1932
Born on this day, was “the King of Rockabilly”, Carl Perkins, American musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and is known for his song “Blue Suede Shoes”. Perkins’ songs were recorded by many artists including: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Johnny Cash. He died on January 19, 1998.
1941
Born on this day in Knox City, Texas, was singer Kay Adams. In the 1960s, Adams arrived on the country scene with the songs “Six Days a Waiting,” “Old Heart Get Ready,” “Anymore,” “Honky Tonk Heartache” and “She Didn’t Color Daddy.” At the inaugural Academy of Country Music Awards , in 1965, Adams was named Top New Female Vocalist.
1942
Born on this day in Dayton, Ohio, was Margo Smith, singer who in the 1970’s scored two US #1 Country hits, “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” and “It Only Hurts for a Little While.” She is also considered a “world class yodeler”.
1953
Born on this day in Greenwich, New York, was Hal Ketchum, country singer, songwriter. His 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold and between 1991 and 2006, Ketchum scored seventeen entries on the Hot Country Songs charts.
1969
Bob Dylan released his ninth studio album Nashville Skyline, which embraced country music. Twenty seven minutes long and with liner notes by Johnny Cash, (who also appeared on the record), at the time of release it was dismissed by some critics as lightweight, but included “Lay, Lady, Lay”, a major hit single for Dylan.
1997
Songwriter Mae Boren Axton died aged 82 after drowning in her bath at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee after an apparent heart attack. Known as the ‘Queen Mother of Nashville’ she wrote over 200 songs including a co-writing credit on the Elvis Presley hit “Heartbreak Hotel”. She worked with Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Tillotson, and Blake Shelton. She was the mother of country singer, songwriter Hoyt Axton.
1998
A public tribute memorial service for Tammy Wynette was held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium featuring performances by Randy Travis, Lorrie Morgan, Rudy Gatlin, The Judds, and Dolly Parton who performed “I Will Always Love You.”
2007
Country singer Tanya Tucker was sued by her manicurist for $300,000 over claims the star’s dog attacked and injured her. Danielle Hobbs stated in court papers that she was bitten by Bella at the singer’s Nashville home and also claimed that the alleged attack, had left her with painful and disfiguring scars on her leg. She stated that Tucker’s assistant told her the dogs were “just babies” and said “they will not hurt you”.
2009
Singer Doug Stone, who charted four #1 country hits in the ’90s, was arrested in Panama City, Florida, for domestic violence against his 21-year-old son, Dustin Brooks, (who played in Stone’s road band in the 2000s). They reportedly engaged in a heated dispute over his son’s car and Stone’s drinking.
