OCTOBER 10
1936: Hank Snow held his first recording session, upstairs in a vacant church in Montreal. The two songs he recorded that day, “Prisoned Cowboy” and “Lonesome Blue Yodel,” became his first single. His first royalty check: $1.96.
1946: Singer/songwriter John Prine was born in Maywood, IL. He co-wrote Don Williams’ “Love Is On A Roll” and George Strait’s “I Just Want To Dance With You.”
1950: Elektra Records was formed by Jac Holzman as a jazz/folk label. After establishing a country division in the 1970s, the company represented such acts as Eddie Rabbitt, Eddy Raven, Crystal Gayle and Hank Williams Jr.
1956: The movie “Giant” premiered, starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and the late James Dean. Years later, Taylor’s role in the picture inspired The Statler Brothers’ Jimmy Fortune to write “Elizabeth.” Also in the movie: Sheb Wooley and Ray Whitley.
1957: Songwriter Tony Arata was born in Savannah, GA. His credits include Garth Brooks’ “The Dance,” Clay Walker’s “Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open,” Patty Loveless’ “Here I Am” and Jim Glaser’s “Man In The Mirror.”
1958: Tanya Tucker was born in Seminole, TX. After emerging as a teenager, she became one of country’s more feisty females, with a gritty vocal style netting such hits as “Delta Dawn,” “Texas (When I Die)” and “Down To My Last Teardrop.”
1966: Jerry Reed recorded his first chart record, “Guitar Man.” The song went on to become a posthumous hit for Elvis Presley.
1970: The Kris Kristofferson song “Sunday Morning Coming Down” took Johnny Cash to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
1971: Charley Pride won Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the fifth annual Country Music Association awards, held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Tennessee Ernie Ford hosted the event for the third year in a row.
1977: Guitarist and songwriter Merle Travis joined the Country Music Hall Of Fame during the 11th annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. The CBS show was hosted by future Hall of Famer Johnny Cash.
1977: Ronnie Milsap won three trophies during the 11th annual Country Music Association awards: Entertainer; Male Vocalist; and Album of the Year, for “Ronnie Milsap Live,” which was recorded at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, the site of the awards.
1977: George Jones recorded James Taylor’s “Bartender’s Blues” in an afternoon session at Nashville’s Columbia Studio A.
1981: T.G. Sheppard’s “Party Time” hit the top of the Billboard country chart.
1983: Little Jimmy Dickens was added to the Country Music Hall of Fame during the 17th annual Country Music Association awards show at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.
1983: For the second straight year, Alabama won three trophies in the Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. The band took Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year, plus Album of the Year, for “The Closer You Get.”
1988: Loretta Lynn and Roy Rogers took their rightful places in the Country Music Hall Of Fame during the 22nd annual Country Music Association awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
1988: Hank Williams Jr. won his second Entertainer of the Year trophy and claimed Album of the Year, for “Born To Boogie,” during the 22nd annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. K.T. Oslin joined him as a double-winner.
2013: Cal Smith died at his home near Branson, MO. A former member of Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadours, he earned a number of country hits during the 1970s, including his signature song, “Country Bumpkin.”
