In 1928, renowned guitarist Luther Perkins was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the guitarist who pioneered the "boom-chicka-boom" sound behind Johnny Cash, with whom he toured for almost his entire career, until his death in 1968.
In 1935, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He had a twin brother, who was buried in an unmarked grave in a shoebox. Elvis went on to become THE most famous entertainer of his time, and probably all time. Even though he was rock-a-billy, rock and roll, and pop, he would visit the country charts 85 times, with ten of those being Number Ones. Many of country musics biggest stars owe their careers to breaks or jobs given them by Elvis, who was one of the most gracious entertainers, believing in sharing his wealth, and treating all people as equals.
In 1940, country and gospel singer Christy Lane was born in Peoria, Illinois. Though she is most well known for her Number One country his, "One Day At A Time", which is a gospel recording, she did have quite a few visits to the country charts as a country act.
In 1944, Taz Gregoria, long time member of the Charlie Daniels Band, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts.
In 1944, "Pistol Packin' Momma" became the FIRST country hit on the newly founded Billboard Country and Western Charts. It was performed by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, and stayed at Number One for five weeks.
Iin 1955, Carl Smith began a seven week run at the top of the charts with "Loose Talk". It was his last Number One, although he charted more than seventy hits after this one.
In 1966, Red Sovine started a six week stint atop the charts with "GiddyUp Go". It was one of the three biggest songs of his career, with the other two being "Teddy Bear" and "Why Baby Why".
In 1972, "Would You Take Another Chance On Me" became Jerry Lee Lewis' fifth country music Number One.
In 1977, Crash Craddock was at Number One with "Broken Down In Tiny Pieces".
In 1979, the artist known as Sara Carter, a member of the original Carter family trio, passed away in Lodi, California. She, A.P. and Maybelle were the original members who recorded in Ralph Peer's Bristol sessions, which took the group to fame and fortune.
In 1983, Reba McEntire scored her first Number One record with "Can't Even Get The Blues".
In 2003, Marvin Douglas Brown, one of the convicted murderers of Stringbean Aikman, passed away within the walls of Brushy Mountain Prison in Tennessee from natural causes. He should have been executed.
