In 1915, Chubby Wise, great fiddler, was born in Lake City, Florida.
In 1927, Leon Rausch, Country and Western Swing vocalist, was born in Springfield, Missouri.
In 1946, Jo-El Sonnier was born in Rayne, Louisiana.
In 1948, cowboy and singer Chris Ledoux was born in Biloxi, Mississippi.
In 1952, Shelia Shipley Biddy was born in Scottsville, Kentucky. A few of you and I had dinner with her at a Danni Leigh fan club party in the late 1990s. She was the first female appointed as head executive of a major label.
In 1954, Elvis made his debut and last appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1954, Greg Jennings, of Restless Heart, was born in Nicoma Park, Oklahoma, where he had "Big Dreams In A Small Town".
In 1961, Joy Lynn White was born in Turrell, Arkansas. I only put this in because we once worked on the same show together in Foley, Alabama, and she was a good performer, and a nice person.
In 1965, Buck Owens was enjoying a week at the top of the charts with "Only You (Can Break My Heart).
In 1967, Gillian Welch was born in New York City, New York. She worked as an artist and an associate producer on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack.
In 1976, Tanya Tucker was atop the charts with "Here's Some Love".
In 1982, Mickey Gilley topped the charts with "Put Your Dreams Away".
In 1998, Cowboy singer and actor Gene Autry passed away in Studio City, California.
In 1998, Merle Haggard, Tracy Lawrence, and Mark Wills headlined at the Mobile BayFest in Mobile, Alabama, with special on stage guests including Big John, Liz and Erin Burris, and Joyce Campbell.
