1937
Born on this day in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was George Hamilton IV, country musician. Hamilton’s breakthrough hit was the 1961 song “Before this Day Ends”. His biggest hit came two years later with “Abilene”, another song penned by Loudermilk and Bob Gibson. The song spent four weeks at #1 on Billboard’s country singles chart. Hamilton died on Sept 17th 2014 after he suffered a major heart attack.
1947
Born on this day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was Bernie Leadon, musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers.
1975
Lefty Frizzell the American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s died. He became a major influence on Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, John Fogerty and Roy Orbison, (who as a part of the Traveling Wilburys chose the name “Lefty Wilbury” to honor his musical hero).
1980
Dolly Parton released “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You” which went to #1 on the US country singles charts the following month. Written by Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt it was a #14 country hit for Joe Sun in 1978.
1992Wynonna was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with “I Saw the Light” the second single from Wynonna’s self-titled debut album, it was also that album’s second #1 hit.
1994
Toby Keith released “Who’s That Man” which became his second #1 hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks. The track was released as the first single from his 1994 album Boomtown.
