August 28th:
1925
Born on this day in Benton, Illinois, was Billy Grammer, country music singer and accomplished guitar player. He recorded the million-selling “Gotta Travel On”, which made it onto both the country and pop music charts in 1959. Grammer would become a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry, eventually designing, and marketing his namesake guitar after co-founding a guitar company, in Nashville, Tennessee. He died on Aug 10th 2011.
1937
Born on this day, was Joe Osborn, American bass guitar player known for his work as a session musician and one time member of The Wrecking Crew. He worked with Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, and Hank Williams, Jr. One count listed Osborn as bassist on fifty-three #1 hits on the country charts.
1965
Born on this day in Windsor, Ontario, was Shania Twain, Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time selling more than 40 million copies worldwide. Twain has won 5 Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter awards and is sometimes referred to as “The Queen of Country Pop”, she is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time, having sold over 80 million albums.
1968
Tammy Wynette recorded “Stand By Your Man” at Epic studios after an idea that came from producer, Billy Sherrill. Wynette and Sherril completed the song in 15 minutes. It proved to be the most successful record of Wynette’s career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music. The song was placed at #1 on CMT’slist of the Top 100 Country Songs. The song has appeared in various films, including: Five Easy Pieces, The Blues Brothers, The Crying Game, Sleepless in Seattle, Four Weddings and a Funeral and GoldenEye.
1981
Born on this day in Vero Beach, Florida, was Jake Owen, country music singer, songwriter. In September 2011, Owen achieved his first #1 on the country charts with the title track to his third album, Barefoot Blue Jean Night. He has also toured as an opening act for several country acts, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Sugarland, and Keith Urban.
1982
Born on this day in Star, Mississippi, was LeAnn Rimes country/pop singer, known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Bill Mack song “Blue” when she was 13 to become the youngest country music star since Tanya Tucker in 1972.
1989
Born on this day in Palm Beach, Florida, was Cassadee Pope, singer-songwriter. She took part in the third season of NBC’s The Voice and was crowned the winner on December 18, 2012. Her debut solo country album, Frame by Frame, was released in 2013. The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Country Albums charts, and was preceded by Top 10 country single, “Wasting All These Tears”.
1998
Latin American country singer Johnny Rodriguez was arrested at his home after shooting and killing a “drinking buddy” of his, Israel “Bosco” Borrego, whom he mistook for a burglar. He was charged with murder but was acquitted by a jury a year later on grounds of self-defense, under Texas law. On the eve of his trial, he was asked if his life was like a country song. “I guess it is,” he said, “A bad one.”
2013
Alexandra Jane Jackson, the daughter of country music star Alan Jackson was arrested on charges of underage consumption, assault and resisting arrest in Nashville. Police pulled over the car Alexandra Jackson was a passenger for tailgating and speeding and when she exited the vehicle, she started making demands and struck the officer in the chest.
