In 1886, Wendell Hall was born in St. George, Kansas. Though this country singer had many hits, including the two million seller "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More", he was more noted for his designs of ukeleles and banjo ukeleles, as the ones shown in the "Matlock" series.
In 1916, Tootsie Bess was born. In the sixties and seventies she ran Tootsies Little Orchid Lounge, probably the most famous honky-tonk in the world. She was the second Tootsie to own and run the bar, and she was there when Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, and Faron Young made it their home away from home, and many famous songs probably had their births in that bar. Singers could go out the back door, across the alley, and they were in the old Ryman Auditorium.
In 1917, Tex Williams was born in Ramsey, Illinois. He was a popular Country singer even before there was a chart for country, and he scored many hits. His biggest hit was probably "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)", and he had many others including "The California Polka", "That's What I Like About The West", and "Life Gits Tee-jus Don't It?" He was a singer-songwriter who played the guitar and harmonica.
In 1947, Rex Allen, Jr was born in Chicago, Illinois. The son of the Cowboy singer Rex Allen, Jr. went on to become a noted singer himself, having 24 Top Forty records out of 32 charted releases, and starring in several television shows.
In 1949, the singer, composer, and fiddler known as Woody Paul of Riders in the Sky, was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He is considered the "King of the Cowboy Fiddlers", and worked regularly with Sam McGee and others through the sixties on the Grand Ole Opry. He attended Vanderbilt University and earned a PhD. in physics from MIT. The group has won more than one Grammy, and are members of the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1952, Kitty Wells went to Number One on the charts with her career record "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".
In 1963, Milton Estes, a musician who played guitar, bass, mandolin, and piano, passed away. He worked with Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys, Stamps-Baxter's Lone Star Quartet, as the Old Flour Peddler with his Musical Millers to promote Martha White Flour. As a great emcee, he will be remembered for his Martha White slogan, "Goodness, Gracious, It's Good".
In 1969, Johnny Cash went to the Number One spot on the charts with "A Boy Named Sue".
In 1975, "Rhinestone Cowboy" Glen Campbell had a Number One hit by that name that began a three week run at the top of the charts.
In 1980, Eddie Rabbitt was atop the charts with "Drivin' My Life Away".
In 1986, T.G. Sheppard had a Number One hit entitled "Strong Heart".
