Jimmie Rodgers records his best-selling record, “Waiting For A Train,” plus “I’m Lonely And Blue” in Atlanta in 1928.
Bill Monroe recorded in Nashville for the first time in 1949 at the Castle Studio in the Tulane Hotel. The session includes “Can’t You Hear Me Callin’,” later the title for a Monroe biography. It also marks the first time Mac Wiseman records with Monroe
Eddy Arnold, music publisher Jim Denny, Grand Ole Opry founder George D. Hay and Uncle Dave Macon were added to the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1966. That year the proceedings aired on ABC-TV’s “The Jimmy Dean Show”
The courts rule that Billie Jean Williams’ marriage to Hank Williams was valid in 1975. With the ruling, she is entitled to 50% of his royalties from copyright renewal. Williams’ first wife, Audrey, had contested Billie Jean’s rights.
Larry Gatlin and his brothers record “Broken Lady” during the afternoon at Nashville’s Creative Workshop in 1975. It went to #5 on the country singles chart, and won a Grammy that year for Best Country Song.
Warner Bros. releases John Anderson’s album “I Just Came Home To Count The Memories” in 1981. It was John’s third studio album. Three singles were released from this album, which were “Would You Catch A Falling Star”, “I Danced With The San Antone Rose”, and the title track.
Merle Haggard records “Kern River” in Nashville in 1984. It would go on to peak at #10 on the Billboard Country Chart.
Tim McGraw signed a recording contract with Curb Records in 1990. He was inspired to pursue country music after Keith Whitley’s death. His dad, famous baseball player, Tug McGraw gave an exec at Curb Tim’s demo. The label was impressed and signed him. In all, McGraw produced 11 studio albums and various compilation albums with Curb before leaving for Big Machine Records in 2013.
On the bus headed back to Nashville in 1995, Steve Sanders resigns from The Oak Ridge Boys, feeling press coverage of his current wife’s conflicts with his ex-wife would become a p.r. burden to the group. He promises to remain until the end of the year.
Alan Jackson, the late Jerry Reed and songwriter Don Schlitz, the author of “The Gambler,” are inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2017.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Songwriter Sylvia Dee was born in Little Rock, AR in 1914. She pens a handful of 1960s country hits, including WIllie Nelson’s “Bring Me Sunshine,” and Skeeter Davis’ “The End Of The World”
Shelby Lynne was born in Quantico in 1968. Highly revered by critics for her emotive singing and wide stylistic range, she earns two minor country hits in 1990 but oddly wins the Grammy for Best New Artist 11 years later
