1958
Merle Haggard was transferred to San Quentin Prison, after a failed escape attempt from Bakersfield Jail. During his time at the proson, Haggard started to run a gambling and brewing racket with his cellmate. One time, after he was caught drunk, he was sent for a week to solitary confinement. Haggard had been arrested in 1957 shortly after he tried to rob a Bakersfield roadhouse.
1958Born on this day in Princeton, New Jersey, was Mary Chapin Carpenter, folk and country music singer, songwriter. Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards and is the only artist to have won four consecutive Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, which she received from 1992 to 1995.
1976
C. W. McCall was at #1 on the US country album chart with Black Bear Road, which included the #1 hit novelty song, “Convoy”. The song itself was largely responsible for starting a nationwide citizens’ band radio craze. The song “Black Bear Road” in turn popularized the now-infamous road itself, along with its “You don’t HAVE to be crazy to drive this road – but it helps” sign.
2001
At the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center, Los Angeles, Faith Hill took home Best Country Album for the album Breathe, Best Female Country Vocal Performance for the song’s title track and for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals with Tim McGraw for “Let’s Make Love”.
