Music awards.
1931: Teddy Wilburn was born in Hardy, AR. Along with older sibling Doyle, The Wilburn Brothers benefitted from an association with Webb Pierce, joining the Grand Ole Opry and amassing more than a dozen hits from 1954-1966.
1932: Bass player Bob Moore was born in Nashville. A member of Nashville’s “A-Team” of studio musicians, his hundreds of credits include Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” Elvis Presley’s “It’s Now Or Never” and Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
1935: Songwriter/producer George Richey was born in Freeman, AR. Best known as Tammy Wynette’s husband, he wrote George Jones’ “The Grand Tour,” Joe Stampley’s “Soul Song” and Lorrie Morgan’s “A Picture Of Me (Without You).”
1937: Record executive and producer Jimmy Bowen was born in Santa Rita, NM. After starting in pop, he worked for MCA, Elektra and Capitol, producing hits for George Strait, Reba McEntire, Eddie Rabbitt and Hank Williams Jr., among others.
1951: Guitarist Gordon Payne was born. He became a longtime member of Waylon Jennings’ band, playing on “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” “I’ve Always Been Crazy” and “Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love).”
1974: John Denver’s “Back Home Again” resided at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
1975: Mindy McCready was born in Fort Myers, FL. Her sassy, confident approach netted late-1990s hits with “Ten Thousand Angels” and “Guys Do It All The Time.” Personal issues led to a downward spiral that culminated in suicide in 2013.
1986: Randy Travis recorded “Too Gone Too Long.”
1992: Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt recorded “The Devil Comes Back To Georgia” at the Castle Studio in Franklin, TN, with Charlie Daniels and Mark O’Connor. The track received a Grammy nomination.
1993: David Houston died of a brain aneurysm at Bossier Medical Center in Bossier City, LA. A Grand Ole Opry member, he earned a Grammy for his signature hit, the 1966 release “Almost Persuaded.”
1995: Martina McBride joined the Grand Ole Opry during the taping of a CBS-TV special, “Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary Celebration,” at the Opry House.
1996: CBS-TV aired “Dolly Parton: Treasures.” The special features Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, Alison Krauss, Mac Davis, Freddy Fender, Neil Young, Charlie Rich, Kenny Rogers, Maverick Raul Malo and Blues Traveler’s John Popper.
1997: Two legends, one session: Bob Dylan flew into Nashville to record “Lonesome River” with Ralph Stanley.
