November 2nd:
1926
Born on this day in Copeville, Texas, was Charlie Walker country musician, Walker worked as a disc jockey in the early 1950s before signing with Decca Records. His first hit, “Only You, Only You” was co-written with Jack Newman and reached #9 on the country chart in 1956. Walker later reached #2 with a Harlan Howard song, “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down”. He died on September 12, 2008.
1961
Born on this day in Edmonton, Alberta, was k.d. lang, Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter who won a Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Country Vocal Collaboration for “Crying” (shared with Roy Orbison) and in 1990 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Absolute Torch and Twang.”
1983
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton were at #1 on the US Country charts with, “Islands In The Stream”. Written by the Bee Gees it was the first single from Rogers’ album Eyes That See in the Dark and the second pop #1 for both Rogers and Parton (Rogers having been there with 1980’s “Lady” and Parton with 1981’s “9 to 5”).
2007
The Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival was held in Starkville, Mississippi. Starkville, where Cash was arrested over 40 years earlier and held overnight at the city jail on May 11, 1965, inspired Cash to write the song “Starkville City Jail”. The festival, where he was offered a symbolic posthumous pardon, honored Cash’s life and music, and was expected to become an annual event.
2013
Betsy Smittle died aged 60. Smittle was Garth Brooks’ half-sister and a longtime member of his band and released a solo album of her own, titled Rough Around the Edges.
2015
American country singer Tommy Overstreet died aged 78. He had five top five hit singles in the Billboard country charts and 11 top 10 singles. His highest charting hit was 1972’s “Ann (Don’t Go Runnin’),” which went to #2.
2015
American country singer Tommy Overstreet died aged 78. Known simply as “T.O.” by fans and radio disc jockeys, Overstreet had five top five hit singles in the Billboardcountry charts and 11 top 10 singles.
