In 1931, Hal Durham was born. He was General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry, and served as announcer on the program, also.
In 1934, VERN GOSDIN WAS BORN IN WOODLAND, ALABAMA. THE SINGER KNOWN AS "THE VOICE" WAS PROBABLY THE BEST PURE VOICE IN COUNTRY MUSIC, VERN HAS HAD A NUMBER OF
HITS IN HIS LAST THIRTY YEARS. MOST OF HIS GREATEST WORK WAS DONE ON
COMPLEAT RECORDS IN THE LATE SEVENTIES AND THE EARLY EIGHTIES. HE WAS
53 YEARS OF AGE BEFORE HE EVER HAD A MAJOR LABEL CONTRACT, AND STARTED
HAVING PHYSICAL DIFFICULTIES AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER. "THERE IS A
SEASON", "TIME STOOD STILL", AND "CHISELED IN STONE" ALL HAVE TO BE
CONSIDERED AS SOME OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER PRODUCED. MY PERSONAL
FAVORITE TWO SONGS OF VERNS ARE "DEAD FROM THE HEART ON DOWN" AND "FOR A
MINUTE THERE", BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD A VERN GOSDIN SONG I DON'T LIKE.
In 1940, singer-songwriter Bobby Braddock was born in Lakeland, Florida. He cowrote "He Stopped Loving Her Today" with Curley Putman, but is known for being a prolific songwriter who has penned at least thirteen Number One Country records. When he first arrived in Nashville he was the piano player for Marty Robbins.
In 1943, Sammi Smith was born. She is best remembered for her biggest hit, "Help Me Make It Through The Night", penned by Kris Kristofferson. She left us much too soon.
In 1957, "Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley became the Number One Country song in the US.
In 1960, my sources say that W.S.(Fluke)Holland became drummer for Johnny Cash's Tennessee Three.
In 1961, Mark O'Connor was born in Seattle, Washington. He is considered one of the best fiddlers in the country today.
In 1967, Sonny James was atop the charts with "I'll Never Find Another You".
In 1968, Luther Perkins passed away from burns suffered in a house fire triggered attributed to his falling asleep while smoking. He was the acclaimed lead guitarist for Johnny Cash to which the Cash sound was attributed, and with bass player Marshall Grant made up the Tennessee Two. When drummer W.S. (Fluke) Holland was added, the group became the Tennessee Three. Luther is buried close to June and Johnny Cash in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
In 1968, Terry Clark was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
In 1978, Kenny Rogers was afflicted by "Love or Something Like It" and was at the Number One spot on the charts.
In 1989, "Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That" was the musical question from Dolly Parton. The answer was "So you'd get another Number One hit".
In 1995, Alan Jackson went to Number One hit about a waitress that he married and told her "I Don't Even Know Your Name".
In 1998, Texas Playboy guitarist and arranger Eldon Shamblin passed away in a nursing home after a career as one of the most important electric lead guitar players in the early years of Country Music. Between Shamblin and Leon mcAuliffe, they wrote the book on Twin lead guitars, and their influences go beyond Texas Swing to big band, country, and even Southern rock as evidenced in the Allman Brothers Band. It is said that he cut over 300 sides with Bob Wills, and he practically tailored all the songs in a style that fit him AND the Playboys.
