October 26 in Country Music History

In 1985, the Oak Ridge Boys were at Number One with "Touch A Hand, Make A Friend". 

In 1991, Travis Tritt began a two week run at the top of the charts with "Anymore". 

In 1999, singer, songwriter, and actor Hoyt Axton passed away.  Although he wasn't a regular on the charts, he did have a top ten with "Boney Fingers".  As a songwriter, he had many smash hits, including "Joy to the World", "Never Been To Spain", "The Pusher", and "Greenback Dollar".  He was the son of Mae Boren Axton who  was a songwriter of note, including a credit on "Heartbreak Hotel".

June 13 in Country Music History

In 1959, Roy Drusky joined the Grand Ole Opry. This popular singer with the smooth baritone was oftened compared to Eddie Arnold. He and Priscilla Mitchell(Jerry Reed's wife) had a Number One with "Yes, Mr. Peters", and he also had big hits with "Second Hand Rose", "Peel Me A Nanner", "(From Now On All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers, "Rainbows and Roses", and "Red Red Wine".

In 1981, Kenny Rogers and Dottie West went to Number One on the Charts as they sang "What Are We Doing In Love". 

In 1987, Randy Travis was at Number One with "Forever and Ever, Amen".  It spent three weeks there. 

In 1996, gospel star Wendy Bagwell passed away. Most famous for his snake story, he and the Sunliters were a major force in Southern gospel music.

June 12 in Country Music History

In 1952, singer-songwriter-guitarist Junior Brown was born in Kirksville, Indiana.  He only had two charted hits, but this talented artist is in demand on the true country circuit, as he has a great voice, and is great on that combination steel guitar/electric guitar that he built, called a guitsteel. 

In 1954, Johnny and Jack went to Number One with "(Oh Baby Mine )I Get So Lonely".  It held that position for two weeks. 

In 1965, Tex Ritter joined the Grand Ole Opry.  This talented performer is a Hall of Fame member had twenty five charted hits.  Of his first fifteen, fourteen were Top Tens, with the other being a Number Fifteen.  Of those Top Tens, three were Number Ones, and three were Number Twos.  He has an impressive resume as a singer, guitarist and actor.

In 1976, Crystal Gale went to the top of the charts with "I'll Get Over You".

In 1978, singer-songwriter-actor-author Johnny Bond died in Burbank, California.  He wrote "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight", one of my favorite songs, which is good enough to be anybody's Number One.

In 1980, Milburn Stone, aka Doc Galen Adams to Gunsmoke fans, and a member of the Wester Performers Hall of Fame at the National Western and Cowboy Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away.  He also was a talented singer and square dance caller.

In 1982, The Bellamy Brothers scored a Number One "For All The Wrong Reasons".

In 2008, Danny Davis, leader of the Nashville Brass, passed away after suffering a heart attack. 

June 11 in Country Music History

In 1939, Wilma Burgess was born in Orlando, Florida.  "Misty Blue" was the biggest of her fifteen charted hits, topping out at Number Four. 

In 1949 Hank Williams debuted as a guest on the Grand Ole Opry. He appeared on the 9:30-10:00 PM segment sponsored by Warren Paint, and hosted by Ernest Tubb. He sang "Lovesick Blues," and received six encores, according to legend.  Porter Wagoner has said that this happened on his first visit to the Opry, when he was just a fan with the price of admission in his pocket. 

In 1969, Jay McDowell of BR-549 was born in Bedford, Indiana.  Though they only charted three times, this band has always been one of the best, and most talented, in country music.  They lean towards the old sounds which were popular when Bob Wills, Hank Williams, and Ray Price ruled the charts.


In 1979, the great Western actor John Wayne passed away from cancer.

In 1983, Crystal Gayle went to Number One with "Our Love Is On The Faultline".

In 1988, Patty Loveless, cousin of Loretta Lynn, joined the Grand Ole Opry.  She has charted forty four times with five of them being Number One hits.  Fourteen more of her songs were Top Ten hits, so she has had a great career.  She is one of the most talented female singers in the history of country music, as she, like Janie Fricke, has sang back up on many cuts for other performers.  

In 1988, Randy Travis scored a chart topper with "I Told You So".  The hit stayed at Number One for two weeks. 

In 1994, Brooks and Dunn went to Number One with "That Ain't No Way To Go".

June 10 in Country Music History

In 1944, Nat King Cole went to Number One on the newly christened country charts with "Straighten Up And Fly Right".  He owned that spot for six weeks. 

In 1952, Thom Schuyler, once a part of SKO, Schuyler, Knobloch, and Overstreet, and also Schulyer, Knobloch, and Bickhardt,   and noted singer, songwriter, and music executive, was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  As a performer, he has been associated as a solo artist or part of the above three acts with charted hits a total of nine times, including with the Number One hit, "Baby's Got A New Baby". 

In 1978, Willie Nelson had a Number One with "Georgia On My Mind".

In 1988, Herman Crook of the Crook Brothers passed away.  He was the harmonica player for the immensely popular group. 

In 1988, Ricky Van Shelton joined the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1989, Clint Black was leaving here a "Better Man" with a Number One attached to it.  I often wonder how big a star Clint Black would have been if he had stuck with the kind of material with which he was so successful at the beginning of his career, like this one, and "Killin' Time". 

In 1997, one of our favorites, Carolina Cotton, passed away from cancer. 

In 1998, Steve Sanders, who was associated with the Oak Ridge Boys as a singer and musician, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Florida. We have a gospel album he recorded as a youngster that listed him as Little Stevie Sanders. He also worked as an actor, and was particularly memorable in an episode of "Gunsmoke".

In 2004, Ray Charles, whose album, "Modern Sounds In Country and Western" redefined the parameters of country music, passed away after a bout with cancer.