1943
Born on this day, was American drummer and session musician Larrie Londin. He played on more hit records during his career than any other drummer, with the possible exception of the legendary session drummer Hal Blaine. Londin moved to Nashville in 1969, and grew to be regarded as Nashville’s top session drummer and played with a wide range of artists, including Emmylou Harris, Charley Pride, Randy Travis, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Albert Lee, Larry Carlton, Merle Haggard, Hank Snow, Jerry Reed, Rosanne Cash, Reba McEntire, KT Oslin, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Hank Williams, Jr., Chet Atkins, Ronnie Milsap, and many others. He died on August 24, 1992.
1960
Loretta Lynn made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. In a press conference she said, “I’ve played in a million places, but the Grand Ole Opry is different.” Lynn has been a member of The Grand Ole Opry for over years, since joining on September 25, 1962.
1969
Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with At San Quentin, which was a live concert given to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison the follow-up to Cash’s previous live album, the critically acclaimed At Folsom Prison. The album was nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “A Boy Named Sue”.
1973Dolly Parton released “Jolene” as the first single and title track from her album of the same name. According to Parton, the song which peaked at #1 on the Country charts was inspired by a red-headed bank clerk who flirted with her husband Carl Dean at his local bank branch around the time they were newly married. “Jolene” is the song most recorded by other artists of all the songs Parton has written.
2002
Faith Hill released Cry, her fifth studio album which has gone on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide. Hill has publicly stated that, of all the albums she has recorded, Cry is her favorite.
2009
Garth Brooks announced that he was coming out of retirement to play concerts in Las Vegas. The concerts would be held approximately fifteen weekends per year until the year 2014. His first set of concerts has already sold out.
