June 13 in Country Music History

In 1959, Roy Drusky joined the Grand Ole Opry. This popular singer with the smooth baritone was oftened compared to Eddie Arnold. He and Priscilla Mitchell(Jerry Reed's wife) had a Number One with "Yes, Mr. Peters", and he also had big hits with "Second Hand Rose", "Peel Me A Nanner", "(From Now On All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers, "Rainbows and Roses", and "Red Red Wine".

In 1981, Kenny Rogers and Dottie West went to Number One on the Charts as they sang "What Are We Doing In Love". 

In 1987, Randy Travis was at Number One with "Forever and Ever, Amen".  It spent three weeks there. 

In 1996, gospel star Wendy Bagwell passed away. Most famous for his snake story, he and the Sunliters were a major force in Southern gospel music.

June 12 in Country Music History

In 1952, singer-songwriter-guitarist Junior Brown was born in Kirksville, Indiana.  He only had two charted hits, but this talented artist is in demand on the true country circuit, as he has a great voice, and is great on that combination steel guitar/electric guitar that he built, called a guitsteel. 

In 1954, Johnny and Jack went to Number One with "(Oh Baby Mine )I Get So Lonely".  It held that position for two weeks. 

In 1965, Tex Ritter joined the Grand Ole Opry.  This talented performer is a Hall of Fame member had twenty five charted hits.  Of his first fifteen, fourteen were Top Tens, with the other being a Number Fifteen.  Of those Top Tens, three were Number Ones, and three were Number Twos.  He has an impressive resume as a singer, guitarist and actor.

In 1976, Crystal Gale went to the top of the charts with "I'll Get Over You".

In 1978, singer-songwriter-actor-author Johnny Bond died in Burbank, California.  He wrote "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight", one of my favorite songs, which is good enough to be anybody's Number One.

In 1980, Milburn Stone, aka Doc Galen Adams to Gunsmoke fans, and a member of the Wester Performers Hall of Fame at the National Western and Cowboy Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away.  He also was a talented singer and square dance caller.

In 1982, The Bellamy Brothers scored a Number One "For All The Wrong Reasons".

In 2008, Danny Davis, leader of the Nashville Brass, passed away after suffering a heart attack. 

June 11 in Country Music History

In 1939, Wilma Burgess was born in Orlando, Florida.  "Misty Blue" was the biggest of her fifteen charted hits, topping out at Number Four. 

In 1949 Hank Williams debuted as a guest on the Grand Ole Opry. He appeared on the 9:30-10:00 PM segment sponsored by Warren Paint, and hosted by Ernest Tubb. He sang "Lovesick Blues," and received six encores, according to legend.  Porter Wagoner has said that this happened on his first visit to the Opry, when he was just a fan with the price of admission in his pocket. 

In 1969, Jay McDowell of BR-549 was born in Bedford, Indiana.  Though they only charted three times, this band has always been one of the best, and most talented, in country music.  They lean towards the old sounds which were popular when Bob Wills, Hank Williams, and Ray Price ruled the charts.


In 1979, the great Western actor John Wayne passed away from cancer.

In 1983, Crystal Gayle went to Number One with "Our Love Is On The Faultline".

In 1988, Patty Loveless, cousin of Loretta Lynn, joined the Grand Ole Opry.  She has charted forty four times with five of them being Number One hits.  Fourteen more of her songs were Top Ten hits, so she has had a great career.  She is one of the most talented female singers in the history of country music, as she, like Janie Fricke, has sang back up on many cuts for other performers.  

In 1988, Randy Travis scored a chart topper with "I Told You So".  The hit stayed at Number One for two weeks. 

In 1994, Brooks and Dunn went to Number One with "That Ain't No Way To Go".

June 10 in Country Music History

In 1944, Nat King Cole went to Number One on the newly christened country charts with "Straighten Up And Fly Right".  He owned that spot for six weeks. 

In 1952, Thom Schuyler, once a part of SKO, Schuyler, Knobloch, and Overstreet, and also Schulyer, Knobloch, and Bickhardt,   and noted singer, songwriter, and music executive, was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  As a performer, he has been associated as a solo artist or part of the above three acts with charted hits a total of nine times, including with the Number One hit, "Baby's Got A New Baby". 

In 1978, Willie Nelson had a Number One with "Georgia On My Mind".

In 1988, Herman Crook of the Crook Brothers passed away.  He was the harmonica player for the immensely popular group. 

In 1988, Ricky Van Shelton joined the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1989, Clint Black was leaving here a "Better Man" with a Number One attached to it.  I often wonder how big a star Clint Black would have been if he had stuck with the kind of material with which he was so successful at the beginning of his career, like this one, and "Killin' Time". 

In 1997, one of our favorites, Carolina Cotton, passed away from cancer. 

In 1998, Steve Sanders, who was associated with the Oak Ridge Boys as a singer and musician, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Florida. We have a gospel album he recorded as a youngster that listed him as Little Stevie Sanders. He also worked as an actor, and was particularly memorable in an episode of "Gunsmoke".

In 2004, Ray Charles, whose album, "Modern Sounds In Country and Western" redefined the parameters of country music, passed away after a bout with cancer.  

June 9 in Country Music History

In 1915, Les Paul, Grammy award winning guitarist, was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  His contributions to ALL types of music cannot be overstated. 

In 1973, Johnny Rodriguez went to the top of the charts with "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)".  It was his first Number One hit in a brilliant career, which started going down when he became trapped in substance abuse, and all of the problems that accompany it. 

In 1979, Kenny Rogers was atop the charts for two weeks with "She Believes In Me".  This was his seventh Number One hit, out of over twenty he has scored in his career. 

In 1984, "Someday When Things Are Good" topped the charts for Merle Haggard, a song co-written with his one-time wife, Leona Williams.  By the time this song topped the charts, their marriage was history, so things must have been good. 

In 1990, George Strait began a five week run at the top of the charts with "Love Without End, Amen".  It was written by Aaron Barker, who, like Dean Dillon, has made a pretty good career out of writing songs that Strait took high on the country music charts. 

June 8 in Country Music History

In 1916, Adolf Hofner was born in Moulton, Texas.  He was a Western Swing pioneer. 

In 1921, singing cowboy Monte Hale was born in San Angelo, Texas.

In 1938, Mack Vickery, extremely talented songwriter, was born in Town Creek, Alabama.  His biggest hit was "Fireman" for George Strait, although he has songs that have been recorded by many of the biggest country stars, including George Jones, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paycheck, Lefty Frizzell, Faron Young, John Anderson, and Tanya Tucker. 

In 1941, singer,songwriter, and musician Vernon Oxford, maybe one of the most countriest of the country, was born in Rogers, Arkansas.  He charted seven records in the seventies, but has a cult following, simply because he is one of the few singers that can make true country fans cry in their beer, their soda, or in whatever they are drinking at that time. 

In 1964, Alton Delmore of the Delmore Brothers died in Huntsville, Alabama.

In 1974, Dolly Parton took "I Will Always Love You" to Number One, a tribute rumored to be to Porter Wagoner as the duet broke up.

In 1985, Merle Haggard took "Natural High" to Number One. 

In 1996, George Strait added "Blue Clear Sky" to his collection of Number Ones.  This song, written by Bobby DePiero, was at the top spot for two weeks. 

June 7 in Country Music History

In 1917, Dean Martin was born. He was a very gifted actor, especially in Westerns, and was also a great vocalist. I especially love to hear him sing with Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo. He did a credible job on his album of country favorites.

In 1934, Wynn Stewart was born in Morrisville, Missouri.  He charted thirty one times with his biggest hit being the chart topping "It's Such A Pretty World Today". 

In 1947, Bob Wills went to the top of the charts with "Sugar Moon".  

In 1956, singer-songwriter Larry Boone was born in Cooper City, Florida.

In 1959, while at home in his house trailer near Knoxville, Tennessee, Don Gibson wrote "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "Oh Lonesome Me".  At least that is the legend.  When the legend becomes bigger than fact, use it.  I believe he did. 

In 1966, Claudette Orbison, wife of Roy Orbison, was killed in a motorcycle accident.  She was the inspiration for his big hit, "In Dreams", in which he shows his whole vocal range. 

In 1969, The Johnny Cash Show debuted from the Ryman Auditorium.

In 1975, Mickey Gilley climbed to the top of the charts with "Window Up Above".

In 1986, Ronnie Milsap scored a Number One with "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby".

In 1991, Alan Jackson joined the Grand Ole Opry.  They still had the original barn set back then, in the good old days.  

June 6 in Country Music History

In 1885, Gid Tanner of the Skillet Lickers was born in Thomas Bridge, Georgia.

In 1943, Joe Stampley was born in Springhill, Louisiana.  He has charted sixty two times, with four of them going to the Number One spot on the charts.  He also has credit for fourteen additional Top Ten records.  His biggest hits were "Soul Song", "All These Things", a duet with Moe Bandy, "Just Good Ol' Boys", and "Roll On Big Mama". 

In 1944, D-Day, Grant Turner debuted as Grand Ole Opry announcer.

In 1953, after his death, Hank Williams scored a Number One again with "Take These Chains From My Heart".   This hit occupied the top spot for four weeks. 

In 1955, singer-songwriter Curtis Wright was born. 

In 1964, Buck Owens added another Number One to his collection with "Together Again".  It owned the spot for two weeks. 

In 1970, "Hello, Darlin'" became a Number One and a fan favorite for Conway Twitty.  This signature tune stayed at the top of the charts for four weeks. 

In 1973, Lisa Brokop was born in Canada. Though she charted six times, this talented performer never received the break she needed.

In 1981, Razzy Bailey scored a chart-topper with "Friends", one of his five chart toppers. 

In 1987, Dan Seals went to Number One on the charts with "I Will Be There". 

In 1984, Lorrie Morgan, daughter of George Morgan, joined the Grand Ole Opry. 

June 5 in Country Music History

In 1943, The Grand Ole Opry moved from War Memorial Auditorium to the Ryman Auditorium, where it would stay until 1974. 

In 1945, Don Reid of the Statler Brothers was born in Staunton, Virginia. That's what the book says. I was just wondering how he got to be a member of the Class of '57 at age twelve. (I always thought Harold was the smart one).

In 1948, Patricia Gail Dickerson, aka Gail Davies, was born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. A major part of the "Caught In The Webb" tribute, she is one of the unsung greats in our industry. She put over twenty hits on the charts, with many of them being Top Ten hits.  Not only is she a major talent, she is a very nice lady who always has time for the fans

In 1948, Eddie Arnold went to the top spot on the charts with "Bouquet of Roses". He owned this spot from November 1,1947 until January 22, 1949, with "I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms", "Anytime", "Bouquet of Roses", "Texarkana Baby", "Just A Little Lovin" (Will Go A Long Way", and "A Heart Full Of Love(For A Handful Of Kisses)", with Jimmy Wakely being the only other artist to hold the position with "One Has My Name(The Other Has My Heart)" for eleven weeks.  By the way, on other charts, his "Texarkana Baby" was Number One on this date. 

In 1965, The Tennessee Plowboy, Eddy Arnold, scored a Number One with "What's He Doing In My World". 

In 1967, Lonzo Sullivan of Lonzo and Oscar passed away.

In 1971, Lynn Anderson began a two week stint at the top of the charts with "You're My Man".  With sixty charted hits, five of which were Number Ones, and thirteen more Top Tens, she certainly deserves respect as a country music artist.  

In 1972, Big John graduated from Milton High School, despite the fact that he rarely showed up for classes.  He has sung on TV, sponsored concerts, worked as a promoter, worked in artist management, and worked with his daughter in Takingthecountryback.com.  

In 1980, "Urban Cowboy" premiered in Houston, Texas. 

In 1982, T.G. Sheppard had a Number One, "Finally". Actually it was one of fourteen chart toppers for this star who peaked in the 80s.

In 1993, Toby Keith hit Number One with "Should've Been A Cowboy". Sometimes I wish he had been. 

In 1993, Country Music Hall of Famer Conway Twitty died in Missouri from an aneurysm.  Conway had an astounding forty Number One country hits, and another thirty five Top Ten hist, from a total of ninety seven charted country hits.  No wonder he was called "The Best Friend A Song Ever Had". 

June 4 in Country Music History

In 1910, Ruby Owens, aka Texas Ruby, was born in Wise County, Texas.

In 1924, actor Dennis Weaver was born. Known especially for his appearances as Chester on Gunsmoke, and "McCloud", he was also passionate about his country music, having appeared in a Trio along with Amanda Blake and Milburn Stone that broke attendance records, and also was host of the syndicated show, "Country Top Twenty" which also featured Frizzell and West at the very first of their career as solo and duet stars.

In 1929, The Midnight Cowboy, Bill Mack, was born in Shamrock, Texas.  He also was a talented singer and songwriter, as well as a tv host, who probably is most famous for hosting Buck Owen's syndicated show.  He wrote several big hits, including "Drinking Champagne", "Blue", and the great gospel standard, "Clinging To A Saving Hand". 

In 1937, Pee Wee King debuted on the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1937, Baldemar O. Huerta, aka Freddy Fender, was born in San Benito, Texas. He charted twenty one hits in his career, which also was filled with acting and stints as a member of major bands, including the Texas Tornadoes and Los Super Seven.  Among his hits were four of the most well known hits in country music, all Number Ones:  "Before The Next Teardrop Falls", "Wasted Days And Wasted Nights", "Secret Love", and "You'll Lose A Good Thing".  Having met this fantastic entertainer, I remember him as a very gracious, and appreciative person.  We once watched two shows, and he mingled with the crowds, signed autographs, posed for pictures, and even danced with many of the ladies.  He was much like Gene Watson in this respect. 

In 1974, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner performed as a regular act for the last time on the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1982, the first Alabama Jam debuted in Fort Payne, Alabama.

In 1983, Waylon Jennings scored a Number One with "Lucille (You Won't Do Your Daddy's Will)".

In 1988, Earl Thomas Conley clinched the top spot on the charts with "What She Is (Is A Woman In Love).

In 1994, early Grand Ole Opry star Zeke Clement passed away in Nashville.

In 2001, the talented John Hartford passed away.  He was a singer, songwriter, TV star, and musician, who could play many instruments, although he was most famous for his ability as a guitarist and banjo player.  He wrote "Gentle On My Mind", which gave him the financial independence to enjoy his life in the entertainment business.  I can still remember him walking around at Fan Fair at the old State Fairgrounds.  He was quiet, and unassuming, even though he was one of the most talented people in the world. 

June 3 in Country Music History

In 1914, Curly Williams was born in Cairo, Georgia. He wrote "Half As Much", made famous by Hank Williams. 

In 1927, Boots Randolph was born in Paducah, Kentucky.  He is famous for his "Yakety Sax". 

In 1948, Too Slim of Riders in the Sky was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Riders in the Sky is known for writing, scoring movies, and their two Grammy awards. 

In 1949, Hank Williams said good bye to the Louisiana Hayride audience before moving up to the Grand Ole Opry. 

In 1967, Bakersfield Sound pioneer and Missouri Country Music Hall of Famer Wynn Stewart went to Number One on the charts with the top song of his career: "It's Such A Pretty World Today".  It held the position for two weeks. 

In 1972, the sunshine shined on Donna Fargo and her Number One hit "The Happiest Girl In The Whole USA". It stayed there for three weeks.

In 1989, Steve Wariner went to Number One with "Where Did I Go Wrong".

In 1994, Grand Ole Opry member Wally Fowler passed away. 

In 1995, Van Stoneman of the Stoneman Family passed away.

In 2000, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw were arrested in Buffalo, New York. The charges should have been conspiring to be impersonating COUNTRY singers.  However, looking back, they are both more talented than most of the current crop of "country" singers. 

June 2 in Country Music History

In 1927, Carl Butler of Carl and Pearl Butler was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In 1958, The Everly Brothers went to Number One on the charts with "All I Have To Do Is Dream".  It stayed there for three weeks.  I wonder how many times Ira Louvin had to rebuild his mandolin listening to them perform this on the Opry? 

In 1984, Ricky Skaggs added a Number One to his collection with "Honey (Open That Door)".

In 1990, Ricky Shelton scored a Number One with "I've Cried My Last Tear For You". 

In 1998, Helen Carter, of the Carter Sisters, and daughter of Mother Maybelle Carter, passed away.