June15 in Country Music History.

In 1771, Rachel Jackson, nee Donelson, was born, later to become Andrew Jackson's wife, and then First Lady of our country. She is buried alongside her husband at the Hermitage outside Nashville proper. If you go to Nashville, check out the Hermitage, and also the Gibson guitars made from the trees felled by a tornado that heavily damaged the plantation several years ago. You won't be disappointed.

In 1892, Tex Owens was born in Killeen, Texas. He was most famous for making the original recording of "Cattle Call" and was the brother of Texas Ruby of Texas Ruby and Curly Fox fame.

In 1917, Leon Payne was born in Alba, Texas. He wrote the following hits: "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me", "Lost Highway", "I Love You Because", "Blue Side of Lonesome", and "You've Still Got A Place in My Heart". He was blind practically all of his life.

In 1937, Waylon Jennings was born in Littlefield, Texas, out there between Lubbock and Muleshoe. In his 64 years of living Waylon packed a lot of living into his life.

In 1941, Harry Nilsson was born. Thought of mostly as a pop songwriter and recording artist, he wrote a few songs that charted on the country charts as well, including "Without You", which was covered by T.G. Sheppard.

In 1949, Jim Varney was born. Most folks know that he was a great country comedian and actor, but do they know that he spent most of the last days of his life writing music with the legendary "Voice" of country music-Vern Gosdin.

In 1956, Cowboy Jack Clement went to work for Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. He is best known for his work with Johnny Cash but also worked with Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis, and wrote an awful lot of songs.

In 1959, Webb Pierce released "I Ain't Never", written by Mel Tillis.

In 1963, Buck Owens went to the top of the charts with the Johnny Russell penned "Act Naturally". Owens got the publishing rights for recording the song, and enjoyed the top spot for four weeks.  

In 1969, HeeHaw debuted on CBS TV with Buck Owens, Roy Clark, and the Buckaroos. It lasted through 25 years even though it only made it until 1971 on CBS.

In 1974, Charlie Rich was Number One with "I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore". He had three Number Ones within the year.

In 1985, a "Country Boy", Ricky Skaggs was at the top of the charts. People forget that Skaggs was charting with many hard core country songs all during the eighties, and had eleven number ones.

In 1986, C.F.Martin III, of Martin Guitars, passed away.  

In 1986, Ruby Falls passed away in Nashville, Tennessee. She was a black singer-songwriter who had nine charted songs in the seventies.

In 1991, Cousin Minnie Pearl appeared on the road for the last time in Joliet, Illinois. Mrs. Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon was probably the most beloved member of the Grand Ole Opry for many decades. Although she was known for her humor, she was also known as an educated, proper lady away from the limelight.

In 1991, "If The Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets) by Joe Diffie went to the Number One to put some cash in the Regular Joe's pockets. On his first three hits he had a number one, a number two, and this was another number one, a pretty good start to a career that saw five number ones and thirteen top tens.