In 1918, singer Red Sovine was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He was probably best known for his hits "Why Baby Why" with Webb Pierce, "Giddy-Up Go", "Phantom 309", "Teddy Bear", and "Little Rosa".
In
1951, Harry Choates, "Fiddle King Of Cajun Swing" died in a jail cell
in Austin, Texas after allegedly putting himself into a coma by banging
his head on the jail cell bars.
In 1952, Nicolette Larson was born in Helena, Montana.
In 1964, Craig Morgan was born. He is one of my favorites to come along in the past fifteen years.
In 1974, perhaps the best sideman of all time passed away in California. Don Rich of the Buckaroos died in a mysterious motorcycle accident on Highway 1. He was a superb fiddler, lead guitarist, vocalist, and especially harmony singer, who contributed much to the musical career of Buck Owens. He will forever be remembered by us for his many contributions to Country Music.
In 1974, Jay Hanna Dean, also known as Dizzy, passed away in Reno, Nevada. This Hall of Fame pitcher, who was the last National Leaguer to win thirty games in a season, was also known for being a sportscaster who loved Roy Acuff and his "Wabash Cannonball". He was the one who nicknamed Roy Acuff the "King of Country Music".
In 1976, Red Sovine celebrated his birthday with a Number One Record. "Teddy Bear" was a hit in the golden age of cb radio. Though still used in big trucks today, cell phones have rendered them as just a minor communications device. "Teddy Bear" held the top spot for three weeks.
In 1982, Barbara Mandrell aced a Number One with "'Til You're Gone".
In 1985, another pioneering Bakersfield Sound artist passed away. Wynn Stewart was most well known for "It's Such A Pretty World Today", but he was a major influence on Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, who basically owned the Country Music Charts in the 60s and 70s.
In 1993, "Chattahoochee" became the Number One song for Alan Jackson. Enough said.
In 2010, guitarist Fred Carter, Jr. passed away in Nashville, Tennessee. Though young fans will know him as the father of Deanna Carter, he was a world class guitarist who performed on many records, and is most well known for his work on "El Paso" with Marty Robbins. He also did some great things on Vern Gosdin cuts.
