SEPTEMBER 30

1887: Thomas Edison formed the Edison Phonograph Company to market his new machine that records on wax cylinders. The first models retailed for $85, $100 and $130. Edison envisioned the phonograph as a business dictation machine–not for entertainment.

1938: Songwriter Charlie Craig was born in Watts Mill, SC. He wrote Janie Fricke’s “She’s Single Again” and Alan Jackson’s “Wanted,” among others.

1945: Bass player Richard Bowden is born in Linden, TX. After working with Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt and Dan Fogelberg, he joined Sandy Pinkard to form Pinkard & Bowden, an irreverent comedy duo that parodies country hits.

1950: The Grand Ole Opry was televised for the first time, as WSM-TV debuted on the air.

1953: Deborah Allen was born in Memphis. She earned a Grammy nomination for her 1983 performance of “Baby I Lied.” She also wrote John Conlee’s “I’m Only In It For The Love,” Janie Fricke’s “Let’s Stop Talkin’ About It” and Patty Loveless’ “Hurt Me Bad (In A Real Good Way).”

1954: Patsy Cline signed her first recording contract with Bill McCall, of Four Star Records.

1958: Marty Stuart was born in Philadelphia, MS. He played mandolin for Lester Flatt as a teen before building a solo career that features rockabilly-tinged hits and a Golden Globe nomination. He married fellow Grand Ole Opry star Connie Smith.

1963: Eddie Montgomery was born in Lancaster, KY. He joined Troy Gentry to form the Southern rock-tinged Montgomery Gentry, winning Vocal Duo of the Year honors from the Country Music Association in 2000. The duo joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2009. 

1975: Willie Nelson recorded the gospel standard “Uncloudy Day.”

1984: Epic released Ricky Skaggs’ “Country Boy” album.

1985: Steve Earle recorded “Guitar Town” at Nashville’s Sound Stage.

1987: George Strait recorded “Famous Last Words Of A Fool” and “If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)” at the Sound Stage Studios in Nashville.

1989: The Judds galloped to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Let Me Tell You About Love,” written by Carl Perkins.

1992: Dolly Parton recorded “Romeo” in Nashville.

1992: George Jones and Frances Preston, head of the songwriter agency BMI, earned a place in the Country Music Hall Of Fame during the 26th annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.

1992: Vince Gill and Garth Brooks were double-winners in the 26th annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Gill, who co-hosted with Reba McEntire on CBS, took Male Vocalist and Song of the Year, for “Look At Us.”

1993: Buck Owens autographed one of his trademark red, white and blue guitars to Joe Diffie, calling him “the best damn singer to come down the pike since Merle Haggard.”

1997: Beyond Music released “Stone Country,” a Rolling Stones tribute album with such remakes as Deana Carter’s “Ruby Tuesday,” Travis Tritt’s “Honky Tonk Women,” George Jones’ “Time Is On My Side” and Tracy Lawrence’s “Paint It Black.”

2003: Universal South released the Carl Jackson-produced “Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’: Songs Of The Louvin Brothers,” featuring Alison Krauss, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell, Terri Clark, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill and Dierks Bentley.

2006: George Strait lifted the Jamey Johnson-penned “Give It Away” to the top of the Billboard country singles chart.

2017: Blake Shelton was presented with a key to the city as he headlined a grand-opening concert at Ole Red Tishomingo in Oklahoma. He was joined on the bill by RaeLynn, Ronnie Milsap, John Conlee and Jeannie Seely.