In 1929, my favorite auctioneer, Leroy Van Dyke, was born in Spring Fork, Missouri. Who'll give me twenty bid..........
In 1937, one of the best steel guitarists, who has performed on many of the best traditional and classic country recordings, Lloyd Green, was born in Leaf, Mississippi, although he did soon move to Mobile, Alabama with his family.
In 1960, Greg Hubbard, of Sawyer Brown, was born in Orlando, Florida. He not only plays the keyboards, but is a good singer and songwriter.
In 1969, Sonny James was at the top of the charts with "Since I Met You, Baby".
In 1975, Willie Nelson was atop the charts for the first time in his career with "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain", written by the late, great Fred Rose.
In 1980, T.G.Shepard was atop the charts as he croone, "Do You Wanna To Go To Heaven".
In 1986, one of the greatest of female voices of country music who has not only created some of the best duets, and harmonies with others, was atop the charts in her own solo version of "Always Have Always Will". Janie Fricke is one of the most successful, and most recorded female stars of her era.
In 1996, legendary country fiddler Jerry Rivers passed away from cancer. Here at the old ranch house, we feel very fortunate that we saw him many times with the Drifting Cowboy Band, as they toured, and later backing Jett Williams, and finally at one last Midnight Jamboree show in June of 1996. Burrhead was given the job as Hank Williams' regular fiddler after he proved that he was a better performer of "Sally Goodin" than Hank. He is one of the old time icons, reinforced by his work with not only Hank, but Faron, Ferlin, Marty, and Hank Jr., who will always be remembered as long as there is one soul who remembers what country music WITH soul sounded like. Kick off "Jambalaya for us, Burrhead".
In 1999, Doodle Owens passed away. Owens was one of the best traditional country song writers in the genre, having had a hand in several of the best songs of the times when country was truly country. Probably the biggest song that he worked on was "All I Have To Offer You Is Me", by Charley Pride, and he also had two more Number Ones as a writer with works recorded by Pride. He also is credited with some of the best songs by Moe Bandy, Gene Watson, George Jones, and even "Fourteen Minutes Old" by Doug Stone. He leaves us quite a bit of great work.
In 2000, Charley Pride and Faron Young were inducted into the Hall of Fame, with Young going in posthumously.
