1924: George Morgan was born in Waverly, TN. The pop-influenced singer joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1948, just before the release of his biggest hit, “Candy Kisses.” The father of Lorrie Morgan, he reached the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
1940: The movie “Grand Ole Opry” debuted at Nashville’s Paramount Theater, starring Roy Acuff. Also appearing: Uncle Dave Macon and Opry founder George D. Hay.
1954: Ava Barber was born in Knoxville, TN. She earned a minor hit with “Bucket To The South” in 1978 while a regular on “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
1957: Hank Locklin recorded “Geisha Girl,” “Livin’ Alone” and “Send Me The Pillow You Dream On” at the RCA Studios on McGavock Street in Nashville.
1965: Capitol released Merle Haggard’s first single for the label, “I’m Gonna Break Every Heart I Can.” That same day, he married Bonnie Owens in Mexico.
1966: Merle Haggard recorded “The Bottle Let Me Down” at the Capitol Recording Studios near Hollywood & Vine in Los Angeles.
1966: Bobby Bare Jr. was born. He formed an alternative rock band in Nashville during the 1990s, years after he first appeared, at age seven, on his father’s sentimental country hit “Daddy What If.”
1975: George Morgan made what turned out to be his last Grand Ole Opry appearance on his 51st birthday. Daughter Lorrie Morgan joined him in a duet, “Smile For Me.”
1975: “Long Haired Country Boy” by Charlie Daniels Band peaked on the pop singles chart.
1976: Loretta Lynn recorded “Out Of My Head And Back In My Bed” at Bradley’s Barn in Mt. Juliet, TN.
1978: “Convoy,” a movie based on C.W. McCall’s hit, opened in theaters with Kris Kristofferson starring. The soundtrack includes Crystal Gayle, Billie Jo Spears, Doc Watson, Merle Haggard, Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, Anne Murray, Gene Watson and Billy “Crash” Craddock.
1978: Gene Watson recorded “Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)” and “Nothing Sure Looked Good On You” at the Jack Clement Studios in Nashville.
1980: The Oak Ridge Boys reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Trying To Love Two Women.”
1983: Ricky Skaggs recorded “Uncle Pen” in Nashville.
1986: Willie Nelson journeyed to #1 in Billboard with “Living In The Promiseland.”
1993: Giant released Clay Walker’s debut single, “What’s It To You.”
1994: Arista releases Alan Jackson’s “Who I Am” album.
2000: Rumors became fact as it was revealed by Reba McEntire’s camp that she was officially in negotiations to play Annie Oakley in the Broadway revival of “Annie Get Your Gun.”
2003: Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Chesney and Delbert McClinton performed for 40,000 fans in a Dale Earnhardt tribute concert at Daytona Motor Speedway in Florida. The show became a Fox TV special.
