OCTOBER 8
1932: Steel player Pete Drake was born in Augusta, GA. He worked with the likes of Marty Robbins, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Jim Reeves, and produced several of B.J. Thomas’ 1980s country hits.
1944: Susan Raye was born in Eugene, OR. An associate of Buck Owens and a member of the “Hee Haw” cast in the 1970s, she netted several hits during the decade, including her best-known work “L.A. International Airport.”
1950: Jackie Frantz was born in Sidney, OH. She became one of the two original females in the trio Dave & Sugar. During her tenure, from 1975-1977, she contributed to “Queen Of The Silver Dollar” and “The Door Is Always Open.”
1953: Ricky Lee Phelps was born in Paragould, AR. He sang lead for The Kentucky HeadHunters, twice named Vocal Group of the Year by the Country Music Association, before leaving the band in 1992 to form Brother Phelps.
1953: Anthony Kenney was born in Glasgow, KY. He took over as the bass player for The Kentucky HeadHunters when Doug Phelps and Ricky Lee Phelps left to form their own duo in 1992.
1955: Eddy Arnold registered a #1 country hit in Billboard with “The Cattle Call.”
1957: Jerry Lee Lewis recorded “Great Balls Of Fire” at the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis.
1975: Conway Twitty recorded “The Games That Daddies Play” during the afternoon at Bradley’s Barn in Mt. Juliet, TN.
1976: United Artists released the “Kenny Rogers” album.
1977: “Heaven’s Just A Sin Away” earned The Kendalls a #1 country single in Billboard.
1979: Hank Snow and late manager Hubert Long earned spots in the Country Music Hall Of Fame during the 13th annual Country Music Association awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
1979: Host Kenny Rogers won three trophies at the 13th CMA awards, held at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House: Male Vocalist; Vocal Duo, for work with Dottie West; and Album of the Year, for “The Gambler,” which earned Don Schlitz Song of the Year.
1981: Dolly Parton & Willie Nelson recorded “Everything’s Beautiful (In Its Own Way)” at the Sound Emporium in Nashville.
1983: Willie Nelson and Anne Murray shared the cover of TV Guide.
1984: Pioneering record producer Ralph Peer and Floyd Tillman moved into the Country Music Hall Of Fame during the 18th annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.
1984: Anne Murray was the only double-winner in the 18th annual Country Music Association awards, held at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Murray becomes the first woman to win Album of the Year, for “A Little Good News,” while the title track wins Single.
1990: Tennessee Ernie Ford got a plaque in the Country Music Hall Of Fame as he’s officially inducted during the 24th annual Country Music Association awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, carried live on CBS-TV.
1990: The Kentucky HeadHunters were named Vocal Group of the Year and their CD, “Pickin’ On Nashville,” took Album of the Year, making The HeadHunters and Garth Brooks the only double-winners during the Country Music Association awards in Nashville.
1991: Mercury released Sammy Kershaw’s debut album, “Don’t Go Near The Water.”
1994: Toby Keith took up residence at #1 on the Billboard chart with “Who’s That Man.”
2016: Artists Of Then, Now & Forever score a #1 country single in Billboard with “Forever Country,” featuring 30 acts weaving performances of “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “On The Road Again” and “I Will Always Love You.”