compiled by Bill Morrison

1948 - Jack Guthrie 1915~1948, age 32, Capitol recording artist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, cousin of Woody Guthrie, died in Livermore, California from tuberculosis. Jack’s friend Ernest Tubb helped him get a part in the movie “Hollywood Barn Dance. 

1949 - Flatt and Scruggs released their single “I’m Going To Make My Home In Heaven.”

1949 - Tommy Magness played fiddle on “Black Mountain Rag” with Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys at today’s recording session.  

1952 - Hank Williams wrote “Your Cheatin’ Heart” today. The MGM single charted the following month, and spent 6 weeks at #1. This song is now a Grammy Hall of Fame song.

1959 - Ray Price’s “City Lights” was the #1 song on the country charts. The Columbia single charted in July 1958, topped the charts for 13 weeks, spending a total of 34 weeks on the charts. Bill Anderson wrote the song. 

1966 - Ray Charles’ #1 hit “Crying Time” charted.

1972 - Merle Haggard’s “Carolyn” was Billboard’s #1 record. 

1972 - Sonny James and Jody Miller were featured guests on “Hee Haw.”  

1976 - The Roy Clark Show featuring Buck Trent, and the Oakridge Boys began a two week tour of the Soviet Union. 

1983 - John Anderson charted his second #1 single “Swingin’.” The song was the CMA Single Of The Year. 

1983 - The Wheeling Jamboree USA unveiled its “Walkway of Stars.”

1992 - Johnny Cash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

1995 - Vic Willis 1922~1995, age 72, of “The Willis Brothers,” died in a car wreck in Hohenwald, Tennessee. The Willis Brothers joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1946. 

2000 - Ralph Stanley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

2002 - The Statler Brothers announced their intention to retire from the road, at the completion of this year’s tour. 

2003 - Joe Zinkan 1918~2003, multi-instrumentalist, back-up singer, and session player, died in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Joe played in the bands of Pee Wee King, Kitty Wells and Johnny & Jack. He joined Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys in 1943 and remained with the group for a decade. Joe played on Roy Acuff’s 1947 version of “Wabash Cannonball.” 

2005 - Leslie Wilburn, age 79, brother of Teddy & Doyle, and a member of the Wilburn Family Band, died today. 

2005 - Tootsie’s Lounge customers had a special treat on this night, when Grand Ole Opry stars (and guest artists) entertained the customers at the world’s most famous country music watering hole. Between Opry shows at the Ryman Auditorium, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Buddy Miller, and Patty Griffin all performed. Terri Clark and Mindy Smith were just a few of the Opry entertainers seen sitting in Tootsie’s upper room enjoying the show, just a few steps from the Ryman’s stage door.

Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html