1919
Born on this day in Bristol, Tennessee, was Ernest Jennings Ford better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford. The television host scored an unexpected hit in 1955 with his rendition of Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons”. Ford died on October 17, 1991 exactly 36 years after “Sixteen Tons” was released, and one day shy of the first anniversary of his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1920
Born on this day in Shellman, Georgia, was Boudleaux Bryant, songwriter with his wife Felice. They wrote The Everly Brothers hits, “Bye Bye Love”, “All I Have To Do Is Dream” and “Wake Up Little Susie” as well as “Raining In My Heart”, which was a hit for Buddy Holly. Many other artists have recorded their songs including Charley Pride, Gram Parsons, Ray Charles, Jim Reeves, Red Foley. Bryant died on June 25th 1987.
1967
Dolly Parton released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly. It contained Parton’s hits “Dumb Blonde” and “Something Fishy”, both of which reached the top twenty on the country singles charts, and the album itself reached #11 on the country albums chart, a remarkable achievement, considering that Parton was largely an unknown at that point.
1989
Alabama released “If I Had You” the second single from the album Southern Star which went to #1 on the Country chart. It became the twenty-fifth #1 single for the group.
2002American country singer, songwriter Waylon Jennings died in his sleep after a lengthy fight with diabetes. Jennings was the bassist for Buddy Holly following the break-up of The Crickets and released a series of duet albums with Willie Nelson in the late 1970s. He scored the 1980 US #21 single “Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard”, and was also the narrator on the television series. Jennings was also a member of The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.
2003
Earl Scruggs received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also in this year, he and his musical partner Lester Flatt were ranked #24 on CMT’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music.
