August 17th:
1921
Born on this day was American country singer and harmonica player Wayne Raney. His longtime musical associate was Lonnie Glosson and the two men established a harmonica mail order business which sold millions of harmonicas and played a major role in turning the harmonica into a widely popular instrument. His 1949 single, “Why Don’t You Haul Off and Love Me”, was a #1 country hit. He died on January 23, 1993.
1952
Hank Williams was arrested in Alexander City, Alabama for public drunkeness. The famous and much used photo of Hank Williams shirtless was taken as he was let out of jail later in the day.
1955
Born on this day in Long Beach, California, was Kevin Welch, country music artist who has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
1964
Born on this day in Los Angeles, California, was Maria McKee, singer and songwriter who is best known for her work with Lone Justice and her 1990 UK solo chart-topping hit, “Show Me Heaven”. Many country atrists have covered her songs including The Dixie Chicks, “Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way?)”, and Dwight Yoakam who with Maria McKee recorded “Bury Me” on his debut album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
1985
Highwayman featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson was at #1 on the Billboard Country album chart.
1991
George Strait’s “You Know Me Better Than That” was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart, the second single from his 1991 album Chill of an Early Fall.
2007
Uncle Kracker was arrested and charged with second-degree forcible sex after a 26-year-old woman claimed he committed a sexual act against her at a nightclub in Raleigh, N.C. The 33-year-old singer and rapper, whose real name is Matthew Shafer, was booked into the Wake County Jail after being arrested at a hotel in a Raleigh suburb. Bond was set at $5 million. His duet “When the Sun Goes Down,” with Kenny Chesney, spent five weeks at the top of Billboard’s country chart in 2004.
2008
Linda Ronstadt received a tribute by various artists including BeBe Winans and Wynonna Judd, when she was honored with the Trailblazer Award, presented to her by Plácido Domingo at the 2008 ALMA Awards a ceremony later televised in the US on ABC.
2014
Johnny Cash’s childhood home was opened to the public as part of a drive to revitalise the Arkansas town where he grew up. The Cash family moved to the house in Dyess in 1935, when Johnny was three, as part of a government drive to help families after the Great Depression. The five-room wooden home had been refurbished and featured the family’s piano as well as other period items.
