1931
Born on this day near Owasso, Oklahoma was American rockabilly and swing musician Tommy Allsup. He worked with Buddy Holly and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Allsup was touring with Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson when he serendipitously lost a fateful coin toss with Valens for a seat on the plane that crashed, killing Valens, Holly, Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson on February 3, 1959. As a producer he worked with Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison. He died on January 11, 2017 age 85.
1973
Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with “The Most Beautiful Girl” which was also a #1 on the pop charts. “The Most Beautiful Girl” was also recorded by Slim Whitman in the 1970s.
1976
Wanted: The Outlaws, featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter, became the first country album to receive the new platinum certification, signifying one million units sold.
1981
Johnny Cash was honoured with the Pride Of Tennessee Award for his promotion of a statewide campaign against adult illiteracy. The recent movie Pride of Jessie Hallam was the basis for the award, which was established by Governor Lamar Alexander.
1986
Born on this day in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was Megan Mullins, country music singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. At the age of eighteen, she made her debut on the country music scene with the single “Ain’t What It Used to Be”.
1991
Hot Country Nights began a one-season run on NBC. The series was created to cash in on the exploding popularity of country music, and showcased several acts on each episode; featured on the premiere were Alabama, Clint Black, K.T. Oslin, Kenny Rogers and Pam Tillis.
1998
Ashland, Kentucky, proclaimed Billy Ray Cyrus Day, presenting the singer with a key to the city. A section of Kentucky Route 693 in nearby Flatwoods was renamed Billy Ray Cyrus Boulevard.
2001
Toby Keith’s was at #1 on Billboard country singles chart with “I Wanna Talk About Me”. His second single from the album Pull My Chain became his seventh chart topper.
2013
Country music winners at this years American Music Awards included; Favorite Country Male Artist – Luke Bryan, Favorite Country Female Artist – Taylor Swift, Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group – Lady Antebellum and the Favorite Country Album – Red, Taylor Swift.
