SEPTEMBER 1
1924: Ernest Stoneman passed an audition with Columbia Records in New York. He declined an offer to record for the label. Luckily for him, he received a better deal the next day from Okeh.
1931: Lecil Martin was born in Sterratt, TX. As Boxcar Willie, he established a hobo personality and sang traditional country music, gaining large sales through TV marketing and eventually landed a spot on the Grand Ole Opry.
1933: Harold Jenkins was born in Friars Point, MS. As Conway Twitty, he left a pop/rock career in 1965 to pursue country music, racking up hits consistently for more than 20 years. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame posthumously in 1999.
1947: Barry Gibb was born in Manchester, England. With two brothers, he founded the pop act The Bee Gees. They wrote Olivia Newton-John’s “Come On Over,” Conway Twitty’s “Rest Your Love On Me” and Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton’s “Islands In The Stream.”
1950: Drummer Steve Goetzman was born in Louisville, KY. He joined Exile, whose mix of country, rock and gospel nets hook-filled 1980s hits such as “Woke Up In Love,” “She’s A Miracle” and “Crazy For Your Love.”
1951: Lefty Frizzell’s “Always Late (With Your Kisses)” ascended to #1 in Billboard magazine.
1962: Marty Robbins’ “Devil Woman” began a sinful eight-week run at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
1970: Mickey Lamantia was born in Cranston, RI.
1971: Waylon Jennings recorded the original, solo version of “Good Hearted Woman” and “Sweet Dream Woman” at RCA Studio B in Nashville.
1972: Dolly Parton recorded “My Tennessee Mountain Home” in a 10 a.m. session at Nashville’s RCA Studio B.
1976: Angaleena Presley was born in Beauty, KY. She joined Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe to create Pistol Annies, releasing their first album in 2011. Presley also co-wrote Lambert’s hit “Fastest Girl In Town.”
1979: Willie Nelson & Leon Russell shared the top spot on the Billboard country chart with their remake of “Heartbreak Hotel.”
1980: Willie Nelson and family–his wife, Connie, and daughters Paula and Amy–made the cover of People magazine.
1983: Six months after marrying the former Nancy Sepulveda, George Jones told “20/20” reporter Bob Brown he’s a “changed and happy man.”
1983: Gaylord Broadcasting officially took over control of Opryland, including WSM Radio, the Grand Ole Opry and TNN.
1983: The Soviet Union downed Korean Air Lines flight 007, killing 269 people, including a U.S. congressman. The event inspired Lee Greenwood to write “God Bless The U.S.A.” Johnny Cash also canceled a Soviet tour in protest.
1983: Trisha Yearwood held her first recording session in a trailer that used mattresses for sound baffling in Monticello, GA. The material for the day included a number of Linda Ronstadt songs and “Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight.”
1992: MCA released Vince Gill’s “I Still Believe In You” album.
1992: MCA released Trisha Yearwood’s “Hearts In Armor” album.
1994: In a special edition saluting country music, Life magazine put Hank Williams at the top of the list of “The 100 Most Important People” in country music history. At #100 is Hank Williams Jr.
1998: Arista released Alan Jackson’s “High Mileage” album.
2006: Dwight Yoakam plays a crooked doctor in the drug-addled movie “Crank,” which debuted in theaters.
2008: Jerry Reed died of emphysema at his home in Brentwood, TN. Best known for the singles “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” and “East Bound And Down,” the singer, songwriter and guitarist extended his music career with a series of acting roles. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
