1917
Born on this day in Stockton, California, was Cliffie Stone, singer, musician, record producer, music publisher, and radio and TV personality who was pivotal in the development of California’s thriving country music scene after World War II during a career that lasted six decades. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
1949
Working at Nashville’s Castle Recording Studio, Hank Williams recorded “Mind Your Own Business,” “Honky Tonk Blues,” “You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave)” and “Lost Highway”.
1954
Born on this day, in Cleveland, Ohio, was Catherine Bach, actress, known for playing Daisy Duke in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard that aired on the CBStelevision network from 1979 to 1985. The producers were looking for a Dolly Parton-lookalike; despite not looking like what they were searching for, she was hired on the spot. At the hight of the show a poster of ‘Daisy’ in her cut-off jeans sold over 5 million copies.
1961
Born on this day in Arlington Heights, Illinois, was Davis Daniel, country music artist. Seven of his singles entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the Top 40 hits “Picture Me”, “For Crying Out Loud” and “Fighting Fire with Fire.”
1964
Born on this day in Martinsville, Virginia, was Clinton Gregory, country and bluegrass singer, songwriter, and fiddler. His highest charting single is the 1991 “Play, Ruby, Play”, which reached #25.
1968
Johnny Cash married June Carter. Johnny had proposed to June while onstage in London, Ontario the previous month. Cash and Carter continued to work together and tour for 35 years until Carter’s death in 2003. Cash died four months later.
1975
Country music winners at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female – Anne Murray for “Love Song”, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male – Ronnie Milsap for “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends”, Best Country Instrumental Performance – Chet Atkins & Merle Travis for The Atkins -Travis Traveling Show, Best Country Song – Billy Sherrill & Norro Wilson (songwriters) for “A Very Special Love Song” performed by Charlie Rich.
1976
Winners at the 11th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Marty Robbins at The Palladium Hollywood included: Top Male Vocalist of the Year – Conway Twitty, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year – Crystal Gayle, Song of the Year went to Glen Campbell for “Rhinestone Cowboy” and Album of the Year went to Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn for Feelings.
1980
Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with the Rodney Crowell-penned song “I Ain’t Living Long Like This.” Emmylou Harris had also coverd the song for her 1978 album, Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town.
1994
Dwight Yoakam won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “Ain’t That Lonely Yet” at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards. Mary Chapin Carpenter won Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for “Passionate Kisses” and Best Country Vocal Collaboration went to Linda Davis & Reba McEntire for “Does He Love You.”
1995
American Recordings won Johnny Cash a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album at the 37th annual awards. Best Country Song went to Gary Baker & Frank J. Myers for “I Swear” performed by John Michael Montgomery.
2005
Nelly featuring Tim McGraw were at #1 on the UK singles chart with “Over And Over”, the third #1 for Nelly, and the first for Grammy Award-winning Country music singer Tim McGraw.
2011
The Country Music Association announced that Reba McEntire would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. McEntire was unable to attend the announcement after her father had slipped into a coma following a stroke.
2016
Don Williams announced his retirement after six decades in the music business. He began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing 17 #1 country hits.
