In 1915, one of the premier producers in Nashville for many years, Owen Bradley, who produced Patsy Cline, Jan Howard, Loretta Lynn, and Mandy Barnett among many others, was born in Westmoreland, Tennessee.
In 1932, Roy Nichols, one of the best guitarists in the world, was born in Chandler, Arizona. He was lead guitarist for Merle Haggard for more than two decades.
In 1935, Malachi King Street, better known as Mel Street, was born in Grundy, Virginia. Mel, who took his own life, was a major influence on George Jones and George Strait, as well as many others. He is one of the best country performers who never had a Number One Hit, even though he had an impressive collection of great songs.
In 1978, Mel Street committed suicide on his forty third birthday. We lost one hell of a great country singer.
In 1978, Dave and Sugar went to the top of the charts with "Tear Time".
In 1989, Ricky Van Shelton sat atop the charts with "Living Proof".
In 1995, Garth Brooks was on the top of the charts with "She's Every Woman". Country music had certainly taken a fall from the great songs of the past.
