June 1 in Country Music History

In 1886, Elsie McWilliams, sister-in-law of Jimmie Rogers, and cowriter of many of his songs, was born in Mississippi.

In 1915, Country Music Hall of Fame member Johnny Bond was born in Enville, Oklahoma. He was very popular in the forties, and had seven Top Ten hits.  He wrote "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" which may be the best song ever written that did not go to Number One. In fact, I don't think it ever made the charts. Somebody give this song the ride it deserves.

In 1920, Esmereldy, The Streamlined Hillbilly aka Verna Sherrill, and mother of Amy Holland(wife of Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers), was born in Middleton, Tennessee.

In 1925, Jimmie Dale Warren of the Sons of the Pioneers was born in Kentucky.

In 1926, Andy Griffith, talented actor, singer, and musician, was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina. I happened to catch his Opry performance at the Ryman Auditorium, and he was awesome.

In 1935, Hazel Dickens, bluegrass pioneer, was born in West Virginia.

In 1941, talented singer-songwriter-guitarist Wayne Kemp was born in Greenwood, Arkansas.

In 1953, The Lonestar State welcomed the birth of Ronnie Dunn.

In 1974, Ronnie Milsap scored a Number One with "Pure Love".

In 1985, Conway Twitty took "Don't Call Him A Cowboy" to Number One on the Billboard Charts.

In 1991, Alan Jackson released the four million selling "Don't Rock The Jukebox".

In 1991, Diamond Rio took "Meet In The Middle" to Number One on the charts.  It stayed there for two weeks.