August 9th:
1934
Born on this day in Chickasha, Okla, was Wyatt Merle Kilgore, American singer, songwriter, and manager who co-wrote (with June Carter), “Ring Of Fire”, which became a hit for Johnny Cash, ending Cash’s three-year career slump, staying at #1 on the country chart for seven weeks in 1963. Kilgore started his career in country music as a teenage gofer for Hank Williams and ended as the manager of Hank Williams Jr. Kilgore died on February 6, 2005.
1969
Special guests on this week’s Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Diana Trask, Pat Boone who sand a duet “Peace In The Valley” with Cash and Tom T. Hall who played “The Ballad of $40.”
1973
“Lord, Mr. Ford” by Jerry Reed was at #1 on the Country chart, Reed’s second of three #1’s. “Lord, Mr. Ford” is a satire on the social, cultural and economic influence the automobile has had on the American public. The lyrics bemoan the fact that a seemingly simple invention to assist mankind has instead brought nothing but grief.
1980
The Urban Cowboy soundtrack double album was at #1 on the US Country chart. The album spawned numerous Top 10 Billboard Country Singles, such as #1 “Lookin’ for Love” by Johnny Lee, #1 “Stand by Me” by Mickey Gilley, #3 (AC chart), “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray, and #4 “Love the World Away” by Kenny Rogers. The film is said to have started the 1980s boom in pop-country music known as the “Urban Cowboy Movement” also known as Neo-Country or Hill Boogie.
1986
The Judd’s’ “Rockin’ With The Rhythm Of The Rain” was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart, The Judds’ seventh #1 country single.
2003
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett were at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with the Jim “Moose” Brown and Don Rollins penned song, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”. The song spent a total of eight weeks at the top of the chart and won the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Vocal Event of the Year.
