In 1921, Hawkshaw Hawkins was born in Huntingdon, West Virginia. His only Number One came after his death in a plane crash in which Patsy Cline, Randy Hughes, and Cowboy Copas were also killed. "Lonesome7-7203" stayed at the top of the charts for four weeks. At the time of his death, he was married to Jean Shepard.
In 1938, the multi-talented Red Steagall was born in Gainesville, Texas. He is most well known in the 2000s as a cowboy poet and singer, but he has done tv, radio, and movie work, and has been involved in all facets of the music industry. He was the one who discovered Reba McEntire.
In 1951, Carl Smith was at the top of the charts with "Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way", a song that stayed there for eight weeks.
In 1960, Chuck Mead, of BR-549,was born in Nevada, Missouri.
In 1962, Paul Martin, of Exile, was born in Winchester, Kentucky. He is now known as one of the members of Marty Stuart's band, The Fabulous Superlatives.
In 1973, Merle Haggard began a four week run at the top of the charts with "If We Make It Through December", which was written by the Hag about one of his backing group, the Strangers, and that member's trouble's with the opposite sex.
In 1984, The Judds were at Number One for two weeks with "Why Not Me".
In 2003, Dave Dudley died after suffering a heart attack near his home in Wisconsin. He charted forty-one times with the first thirty all being Top Forty hits, many of them in the Top Ten. His biggest hits were "Pool Shark", "Six Days On The Road", and "Truck Drivin' Son-Of-A-Gun".
