1932
Born on this day, was “the King of Rockabilly”, Carl Perkins, American musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and is known for his song “Blue Suede Shoes”. Perkins’ songs were recorded by many artists including: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Johnny Cash. He died on January 19, 1998.
1953
Born on this day in Greenwich, New York, was Hal Ketchum, country singer, songwriter. His 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold and between 1991 and 2006, Ketchum scored seventeen entries on the Hot Country Songs charts. Ketchum died at his home in Fischer, Texas on November 23, 2020 at the age of 67.
1997Songwriter Mae Boren Axton died aged 82 after drowning in her bath at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee after an apparent heart attack. Known as the ‘Queen Mother of Nashville’ she wrote over 200 songs including a co-writing credit on the Elvis Presley hit “Heartbreak Hotel”. She worked with Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Tillotson, and Blake Shelton. She was the mother of country singer, songwriter Hoyt Axton.
1998
A public tribute memorial service for Tammy Wynette was held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium featuring performances by Randy Travis, Lorrie Morgan, Rudy Gatlin, The Judds, and Dolly Parton who performed “I Will Always Love You.”
2013
Brad Paisley released his ninth studio album Wheelhouse. The album debuted at #1 in the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, becoming Paisley’s seventh #1 album.
