April 1 in Country Music History

In 1883, one of the original Western singer songwriters was born. Jules Verne Allen was a great singer and a prolific songwriter, with my favorite of his being "Home On The Range". 

In 1908, Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers was born.

In 1934, Jim Ed Brown was born in Sparkman, Arkansas. He has been a member of the Browns, a solo act, and half of the duo of Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, and has played the Louisiana Hayride, and the Grand Ole Opry among many other things. He also had a great sideman at one time by the name of Daron Norwood.

In 1944, Al Dexter began the first of two weeks at the top of the charts with "Too Late To Worry".  

In 1962, Billy Dean was born in Quincy, Florida.

In 1967, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened to the general public.

In 1967, George Jones began the first of two weeks atop the charts with "Walk Through This World With Me".

In 1978, "Ready For The Times To Get Better" became a Number One for Crystal Gayle.  I guess her wait had ended.  

In 1986, Alan Jackson, an employee of the TNN mailroom, debuted on "Nashville Now".

In 1989, "Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye" went to Number One for George Strait. 

In 1995, Tricia Yearwood started the first of two weeks at Number One with "Thinkin' About You". 

March 31 in Country Music History

In 1922, fiddle player Howdy Forrester, most popular as a member of Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, was born in Vernon, Tennessee.

In 1926, fiddle virtuoso Tommy Jackson was born in Birmingham, Alabama.

In 1928, Lefty Frizzell was born in Corsica, Texas. One of the finest all around entertainers and singer-songwriters in our business, he not only was talked into joining the Opry by Hank Williams, but he gave ol' Merle a foot up in the business by letting him open a show for him. Country Music definitely misses Lefty today. Or, in another way-"It's not right but Lefty's gone..."

In 1933, Anita Carter was born in Maces Springs, Virginia, one of the heiresses to the Carter Family legend that began with A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter. 

In 1934, John Loudermilk was born.   He is a great singer, songwriter, and performer, who is cousins to the Louvin Brothers.

In 1945, Spade Cooley went to Number One with "Shame On You".   He held that spot with this great hit for nine weeks. 

In 1951, Hank Snow went to Number One with "Rhumba Boogie".  It spent eight weeks at Number One. 

In 1954, Greg Martin, of the Kentucky Headhunters, was born.  He is an awesome lead guitar player, and also does vocals for the Headhunters. 

In 1962, Patsy Cline went to Number One with "She Got You".  This hit owned the top spot for a total of five weeks. 

In 1968, Skeets McDonald passed away at the age of 52. He was probably best known as the songwriter of "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes".

In 1973, Lynn Anderson was atop the charts with "Keep Me In Mind".  

In 1984, "Let's Stop Talkin' About It" went to Number One for female vocal great Janie Fricke.  

March 30 in Country Music History

In 1942, Bobby Wright was born to Johnny Wright and Kitty Wells.

In 1974, "Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone)" went to Number One for Tanya Tucker. 

In 1985, Kenny Rogers went to Number One with "Crazy".

In 1989, Gilley's nightclub closed. It burned a few days later, a victim of arson. 

March 29 in Country Music History

In 1909, Moon Mullican was born in Texas.

In 1920, steel guitarist Jerry Byrd was born.


In 1952, Carl Smith went to Number One with (When You Feel Like You're In Love) Don't Just Stand There).  This song was at the top for eight weeks. 

In 1963, Texas Ruby of Curly Fox and Texas Ruby passed away in a trailer fire. 

In 1969, Buck Owens went to Number One with "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass".  It kept that spot for two weeks. 

In 1969, Brady Seals, singer and songwriter, and also talented keyboard artist, was born in Hamilton, Ohio.  He is best known for his time as frontman for Little Texas.

In 1975, Dolly Parton was at the top of the charts with "The Bargain Store".   


In 1980, Conway Twitty went to Number One with "I'd Love To Lay You Down".

In 1986, Lee Greenwood was atop the charts with "Don't Underestimate My Love For You".

In 1997, Reba McEntire was atop the charts with "How Was I To Know".  

March 28 in Country Music History

In 1941, Charlie McCoy was born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, which was the town where Hank Williams was discovered dead in the back seat of his Cadillac.

In 1954, Reba McIntyre was born. 

In 1981, Hank Williams, Jr. was Number One with "Texas Women".  

In 1982, Razzy Bailey was Number One with "She Left Love Over Me".

In 1987, Steve Wariner went to Number One with "Small Town Girl".

In 1992, "Is There Life Out There" started a two week run at the top of the charts for Reba McEntire.   

March 27 in Country Music History

In 1940, Melvin Sloan of the Melvin Sloan Dancers was born.

In 1971, Jan Howard joined the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1965, Roger Miller went to Number One with "King of the Road".

In 1971, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn went to Number One with "After The Fire Is Gone", one of the greatest duets of all time.

In 1976, Don Williams went to Number One with "Til The Rivers All Run Dry".

In 1982, Razzy Bailey went to Number One with "She Left Love All Over Me". 

In 1993, Clint Black was atop the charts with "When My Ship Comes In". 

March 26 in Country Music History

In 1928, the inventor of the Sho-Bud steel, Bud Isaacs was born.

In 1942, Larry Butler, music producer and executive, was born in Pensacola, Florida, where, when Larry was eighteen or nineteen, this writer got to sing to his accompaniment on "The Lynn Toney Show".

In 1950, Ronnie McDowell was born in Fountain Head, Tennessee.

In 1953, Michael Bonagura, of Baillie and the Boys, was born in Newark, New Jersey. 

In 1955, songwriting great Dean Dillon was born in Lake City Tennessee.  He is one of the best songwriters of our time, and has written or co-written many of George Strait's best, in addition to many others.  Songs he has written include the following:  
"All The Good Ones Are Gone"
"A Lot Of Things Different".
 "Homecoming '63"
"The Chair"
"Down and Out"
"Drinkin' Man"
"I've Come To Expect It From You"
"If I Know Me"
"Is It Raining At Your House"
"It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You"
"Easy Come, Easy Go"
"Lead On"
"Leave Them Boys Alone"
"Famous Last Words Of A Fool"

In 1956, Charly McClain was born in Memphis, Tennessee.  She charted thirty nine hits during a great career that included three Number One singles.

In 1968, Kenny Chesney was born in Lutrell, Tennessee.   

In 1983, John Anderson went to Number One with "Swingin'".

In 1988, The Judds were atop the charts with "Turn It Loose".  

March 25 in Country Music History

In 1927, country music executive and one of the founders of the Hall of Fame, Joe Talbot, was born.

In 1935, Leon McAuliffe, steel player, joined the Texas Playboys. 

In 1938, Hoyt Axton was born in Duncan, Oklahoma. 

In 1944, Al Dexter was at Number One with "So Long Pal".  It had the Number One position for thirteen weeks. 

In 1947, Johnny and Jack recorded for the first time.

In 1949, Jack Kapp, founder of Decca Records, passed away. 

In 1961, Minnie Pearl opened for Elvis. Her husband, Henry Cannon, piloted Elvis around until Elvis bought his own plane.

In 1963, Johnny Cash recorded the June Carter and Merle Kilgore penned "Ring Of Fire". Some of those featured artists on the recording included W. S. Holland, Luther Perkins, Cowboy Jack Clement, The Carter Family, Bill Purcell, Marshall Grant, Karl Garvin, and Bill McElhiney. Don Law and Frank Jones produced the cut.

In 1963, Robbie Fulks, alternative country singer, guitarist and songwriter, was born in York, Pennsylvania.  One can get a taste of his music on the "Caught in the Webb" tribute album to Webb Pierce.

In 1967, Jim Reeves posthumously went to Number One with "I Won't Come In While He's There".

In 1989, Reba McEntire was atop the charts with "New Fool At An Old Game".   

In 2006, we lost one of the greatest of the great entertainers. Buck Owens passed away in his sleep of a heart attack. Also on this date, in 1966, Buck and his Buckaroos went to Carnegie Hall in New York City and recorded a live album, "Carnegie Hall Concert", which would go to Number One for five weeks.

March 24 in Country Music History

In 1947, Peggy Sue Webb, sister of Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle, among others, was born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky.  Though never a major force in country music, this singer songwriter did chart nineteen hits.  

In 1955, Wanda Jackson recorded "Don't Touch Me".

In 1958, Elvis Presley was sworn into the Army. "Hair today, gone tomorrow".

In 1979, Anne Murray topped the charts with "I Just Fall In Love Again".  

In 1984, Alabama was atop the charts with "Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)". 

In 1995, Irene Williams Smith, sister of Hank Williams, passed away.

In 2000, Joe Talbot, country music executive, passed away. 

In 2007, Henson Cargill died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from the after effects of surgery. Also known as a cattle rancher, he charted sixteen hits, with the first of them being his only Number One, "Skip A Rope". 

March 23 in Country Music History

In 1868, Fiddlin' John Carson was born in Georgia. He was 55 years of age when Ralph Peer recorded him on the Okeh Record label in Atlanta.

In 1974, Conway Twitty went to Number One with "There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In).

In 1985, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles scored a Number One with "Seven Spanish Angels", written by Townes Van Zandt. 

In 1991, Clint Black went to Number One with "Loving Blind".

In 1996, Patty Loveless went to Number One with "You Can Feel Bad". 

March 22 in Country Music History

In 1952, Uncle Dave Macon, the second person hired to play the Grand Ole Opry, passed away.

In 1977, Stoney Cooper died.

In 1980, Ronnie Milsap went to Number One with "Why Don't You Spend the Night".

In 1986, "What's A Memory Like You (Doing In A Love Like This) by Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider went to Number One on the charts.

March 21 in Country Music History

In 1936, Stan Hitchcock was born. If you don't know Stan from his days as a musician, author, or program director, you need to know about this guy who loves real country music like we do.


In 1942, Carol Lee Cooper, founder of the Carol Lee Singers was born. She is the daughter of Stoney and Wilma Lee Cooper.

In 1981, "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground" went to Number One for Willie Nelson.

In 1987, Restless Heart was at Number One with "I'll Still Be Loving You". More pop than country, but a great song with great harmony, anyway.

In 1991, Leo Fender, maker of Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, died at age 81.

In 1992, Alan Jackson was wishing that "Dallas" was in Tennessee, and it was the number one song on the charts.

March 20 in Country Music History

In 1937, hitmaker and great guitarist Jerry Reed was born.

In 1937, Canada's Country Gentleman, Tommy Hunter, was born. He had a twenty seven year run on Canadian television with "The Tommy Hunter Show", and had one of the first shows on CMT.

In 1939, cowboy singing great Don Edwards was born in New Jersey???? 

In 1946, Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky was born.

In 1954, guitarist Jim Seales of Shenandoah was born.

In 1965, Buck Owens had a "Tiger By The Tail" and a number one hit on the charts.

In 1976, "Faster Horses(The Cowboy and the Poet) went to Number One for Tom T. Hall.

In 1982, Charlie Pride was high on the "Mountain of Love" with the number one hit of the same name.

In 1988, "Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star" returned Merle Haggard to the top of the charts. I believe that Norman Hamlet either wrote or co-wrote this song.

In 1993,"Heartland" went to Number One for George Strait. It would be an accomplishment that he has only accomplished sixty times, and he still is putting out great music, today.

March 19 in Country Music History

In 1928, Henry Ford Maddox of The Maddox Brothers and Sister Rose, was born in Boaz, Alabama.

In 1949, Red Foley achieved a number one record for "Tennessee Saturday Night".

In 1957, Elvis purchased Graceland, for many years probably second only to the White House in popularity as a residence in the USA.  Today, with the current occupant of the White House, Graceland is probably by far the most popular residence in America.

In 1960, Tootsie Bess opened her nightspot across the alley from the Ryman Auditorium, the home of the Grand Ole Opry for many years, according to my sources.  

In 1977, hitmaker and super guitarist Glen Campbell went to the top spot on the charts with "Southern Nights".

In 1980, Aunt Sap passed away. As we have mentioned several times in the past few weeks, she and her husband, Uncle Cyp, were pioneers in the country music television show, Ozark Jubilee.

In 1983, Ricky Skaggs topped the charts with "I Wouldn't Change You If I Could". 

In 1988, Ricky Van Shelton hit Number One with "Life Turned Her That Way".

In 1988, Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader passed away.  He at first appeared on the Opry with Uncle Dave Macon, and then headlined his own band.

In 1994, Neal McCoy was at Number One for two weeks with "No Doubt About It".  Though he wasn't the most country of singers, he was one of the best entertainers of our time.

In 2000, Speck Rhodes, best known for his role as comedian and bass player on the Porter Wagoner tv and road show, died at age 84. He and Porter had a natural chemistry, having both been born in West Plains, Missouri.

March 18 in Country Music History

In 1911, Smiley Burnette was born in Summum, Illinois.  This singer, songwriter, actor, guitarist, and harmonica player was one of the most famous movie stars in Westerns, yet his biggest legacy is the wealth of songs that he wrote in his short time on earth. 

In 1938, Country Charlie Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi.  This Hall of Fame member has charted close to seventy hits, with twenty nine of them having attained the Number One position on the charts.  The biggest hit this former professional baseball player had was "Kiss An Angel Good Morning", which propelled him to superstardom. I would tell you my favorite Charlie Pride song, but there are too many of them to name just one. 

In 1941, Margie Bowles was born in Roxboro, North Carolina.  Once married to Doyle Wilburn of the Wilburn Brothers, she was on the charts five times with her biggest hit being "Poor Old Heartsick Me". 

In 1944, "They Took The Stars Out Of Heaven" went to the Number One spot on the charts for Floyd Tillman. 

In 1989, "From A Jack To A King" by Ricky Van Shelton went to Number One. Probably one of the best voices ever in country music history, he got a raw deal from the CMA for his failure to try to perform a song not in a good key for him. 

In 1995, Clay Walker ascended for two weeks to the Number One spot on the charts with "This Woman And This Man". 

March 17 in Country Music History

 In 1932, Dick Curless, the Baron of Country Music, was born in Fort Fairfield, Maine.  He was a singer who is most remembered for his trucking songs.  His biggest hit was "A Tombstone Every Mile". 

In 1943, Jim Weatherley, singer and songwriter, was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi.  In country music he is best remembered for his songwriting credits on some major Ray Price hits from the seventies, including "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say GoodBye)" and "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me". 

In 1952, Susie Allanson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  This very talented lady has done much in country music, but has also done much in other areas of the arts, as she is a gifted author, actress.  She charted eighteen times on the country charts, and her two biggest hits were "Words" and "Maybe Baby". 


In 1955, Paul Overstreet was born in Newton, Mississippi.  Though he is a successful songwriter, he has scored much bigger success as a songwriter. Nine times he has had singles in the Top Ten as a singer, including two Number Ones, "Daddy's Come Around" and "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love".  However, he has written or co-written many of the biggest hits of the past thirty years, including "On The Other Hand", "Forever and Ever, Amen", "When You Say Nothing At All", "A Long Line Love", and "Love Can Build A Bridge". 

In 1956, The Louvin Brothers hit Number One with "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby".

In 1962, the incomparable Sheb Wooley had a Number One with "That's My Pa". 

In 1973, Barbara Fairchild was at Number One with "The Teddy Bear Song".

In 1984, The Statlers were at Number One with "Elizabeth".

In 1988, Sammy Pruett, guitarist for Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys, passed away. 

In 1990, Randy Travis was at Number One with "Rock Hard Bottom Of Your Heart".

In 1996, Jimmy Stafford, writer of "Amarillo By Morning" passed away. 

In 2003, Jumpin' Bill Carlisle passed away at his home near Nashville at the age of 94. He would have said the day before he died that he would have been "96 year after next".

March 16 in Country Music History

In 1942, radio personality Buddy Starcher was born in Ripley, West Virginia. 

In 1942, Jerry Jeff Walker was born in Oneonta, New York.

in 1951, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  And you thought he was from Texas?

In 1968, Sonny James began a three week stint at the top of the charts with "A World Of Our Own". 

In 1974, The Grand Ole Opry moved to its new home at the Opry House at Opryland.  This would be the first regular performance in the venue built specifically for the Opry.  

In 1984, former Sons of the Pioneers singer Shug Fisher passed away. He was also an accomplished character actor.

In 1985, Exile went to Number One with "Crazy For Your Love". Though they were mostly a country pop act, they were talented singers, musicians, and songwriters, with J.P. Pennington not only writing for Exile, but scoring hits with Alabama, Dave and Sugar, and Janie Fricke. ("It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy" by Fricke is one of the best female songs ever recorded, in this writer's humble opinion.) Exile also staged one of the best shows for the price of a ticket, as witnessed when they opened for George Strait.

In 1991, Reba McEntire lost eight members of her band and road show in a plane crash in California.

In 1996, "Beaches of Cheyenne" went to Number One for Garth Brooks.






  

March 15 in Country Music History

In 1927, Carl Smith was born in Maynardville, Tennessee.  This Hall of Fame member was once married to June Carter, and had ninety three charted hits in his vaunted career.  Among those hits were five Number Ones, and twenty seven additional Top ten singles.  His biggest hit was "Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way".  He was married to singer and performer Goldie Hill for many years. 

In 1931, drummer D.J.Fontana was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.  He is best known as the original drummer for Elvis Presley. 

In 1944, Gunilla Hutton was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.  Though she is an actor and a singer, most of us remember her as Nurse Goodbody on Hee Haw. 

In 1975, Freddy Fender spent the first of two weeks atop the charts with "Before The Next Teardrop Falls". 

In 1986, Exile was atop the charts with "I Could Get Used To You". 

In 1997, Deanna Carter was atop the charts with "We Danced Anyway" for the first of two weeks. 

March 14 in Country Music History

 In 1889, Neva "Aunt Sap" Brasfield, of Uncle Cyp and Aunt Sap Fame, was born. They were stars of the first successful television show-The Ozark Jubilee.

In 1945, singer, songwriter, and musician Michael Martin Murphey was born in Oak Cliff Texas.  He has graced the pop charts, the country charts and the western charts with his presence.  He has scored two Number One singles on the country charts, and has added another ten Top Tens to his collection of hit country records.  No matter what genre he is labeled, he is an awesome talent.

In 1951, recording artist Zella Lehr was born in Burbank, California.  You may remember her as the Unicycle Girl on Hee Haw.  

In 1970, Merle Haggard was at the top with "Fightin' Side Of Me".  He fought to keep it for three weeks.

In 1981, Elvis Presley was atop the charts, posthumously, with a re-mastered version of "Guitar Man".

In 1987, S-K-O was atop the charts with "Baby's Got A New Baby". 

In 1992, John Anderson returned to the top of the charts after a long dry spell with "Straight Tequila Night".

In 2002, Tommy Collins passed away of emphysema in Ashland City, Tennessee. Not just a great performer, he was a great songwriter. He penned "Carolyn", "If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'", and "New Patches" among many other things.

"You know I used to be a well known country singer,
Made my first record in 1953,
Buck Owens used to be my lead guitar player,
And the Hag once wrote a song about me"---
as recorded by Craig Morgan on "I Wish I Could See Bakersfield".

In 2013, recording star Jack Greene passed away from the effects of Alzheimer's disease.  He had five number one hits, and three more Top Tens in his career, which officially began when he was still working with the Texas Troubadours of Ernest Tubb.  "There Goes My Everything" became his biggest hit, right off the bat, and he added "All the Time", "You Are My Treasure", "Until My Dreams Come True", and "Statue of a Fool" to his collection of Number One hits.  He also had twenty two additional Top Forty records.  He is greatly missed.

March 13 in Country Music History

In 1927, Liz Anderson was born in Minnesota. Mrs. Anderson was a top forty artist, married to Casey Anderson, and the mother of Liz Anderson. But her greatest success came as a writer, and she penned three of the biggest hits that Merle Haggard has recorded. "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive", "All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers", and "Just Between The Two Of Us" are her three biggest hits, and her song is the reason Merle Haggard's group is called the Strangers. I might add that she and her husband are some of the nicest people in the music business.

In 1931, Jan Howard was born in West Plains, Missouri, just a skip and a hop from where Billy Yates was born and raised, and the same town that our hero Porter Wagoner called home.

In 1963, Billy Yates was born in Doniphan, Missouri. A writer of "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair", "Choices", "Flowers", "If I Ever Get Her Back", and my favorite: "Turn For The Worse", Billy is also a great singer and entertainer. If you have not seen him in person, you have missed one of the best with a guitar in his hand and a song in his heart.

In 1976, Merle Haggard went to Number One with "Roots Of My Raising".

In 1980, Ralph Sloan, founder of the dance troupe, The Tennessee Travelers, passed away.  

In 1982, Roseanne Cash made it to the top spot on the charts with "Blue Moon With Heartache".

In 2002, the great fiddler Benny Martin, known for his untied shoes, passed away. 

March 11 in Country Music History

In 1944, "Rosalita" became a Number One hit for Al Dexter.  When the country charts were first added as a separate genre, Dexter placed four of the first Number Ones on those charts. 

In 1955, Jimmie Fortune, former tenor singer of the Statler Brothers, was born in Williamsburg, Virginia.  It was with his appearance with the Statlers that they once again became a major force in the country music business after the forced retirement, due to health problems, of Lew DeWitt.

In 1972, Freddy Hart would attain the Number One position with "My Hang-Up Is You".  His record would get hung up at Number One for six weeks.  It would be the second of five straight Number Ones for Freddy. 

In 1989, Ronnie Milsap was at Number One on the charts with "Don't You Ever Get Tired(Of Hurting Me)".

In 1995, George Strait had another Number One with "You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody". 

March 12 in Country Music History

In 1938, Lew Dewitt, the original tenor of the Statler Brothers was born in Roanoke, Virginia.

In 1980, Ralph Sloan, who founded the Tennessee Travelers and performed on the Opry for years, passed away.  

In 1977, Charlie Pride was proud to be at Number One with "She's Just An Old Love Turned Memory".

In 1983, the best friend that a song ever had, Conway Twitty, was at Number One on the charts with "The Rose". 

In 1988, Randy Travis was at the top of the charts with "Too Gone Too Long". 

In 1994, Vince Gill went to the top spot on the charts with "Tryin' To Get Over You". 

March 10 in Country Music History

In 1920, Jethro Burns, mandolinist of Homer and Jethro, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.  

In 1933, Ralph Emery, star of radio and TV, was born in McEwen, Tennessee.  

In 1962, "Misery Loves Company" by Porter Wagoner was Number One on the charts.

In 1963, Patsy Cline was buried in Winchester, Virginia, which was her hometown.

In 1971, Daryle Singletary was born in Cairo, Georgia.  Though he has not been overly successful on the charts, he is one of THE voices of country music.  He is definitely underappreciated, and one of the best performers in ANY genre.  

In 1973, "'Til I Get It Right" by Tammy Wynette became the top song on the country charts.

In 1984, Lee Greenwood was atop the charts with "Going, Going, Gone".

In 1990, Patty Loveless was atop the charts with "Chains".  This was her second of five Number One singles, and she was a Grammy winner as recently as 2011 with her "Mountain Soul II" album, which was bluegrass album of the year.

March 9 in Country Music History

In 1925, Ralph Sloan, of the Tennessee Travelers Square Dancers, and regular on the Grand Ole Opry, was born.

In 1934, Edna Peters was born. She is the mother and grandmother of the owners of this site, born and raised during the depression, and, in her early years, was familiar with Hank Williams and Pappy Neal MacCormick, who both lived in the area where she was raised. She was also raised with a number of regional artists including Boots Barnes.  As a matter of fact, she and my dad used to dance to the music of Hank and Pappy during their performances in and around DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

In 1936, Mickey Gilley was born in Natchez, Mississippi.  A great recording artist, with seventeen Number One records, he is best known for the Gilley's nightclub of "Urban Cowboy" fame.  He should be in the Hall of Fame.  He is also the first cousin of both Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart.

In 1948, Jimmie Fadden, of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, was born in Long Beach, California.  His specialty was the harmonica.

In 1962, George Dewey Peters died of a heart attack. As my grandfather, he was the first one I remember singing "Cattle Call" to the cows, as they started up "the lane" for the barn, where they would be fed and bedded down for the night.

In 1968, "Take Me To Your World" by Tammy Wynette went to Number one on the Billboard Charts.

In 1974, "There Won't Be Anymore" by the Silver Fox, Charlie Rich, went to the top spot on the charts. where it remained for two weeks.

In 1985, "My Only Love" by the Statler Brothers went to Number One on Billboard country charts.

In 1991, "Brother Jukebox" by Mark Chesnutt went to Number One on the charts.  It stayed there for two weeks.

In 1996, Alan Jackson hit the top spot on the charts with "I'll Try". 

In 1996, George Burns, best known as a comedian, actor, and writer, but to us country fans as a charted singer, passed away at age 100 in Beverly Hills, California.  Of his three charted country hits, two are especially remembered, "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again", which was a Top Fifteen hit, and "Willie; Won't You Sing A Song With Me", a song referring to the fact that Willie Nelson has recorded with just about anybody and everybody who has ever asked him. 

In 2005, Chris Ledoux died of liver problems. 

March 8 in Country Music History

In 1937, Jimmy Stoneman of the Stoneman Family was born in Washington, DC. 

In 1939, Lou Dewitt of the Statler Brothers was born in Roanoke, Virginia. 

In 1969, Sonny James began a three week stint at the top of the charts with "Only The Lonely".

In 1975, "Linda On My Mind", by Conway Twitty reached the Number One spot on the charts.

In 1980, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Willie Nelson went to Number One on the Billboard charts.  It stayed there for two weeks.

In 1986, Dolly Parton was atop the charts with "Think About Love".  It was her twentieth Number One hit, out of twenty five, the last with Brad Paisley.   

In 1989, Stuart Hamblen died at the age of eighty. He was considered to be the first Western singer, and was a recording artist, songwriter and an actor. He is probably most remembered for penning the two gospel hits, "It Is No Secret" and "This Old House".  He wrote "It Is No Secret" as the result of a conversation between him and John Wayne. 

In 1997, Toby Keith was at the top of the charts with "Me Too".

In 2009, the country music world lost legend Hank Locklin, from natural causes.  Hank was a native of McLellan, Florida, and was known as the Mayor of McLellan.  He had several of the most revered hits in country music history.  Among these were "Let Me Be the One", "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On", "Please Help Me, I'm Falling", and "The Country Hall of Fame".  He is buried down the road from our ranch house in Mt. Carmel, Florida in the Mount Carmel Methodist Church Cemetery. 

March 7 in Country Music History

In 1944, Townes Van Zandt was born. He was a Texas folk country singer who also was also known as a really good songwriter.  He is best remembered as the writer of "Pancho and Lefty", a Number One for Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson in 1983. 

In 1963, Jack Anglin, of Johnny and Jack, was killed on his way to a memorial service for Patsy Cline. Jack Anglin was Johnny Wright's brother-in-law, and the other half of the duo Johnnie and Jack, that also included Johnnie Wright.

In 1964, Lefty Frizzell's "Saginaw Michigan" began a four week run at the top of the charts.  It would be the last of six Number One for this Hall of Fame member.


In 1981, The Bellamy Brothers were at Number One as they asked the musical question: "Do You Love As Good As You Look?"

In 1987, Lee Greenwood was again on top of the charts with "Mornin' Ride".  It would be the last of seven trips to the top of the charts for him. 

In 2000, Pee Wee King passed away. King wrote the "Tennessee Waltz" and "Slow Poke" and was famous for his Golden West Cowboys, that at one time included stars such as Redd Stewart and Eddie Arnold.

March 6 in Country Music History

In 1836, many good men lost their lives at the Alamo, as Texas loyalists fought for her independence. It reminds me of "The Ballad of Davey Crockett" that was performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Mac Wiseman, and the Kentucky Headhunters. In view of things going on in America today, I might add that I think it would be wise for us to remember the Alamo. Enough said......

In 1903, Cliff Carlisle, of the Carlisles, was born in Taylorsville, Kentucky.  He was a great yodeler and a pioneer on the Hawaiian steel guitar, and he was known to have accompanied Jimmie Rodgers on some recordings in 1931.  

In 1905, Bob Wills, founder and leader of the Texas Playboys, was born in Texas. Willie may be playing in Austin, tonight, but Bob Wills is still the King. And it is rightfully so, as he wrote and recorded many of the best Texas swing hits ever recorded. "Faded Love", "Take Me Back To Tulsa", and "San Antonio Rose" are just a few of the hits penned by Wills.

In 1934, Red Simpson, who made his mark in country music with truck driving themed songs,was born in Higley, Arizona.  He is most remembered for his big hit, "I'm A Truck".

In 1937, Doug Dillard, of the bluegrass band, the Dillards, was born in Salem, Missouris.  The Darlings, one of the most revered bands in bluegrass history, are also remembered for their many appearances on the Andy Griffith Show as the Darlings.

In 1964, Skip Ewing was born in Redlands, California.  Though he has charted fifteen hits, he is most well received as a songwriter.  

In 1971, Charlie Pride began a three week run at the top of the charts with "I'd Rather Love You".

In 1982, the smooth deep-voiced Ed Bruce went to the Number One spot with "You're The Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had".

In 1999, George Jones was severly injured when he plowed into a bridge in Franklin, Tennessee. 

March 5 in Country Music History

In 1949, Eddy Arnold was atop the charts for one of the twelve weeks that his hit, "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle" would occupy that position.

In 1963, a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee claimed the lives of Randy Hughes, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and the best female voice in country music, Patsy Cline.  This crash also resulted in the death of Jack Anglin, killed in a car wreck as he was headed for a memorial service for those involved in this plane crash. 

In 1977, Mel Tillis topped the charts with "Heart Healer".

In 1983, Don Williams was atop the charts with "If Hollywood Don't Need You".

In 1988, Alabama, given assistance by K.T.Oslin, was atop the charts with "Face To Face".

In 1994, Mark Chesnutt was at Number One with "I Just Wanted You To Know".  It was the fifth of his eight Number One hits.

March 4 in Country Music History

In 1904, the original singing cowgirl, Dorothy Page, AKA Dorothy Stofflett, AKA Dorothy McCormick, was born.

In 1932, Betty Jack Davis, who with Mary Francis Penick (Skeeter Davis) made up the Davis Sisters, was born in Corbin Kentucky.


In 1967, Merle Haggard was atop the charts with "The Fugitive".  It would be the first of many Number Ones for the singer affectionately known as the Hag.

In 1972, Tammy Wynette occupied the top spot on the charts with "Bedtime Story".  

In 1973, Scotty Stoneman of the pioneering Stoneman Family Band passed away.

In 1978, "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys", written by Ed Bruce, and performed by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson went to Number One on the Billboard Charts.

In 1983, George Jones married Nancy Sepulveda.  In retrospect, it probably added years to his life.

In 1989, The Desert Rose Band, consisting of Chris Hillman, John Jorgenson, and Herb Pedersen, was at Number One on the charts with "I Still Believe In You".  In their own way, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen are responsible for a lot of country music history.  

In 1996, our beloved Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon) passed away after being victimized by a series of strokes. 

In 1999, cowboy singer Eddie Dean passed away. He was known especially as songwriter of two popular songs, "One Has My Heart, The Other Has My Name", and "I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven". Two classic songs from a classic cowboy, and even though Jimmy Wakely and Tex Ritter had the really big hits on these two songs, Eddie Dean still made the top twenty with both. 

March 3 in Country Music History

In 1951, singer-songwriter Bob DiPiero was born in Youngstown, Ohio.  He has worked on at least fifteen Number One hits, and many, many more Top Forties for many country artists.  Formerly married to Pam Tillis, he is associated with hits like "Blue Clear Sky", by George Strait, and "Too Much Month(At The End of the Money)", by Marty Stuart. 

In 1973, "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking", by Cal Smith, climbed to Number One on the charts.

In 1979, "Golden Tears", by Dave and Sugar, began a three week run at the top of the charts.

In 1984, the members of Exile "Woke Up In Love" with a Number One hit of that name.

In 1990, "No Matter How High" became a Number One hit for the Oak Ridge Boys.  

In 1996, Kyle Bailes, of the Bailes Brothers, passed away.

In 2002, Harland Howard, for many years dean of Nashville songwriters, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee.  Among his many hits are "I Fall To Pieces", "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down", "Heartaches By The Number", and the oft-recorded "Busted". 

March 2 in Country Music History

In 1957, Johnny Cash and his hit, "There You Go", were at Number One on the charts, one of five weeks that this hit occupied the top spot.  

In 1959, Larry Stewart, most well known as the lead vocalist for Restless Heart, was born in Paducah, Kentucky. 

In 1964, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, the leaders of the Virginia Boys, joined the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1984, riding a wave of popularity from Sharon White's husband's lead in the reemergence of bluegrass on the mainstream airwaves, The Whites joined the Grand Ole Opry. Since then, "O Brother Where Are Thou" has led to them being one of the most popular Americana groups in the nation. Sharon's husband is the incomparable Ricky Skaggs.

In 1985, Gary Morris was atop the charts with his hit, "Baby Bye Bye".  

In 1987, the subject of a Statler Brothers hit song, Randolph Scott died. The subject of "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott?" was one of the great Western actors of his time, and also a financial genius. Did you know that Scott once lived at Montpelier, the home of President James Madison, and actually had a place below the main floor where he could lift weights?

In 1996, "Wild Angels", by Martina McBride, was atop the charts.  Is it really country?  

In 2005, Joe Carter passed away in Maces Springs, Virginia.  He and his sister, Janette, were the last two of the second generation Carter Family, having been the offspring of AP and Sara Carter.