Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton recorded “The Last Thing On My Mind” on October 11, 1967. The song was first recorded by its songwriter, Tom Paxton in the early 60s. In comes Porter and Dolly who released the song as their debut duet single a few weeks after recording it on October 30, 1967. Their version peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, the first of an almost uninterrupted string of top ten singles they would release over the next several years.
At the 10th Annual CMA Awards in 1976, The “Outlaws” album dominated. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson win three trophies in tandem. “The Outlaws” earns Album of the Year, “Good Hearted Woman” is Single, and Jennings and Nelson take Vocal Duo. Also at the show, Kitty Wells and producer Paul Cohen join the Country Music Hall of Fame.
ABC released John Conlee’s debut album, “Rose Colored Glasses” in 1978. It was the former radio DJ’s debut album. John wouldn’t stay with ABC long. He moved to MCA a year after this album’s release. The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard country chart.
In 1981 the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inducts Bobby Braddock and Ray Whitley. Braddock is noted for George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.” Whitley wrote Gene Autry’s theme song, “Back In The Saddle Again”
That same day in 81, Willie Nelson records “Always On My Mind” and “The Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning” at his Pedernales Studio outside of Austin, Texas
Rosanne Cash was added to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame during a dinner at the Music City Center in 2015. The class also includes “Drivin’ My Life Away” songwriter Even Stevens, “Suspicious Minds” author Mark James and “Live Like You Were Dying” composer Craig Wiseman
At the 16th annual Country Music Association awards in 1982 Alabama wins three honors–Entertainer, Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year. Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins and music publisher Roy Horton enter the Country Music Hall Of Fame during the show taped at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Dorothy Marsh was born in McMinnville, TN in 1932. As Dottie West, she joins the Grand Ole Opry in 1964, building a lengthy career around several Kenny Rogers duets and her trademarks “Country Sunshine” and “A Lesson In Leavin"”
Gene Watson was born in Palestine, TX in 1943. Using a relaxed vocal style, he becomes an admired traditional-country stylist, fashioning such 1970s and ’80s successes as “Love In The Hot Afternoon,” “Farewell Party” and “Fourteen Carat Mind.” Get to know Gene a little better here:
Paulette Carlson is born in Northfield, MN in 1953. She becomes the sassy lead vocalist for Highway 101, essential on such hits as “The Bed You Made For Me,” “Somewhere Tonight” and “Cry, Cry, Cry”
