1934
Born on this day in Chickasha, Okla, was Wyatt Merle Kilgore, American singer, songwriter, and manager who co-wrote (with June Carter), “Ring Of Fire”, which became a hit for Johnny Cash, ending Cash’s three-year career slump, staying at #1 on the country chart for seven weeks in 1963. Kilgore started his career in country music as a teenage gofer for Hank Williams and ended as the manager of Hank Williams Jr. Kilgore died on February 6, 2005.
1973
“Lord, Mr. Ford” by Jerry Reed was at #1 on the Country chart, Reed’s second of three #1’s. “Lord, Mr. Ford” is a satire on the social, cultural and economic influence the automobile has had on the American public. The lyrics bemoan the fact that a seemingly simple invention to assist mankind has instead brought nothing but grief.
1976George Jones and Tammy Wynette released their seventh studio album Golden Ring which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Album chart. The singles “Near You” and “Golden Ring” both reached #1 on the Country Singles chart.
1980
The Urban Cowboy soundtrack double album was at #1 on the US Country chart. The album spawned numerous Top 10 Billboard Country Singles, such as #1 “Lookin’ for Love” by Johnny Lee, #1 “Stand by Me” by Mickey Gilley, #3 (AC chart), “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray, and #4 “Love the World Away” by Kenny Rogers. The film is said to have started the 1980s boom in pop-country music known as the “Urban Cowboy Movement” also known as Neo-Country or Hill Boogie.
1985
Alabama released “Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the eighteenth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
1986
The Judd’s’ “Rockin’ With The Rhythm Of The Rain” was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart, The Judds’ seventh #1 country single.
1993
George Strait released “Easy Come, Easy Go” which would become his 25th US #1 Country hit. The track was the lead single from his album of the same title.
2000
Dixie Chicks released “Without You” as the fifth single from their album Fly. In January 2001, it hit #1 on the US country singles chart giving them their fifth Country #1.
2003
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett were at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with the Jim “Moose” Brown and Don Rollins penned song, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”. The song spent a total of eight weeks at the top of the chart and won the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Vocal Event of the Year.
