March 8 in Country Music History

In 1937, Jimmy Stoneman of the Stoneman Family was born in Washington, DC. 

In 1939, Lou Dewitt of the Statler Brothers was born in Roanoke, Virginia. 

In 1969, Sonny James began a three week stint at the top of the charts with "Only The Lonely".

In 1975, "Linda On My Mind", by Conway Twitty reached the Number One spot on the charts.

In 1980, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Willie Nelson went to Number One on the Billboard charts.  It stayed there for two weeks.

In 1986, Dolly Parton was atop the charts with "Think About Love".  It was her twentieth Number One hit, out of twenty five, the last with Brad Paisley.   

In 1989, Stuart Hamblen died at the age of eighty. He was considered to be the first Western singer, and was a recording artist, songwriter and an actor. He is probably most remembered for penning the two gospel hits, "It Is No Secret" and "This Old House".  He wrote "It Is No Secret" as the result of a conversation between him and John Wayne. 

In 1997, Toby Keith was at the top of the charts with "Me Too".

In 2009, the country music world lost legend Hank Locklin, from natural causes.  Hank was a native of McLellan, Florida, and was known as the Mayor of McLellan.  He had several of the most revered hits in country music history.  Among these were "Let Me Be the One", "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On", "Please Help Me, I'm Falling", and "The Country Hall of Fame".  He is buried down the road from our ranch house in Mt. Carmel, Florida in the Mount Carmel Methodist Church Cemetery.