August 21 – This Day in Country Music

1938
Born on this day in Houston, Texas, was Kenny Rogers, singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topping the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the US alone. He was voted the “Favorite Singer of All-Time” in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People.

1939
Born on this day in Dubberly in south Webster Parish near Minden, Louisiana, was James Burton, guitarist. Since the 1950s, Burton has recorded and performed with an array of notable singers, including Bob Luman, Dale Hawkins, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Vince Gill. James Burton is also known as the “Master of the Telecaster.”

1939
Born on this day, was Harold Reid, Country singer, songwriter with The Statler Brothers who had the 80’s US Country #1 hits “Elizabeth” and “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine.” He died on April 25 2020 age 80.

1961
Patsy Cline recorded her version of the Willie Nelson song “Crazy” during sessions at Bradley Film and Recording Studio, Nashville. Patsy Cline’s husband had first heard the song on the juke box at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville, and later played it to his wife who absolutely hated it because Nelson’s demo “spoke” the lyrics ahead of and behind the beat. Cline’s producer, Owen Bradley, arranged it in the ballad form in which it was recorded.

1988
Born on this day, was Kacey Musgraves, American country music artist. She self-released three albums before appearing on the fifth season of the USA Network’s singing competition Nashville Star in 2007, where she placed seventh. She signed with Mercury Records in 2012 and released her solo debut single “Merry Go ‘Round” which is included on her album Same Trailer Different Park.

1989
Capitol records released “If Tomorrow Never Comes” by Garth Brooks. Written by Brooks and Kent Blazy, it was released on his self-titled 1989 debut album Garth Brooks and also appears on The Hits, The Limited Series and Double Live. This was his first #1 single on the Billboard Country Singles chart.

2006
Keith Urban made history when his new single “Once in a Lifetime” debuted at #17, setting a new record for the highest-debuting country single in the 62-year history of Billboard’s country charts. The record was formerly held by Garth Brooks’ “Good Ride Cowboy” and Eddie Rabbitt’s “Every Which Way But Loose”, both of which debuted at #18.

2008
Drummer Buddy Harman died of congestive heart failure, aged 79. He worked with Elvis Presley (‘Little Sister’), Patsy Cline (‘Crazy’), Roy Orbison (‘Pretty Woman’), Johnny Cash (‘Ring Of Fire’), Tammy Wynette (‘Stand By Your Man’). Harman was the first house drummer for The Grand Ole Opry and can be heard on over 18,000 recordings.