1942
Born on this day in Buffalo, New York, was Jack Blanchard who with his wife, Misty Morgan had hits in 1970s, including the charting albums Birds of a Feather and Two Sides of Jack and Misty. Between 1969 and 1976, the duo also released fourteen singles, including “Tennessee Bird Walk”, a #1 hit.
1963
Born on this day in Greenwood, South Carolina, was Keith Harling, country music artist. He made his debut in 1998 with the album Write It in Stone which produced four hit singles including “Papa Bear”.
1976
Johnny Cash received an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from San Diego’s National University. San Diego mayor Pete Wilson also declared this day �Johnny Cash Day�.
2005
Mindy McCready’s boyfriend William “Billy” McKnight, an aspiring country singer, was charged with attempted murder and aggravated burglary after allegedly breaking into the singers home and assaulting her. She was treated at a hospital and he later pleaded not guilty, and then pleads guilty to assault after the charges are reduced and spends 30 days in jail.
2008
American singer, songwriter Eddy Arnold died in a nursing home in Nashville, exactly one week before his 90th birthday. So-called �Nashville sound� innovator of the late 1950s, Arnold scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones and has sold more than 85 million records. He co-wrote with Cindy Walker the country and pop standard “You Don’t Know Me” which became a hit for Ray Charles in 1962.
2009
Dolly Parton gave the commencement speech at the commencement ceremony in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Arts and Sciences. During the ceremony she received an honorary degree, a doctorate of humane and musical letters, from the university. It was only the second honorary degree given by the university.
2011
Why Not? with Shania Twain premiered on the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The American reality television series starring Shania Twain shed light on the journey of the singer, who by the age of 22, had survived a childhood of poverty and the loss of both her parents in an accident as well as her personal tragedies and how she’s now dealing with them.
