Country and Western in History

• 1923-06-14 Recording of 1st country music hit (Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane)

• 1939-03-25 Billboard Magazine introduces hillbilly (country) music chart
• 1941-03-29 WPAT radio in NJ begins broadcasting (country music format)
• 1944-05-09 Country singer Jimmie Davis becomes Governor of Louisiana
• 1948-01-13 1st country music TV show, "Midwestern Hayride", premieres on WLW-T in Cincinnati, Ohio
• 1953-08-02 Betty Jack Davis, American country singer (with Skeeter Davis in The Davis Sisters), killed in car crash at 21

• 1970-10-14 4th Country Music Association Award: Merle Haggard wins
• 1971-10-10 5th Country Music Association Award: Charlie Pride wins
• 1973-10-15 7th Country Music Association Award: Roy Clark wins

• 1974-10-14 8th Country Music Association Award: Charlie Rich

• 1976-01-09 C. W. McCall CB song "Convoy" hits #1 on the country music charts
• 1976-10-11 10th Country Music Association Award: Mel Tillis wins
• 1977-10-10 11th Country Music Association Award: Ronnie Milsap wins
• 1978-10-09 12th Country Music Association Award: Dolly Parton, Crystal Gayle, and Don Williams win

• 1981-10-12 15th Country Music Association Award: Barbara Mandrell & George Jones wins
• 1982-10-11 16th Country Music Association Award: Willie Nelson & Ricky Skagg
• 1983-10-10 17th Country Music Association Award: Alabama wins
• 1984-09-12 American country singer Barbara Mandrell is badly injured in a car accident
• 1984-10-08 18th Country Music Association Award: Alabama wins
• 1985-10-14 19th Country Music Association Award: Ricky Skaggs wins

• 1987-07-01 WHN-AM in NY City changes call letters to WFAN (now WEVD) replacing WHN's country music, WYNY-FM adopts country music format
• 1987-10-12 21st Country Music Association Award: Hank William Jr wins
• 1988-10-10 22nd Country Music Association Award: Highway 101, K. T. Oslin win
• 1989-10-09 23rd Country Music Association Award: George Strait, Kathy Mattea win
• 1990-10-08 24th Country Music Association Award: George Strait wins

• 1991-12-04 Country music mother and daughter act The Judds "farewell" concert at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; later re-unions and "farewells" in 2000, 2010, 2015, and 2021
• 1992-04-29 Country singer Doug Stone, 35, undergoes quadruple bypass surgery
• 1992-05-05 American country singer Tammy Wynette hospitalized with bile duct infection
• 1992-09-30 26th Country Music Association Award: Garth Brooks wins

• 1994-09-12 American country singer-songwriter George Jones undergoes successful triple bypass surgery
• 1994-10-05 28th Country Music Association Award: Vince Gill & Pam Tillis wins
• 1994-12-28 American country singer Tammy Wynette admitted to the hospital with bile duct infection

• 1995-10-04 29th Country Music Association Award: Krauss Jackson win
• 1996-10-02 30th Country Music Association Award: Brooks & Dunn win
• 2002-05-06 "The Good Stuff" single released by Kenny Chesney (Billboard Song of the Year 2002)

• 2007-11-07 41st Country Music Association Award: Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood & Brad Paisley wins
• 2008-11-12 42nd Country Music Association Award: Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood & Brad Paisley win

• 2011-11-09 45th Country Music Association Award: Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton wins

• 2013-06-05 47th Country Music Association Award: George Strait, Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton win

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 452

• 1889-10-19 Uncle Art Satherley, British-American record producer (Academy of Country Music Award, 1968), born in Bristol, England (d. 1986)

• 1898-07-21 Sara Carter, American country musician, songwriter and vocalist (Carter Family), born in Cooper Creek, Virginia (d. 1979)
• 1901-12-05 Ray Whitley, American country and western singer-songwriter ("Back in the Saddle Again") and actor (Tim Holt films), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 1979)
• 1902-09-14 Giorgos Papasideris Greek country singer, composer and lyricist, born in Salamis Island, Greece (d. 1977)
• 1903-09-15 Roy Acuff, American country fiddler, singer ("Wabash Cannonball"; Grand Ole Opry), and music publisher (Acuff-Rose Music), born in Maynardville, Tennessee (d. 1992)
• 1904-12-18 Wilf Carter, Canadian country and western singer, born in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia (d. 1996)
• 1906-01-12 (Woodward) "Tex" Ritter, American country singer (5 Star Jubilee, "Wayward Wind"), born in Murvaul, Texas (d. 1974)
• 1909-05-09 Don Messer, Canadian folk fiddler, and television host (Jubilee, 1959-73), born in Tweedside, New Brunswick (d. 1973)

• 1910-06-17 Red Foley, American country singer (Mr Smith Goes to Washington), born in Blue Lick, Kentucky (d. 1968)
• 1911-03-18 (Lester) "Smiley" Burnette [Burnett], American country music performer, singer-songwriter ("Ridin' Down the Canyon (To Watch the Sun Go Down)"), and actor (Petticoat Junction - "Charlie"), born in Summum, Illinois (d. 1967)
• 1911-09-13 Bill Monroe, American singer known as the "Father of Bluegrass" ("Blue Moon of Kentucky"), born in Rosine, Kentucky (d. 1996)
• 1913-07-15 Lloyd "Cowboy" Copas, American country singer ("Candy Kisses"; "Alabam"), born in Blue Creek, Ohio (d. 1963)
• 1913-10-20 (Louis) "Grandpa" Jones, American country music singer and banjo wizard (Hee-Haw), born in Niagra, Kentucky (d. 1998)
• 1914-02-09 Ernest Tubb, American country musician ("Walking the Floor Over You"), born in Crisp, Texas (d. 1984)
• 1914-02-16 Jimmy Wakely, American country vocalist (5 Star Jubilee), born in Mineola, Arkansas
• 1914-02-18 Pee Wee King [Julius Frank Kuczynski], American country singer, accordionist, and songwriter ("Tennesee Waltz"; "Slow Poke"), born in Abrams, Wisconsin (d. 2000)
• 1914-05-09 [Clarence] Hank Snow, Canadian country singer (I'm Moving On; I Went to Your Wedding), born in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia (d. 1999)
• 1914-09-28 Jim Boyd, American country and western musician (Men of the West) (d. 1993)
• 1914-10-30 Patsy Montana [Ruby Rose Blevins], American country singer, songwriter and yodeler ("I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart"), born in Beaudry, Arkansas (d. 1996)
• 1915-06-23 Zeb Turner, country-rock performer (Chew Tobacco Rag)
• 1917-02-01 Mary Jane DeZurik, American country singer and hillbilly yodeler (The Cackle Sisters - National Barn Dance, Grand Ole Opry), born in Royalton, Minnesota (d. 1981)
• 1917-07-07 Elton Britt {Baker], American country singer-songwriter ("There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere"; Saturday Night Jamboree), born in Zack, Arkansas (d. 1972)
• 1917-07-07 (Woodrow Wilson) "Red" Sovine, American country music singer ("Phantom 309"; "Teddy Bear"), born in Charleston, West Virginia (d. 1980)
• 1917-08-23 Tex Williams, American country-western singer, born in Ramsey, Illinois (d. 1985)
• 1917-11-29 Merle Travis, American country singer, guitarist and songwriter ("16 Tons"), born in Rosewood, Kentucky (d. 1983)
• 1918-05-15 Eddy Arnold, American country music singer ("Make The World Go Away"; "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye"), born in Henderson Tennessee (d. 2008)
• 1918-07-20 Cindy Walker, American songwriter ("Dream Baby"; "You Don't Know Me") and country singer, born in Mart, Texas (d. 2006)
• 1919-02-13 "Tennessee" Ernie Ford, American country music singer ("Sixteen Tons"), and actor, born in Bristol, Tennessee (d. 1991)
• 1919-08-30 Kitty Wells [Ellen Deason], American country singer ("It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 2012)
• 1920-02-13 Boudleaux Bryant, American country music and pop songwriter ("Love Hurts"; "Bye Bye Love"; "Wake Up Little Susie"), born in Shellman, Georgia (d. 1987)
• 1920-02-22 Del Wood [Adelaide Hazelwood], American country musician, born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1989)
• 1920-03-10 (Kenneth) "Jethro" Burns, American country singer, and mandolin player (Homer & Jethro -"The Battle of Kookamonga"), born in Conasauga, Tennessee (d. 1989)(
• 1920-09-29 Tillman Franks, American country music bassist, songwriter and artist manager (Webb Pierce), born in Stamps, Arkansas (d. 2006)
• 1920-12-19 "Little" Jimmy Dickens, American country singer (Grand Ole Opry), born in Bolt, West Virginia (d. 2015)
• 1921-02-20 Mervin Shiner, American honky-tonk country and hillbilly singer, born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
• 1921-05-12 (Otis W.) "Joe" Maphis, American session and country music guitarist ("Dim Lights"), born in Suffolk, Virginia (d. 1986)
• 1921-08-08 Webb Pierce, American honky-tonk country singer-songwriter, and guitarist ("In The Jailhouse Now"; "Wondering"; "There Stands The Glass"), born in West Monroe, Louisiana (d. 1991)
• 1921-11-05 (Lawrence) "Red" Wootten, American country & western (The Whippoorwills, Gene Autry), jazz (Red Norvo; Tony Pastor), and session acoustic and electric bassist, born in Social Circle, Georgia
• 1921-12-22 Harold "Hawkshaw" Hawkins, American country singer (Ozark Jubilee; "Lonesome 7-7203"), born in Huntington, West Virginia (d. 1963)
• 1923-01-20 (Ottis) "Slim" Whitman, American country singer ("Rose Marie"; "Guess Who"), born in Tampa, Florida (d. 2013)
• 1923-02-05 Claude King, American country music singer (Wolverton Mountain), born in Keithville, Louisiana (d. 2013)
• 1923-08-20 Jim Reeves, American country singer ("He'll Have To Go"; "Distant Drums"), and actor (Kimberley Jim), born in Panola County, Texas (d. 1964)

• 1924-04-21 Ira Louvin [Loudermilk], American country singer and mandolin player (Louvin Brothers), born in Section, Alabama (d. 1965)
• 1925-04-29 Danny Davis [George Nowlan], American country musician (Nashville Brass), born in Randolph, Massachusetts (d. 2008)
• 1925-04-30 Johnny Horton, American country music and rockabilly singer ("The Battle of New Orleans"), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1960)
• 1925-07-02 Marvin Rainwater, American country singer (Ozark Jubilee), born in Wichita, Kansas (d. 2013)
• 1925-07-19 Sue Thompson [Eva Sue McKee], American pop and country music singer ("Sad Movies (Make Me Cry")), born in Nevada, Missouri (d. 2021)
• 1925-08-28 Billy Grammer, American country music singer and guitarist, born in Benton, Illinois (d. 2011)
• 1925-09-03 Hank Thompson, American country music singer (The Brazos Valley Boys), born in Waco, Texas (d. 2007)
• 1925-09-26 Marty Robbins, American country singer ("El Paso"; "Devil Woman"; "I Walk Alone"), born in Glendale, Arizona (d. 1982)
• 1925-12-03 Ferlin Husky, American country singer (Born to Lose; Gone), born in Desloge, Missouri (d. 2011)
• 1926-01-12 Ray Price, American country singer (Good Times), born in Perryville, Texas (d. 2013)
• 1926-01-18 Bobby Edwards [Moncrief], American country singer-songwriter ("You're The Reason"), born in Anniston, Alabama (d. 2012)
• 1926-04-10 Junior Samples, American comedian and country singer (Hee Haw), born in Cumming, Georgia (d. 1983)
• 1927-02-25 Ralph Stanley, American bluegrass musician, born in Dickenson County, Virginia (d. 2016)
• 1927-03-15 Carl Smith, American country singer ("Deep Water"; "Ten Thousand Drums"; "Why, Why"), born in Maynardville, Tennessee (d. 2010)
• 1927-06-13 Slim Dusty [David Kirkpatrick], Australian country music singer-songwriter, born in Kempsey, New South Wales (d. 2003)
• 1927-07-07 Charlie Louvin, American country singer-songwriter (Louvin Brothers - "The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me)"), born in Section, Alabama (d. 2011)
• 1927-08-12 Porter Wagoner, American country singer, discovered Dolly Parton ("Y'All Come"; "A Satisfied Mind"), born in West Plains, Missouri (d. 2007)
• 1927-09-08 Harlan Howard, American country music songwriter ("I Fall To Pieces"; "Busted"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2002)
• 1928-03-31 (William) "Lefty" Frizzell, American country music singer and songwriter ("If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)"; "Saginaw, Michigan"), born in Corsicana, Texas (d. 1975)
• 1928-04-03 Don Gibson, American country musician and songwriter ("Sweet Dreams"; "I Can't Stop Loving You"), born in Shelby, North Carolina (d. 2003)
• 1928-05-03 Dave Dudley, American country singer (Six Days on the Road), born in Spencer, Wisconsin (d. 2003)
• 1928-08-10 Jimmy Dean, American country and rockabilly singer ("Big Bad John"), television host (Jimmy Dean Show), actor (Diamonds Are Forever), and sausage maker, born in Plainview, Texas (d. 2010)
• 1928-11-15 C. W. McCall [William Dale Fries, Jr.], American country singer (Convoy), born in Audubon, Iowa (d. 2022)
• 1928-12-23 (Murrey) "Buddy" Harman, American country music session drummer (Grand Ole Opry; Elvis Presley; Patsy Cline; Brenda Lee; Ween), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 2008)
• 1929-01-14 Billy Walker, American country music singer and guitarist ("Charlie's Shoes"), born in Ralls, Texas (d. 2006)
• 1929-01-17 Grady Martin, country music guitarist (The Nashville A-Team), born in Chapel Hill, Tennessee (d. 2001)
• 1929-03-13 Jan Howard [Lula Grace Johnson], American country music singer and songwriter (For Loving You), born in West Plains, Missouri (d. 2020)
• 1929-05-01 Sonny James [James Loden], country music singer-songwriter (Young Love), born in Hackelburg, Alabama (d. 2016)

• 1929-07-09 (Barton) Lee Hazlewood, American pop-country songwriter, singer, and producer ("Summer Wine"; Nancy Sinatra -"These Boots Are Made For Walkin'"; Frank and Nancy - "Something Stupid"), born in Mannford, Oklahoma (d. 2007)
• 1929-08-12 (Alvis) "Buck" Owens, American "Bakersfield Sound" country singer-songwriter ("Under Your Spell Again"), bandleader (The Buckaroos - "Act Naturally"), and TV personality (Hee Haw), born in Sherman, Texas (d. 2006)
• 1929-10-04 Leroy Van Dyke, American country singer (Walk on By), born in Mora, Missouri
• 1930-01-13 Liz Anderson, American country music singer-songwriter (Mama Spank, The Game of Triangles), born in Roseau, Minnesota (d. 2011)
• 1930-09-28 Tommy Collins [Leonard Sipes], American country singer-songwriter ("Don't Growl"), born in Bethany, Oklahoma (d. 2000)
• 1930-11-11 Hank Garland, American country, rock and jazz guitar virtuoso ("Sugarfoot Rag"; "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame"; "Jingle Bell Rock"), born in Cowpens, South Carolina (d. 2004)
• 1931-04-27 Maxine Brown, American country music singer (Browns), born in Campti, Louisiana (d. 2019)
• 1931-05-27 Kenny Price, American country singer ("Walking on New Grass"; "Happy Tracks"), born in Florence, Kentucky (d. 1987)
• 1931-09-12 George Jones, American country singer-songwriter ("Golden Rings"; "Oh Lonesome Me"), born in Saratoga, Texas (d. 2013)
• 1931-12-01 Jim Nesbitt, American country music singer, born in Bishopville, South Carolina (d. 2007)
• 1932-02-25 Faron Young, American country singer ("Hello Walls"; "It's Four in the Morning"), and actor (Hidden Guns; Daniel Boone, Trailblazer), born in Shreveport, Louisiana (d. 1996)

• 1932-03-17 Dick Curless, American country music singer-songwriter (A Tombstone Every Mile), born in Fort Fairfield, Maine (d. 1995)

• 1932-06-12 Charlie Feathers, American country music and rockabilly singer-songwriter, and musician ("Can't Hardly Stand It"), born in Holly Springs, Mississippi (d. 1998)
• 1932-08-08 (Lonnie Melvin) "Mel" Tillis, American country singer ("Who's Julie"; "M-M-Mel"), born in Pahokee, Florida (d. 2017)

• 1932-10-11 Dottie West, American country singer ("Here Comes My Baby"), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1991)
• 1932-11-06 Stonewall Jackson, American country music musician ("Waterloo"; "A Wound Time Can't Erase"), born in Tabor City, North Carolina (d. 2021)
• 1932-12-14 Charlie Rich, American country vocalist (Behind Closed Doors), born in Colt, Arkansas (d. 1995)
• 1933-01-11 Goldie Hill, American country singer (Grand Ole Opry; "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes"), born in Karnes County, Texas (d. 2005)
• 1933-03-10 Ralph Emery, American country music DJ and television host (Nashville Now), born in McEwen, Tennessee (d. 2022)
• 1933-04-15 Roy Clark, American country and bluegrass singer, guitarist, and banjo player (Hee Haw; The Tonight Show), born in Meherrin, Virginia (d. 2018)

• 1933-07-14 Del Reeves, American country music singer and guitarist, born in Sparta, North Carolina (d. 2007)
• 1933-08-15 Bobby Helms [Robert Lee Helms], American country music singer (Jingle Bell Rock), born in Bloomington, Indiana (d. 1997)

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• 1920-04-07 Country singer Jimmie Rodgers (22) weds Carrie Williamson

• 1952-10-17 American country music legend Hank Williams (29) weds Billie Jean Jones in Minden, Louisiana

• 1957-11-11 Country singer June Carter Cash (28) weds former football player Edwin Nix

• 1969-10-26 American outlaw country singer-songwriter Waylon Jennings (32) weds American singer Jessi Colter (26) in Phoenix, Arizona

• 1976-07-18 American country singer Tammy Wynette (34) weds real-estate mogul Michael Tomlin, divorced, later in 1976

• 1978-07-06 American country singer Tammy Wynette (36) weds record producer George Richey (42) in Florida
• 1978-10-07 American country singer-songwriter Merle Haggard (41) weds his backup singer Leona Williams (35); divorce in 1983

• 1979-08-18 British rock singer-songwriter Nick Lowe (30) weds American country singer Carlene Carter (23) (her third marriage); divorce in 1990
• 1985-06-01 Country singer Merle Haggard (48) weds fourth wife Debbie Parret; divorce in 1991

• 1988-08-12 American singer-songwriter John Denver (44) weds Australian actress Cassandra Delaney (26); divorce in 1993
• 1989-06-03 Country singer Rebe McEntire weds her manager Narvel Blackstone at Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, Nevada

• 1991-09-16 American country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson (58) weds Annie D'Angelo in Nashville, Tennessee

• 1991-10-30 American country singer Clint Black (34) weds American actress Lisa Hartman (29) in Katy, Texas,
• 1992-04-11 Country singer Lee Greenwood weds Miss Tennessee 1989 Kimberly Payne

• 1993-09-11 Country singer Merle Haggard (56) weds fifth, and final, wife Theresa Ann Lane at his ranch near Redding, California

• 1995-04-30 Country singer Rosanne Cash (39) weds record producer John Leventhal (42)

• 1996-11-16 "What Part of No" country singer Lorrie Morgan (37) weds singer Jon Randall (29) in Nashville

• 2005-05-07 Country music singer Billy Dean (43) weds Stephanie Paisley at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, Tennessee

• 2005-09-17 Country music singer Terri Clark (37) weds her tour manager Greg Kaczor at a resort on Lake Louise in Calgary, Canada
• 2005-09-26 Country music singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver (66) weds Wanda Lynn Canady in Corsicana, Texas
• 2005-12-10 Country music artist Garth Brooks (43) weds singer Trisha Yearwood (41) in Claremore, Oklahoma
• 2005-12-17 "Modern Day Drifter" country singer Dierks Bentley (30) weds Cassidy Black in Mexico
• 2005-12-17 Australian country singer Kasey Chambers (29) weds singer-songwriter Shane Nicholson in Avoca, New South Wales
• 2006-02-04 Daughter of June Carter country singer Carlene Carter (50) weds (for a fourth time) Joe Breen at Cinnamon Hill in Jamaica; divorce 2020

• 2007-09-09 Country music artist Joe Nichols (30) weds Heather Singleton (30) at Whitfield Chapel in Savannah, Georgia

• 2008-06-14 Country singer Sara Evans (37) weds former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker (35) in Franklin, Tennessee

• 2011-01-01 Singer-songwriter Kellie Pickler (25) weds country music songwriter Kyle Jacobs (34) at the Jumby Bay Resort in Antigua
• 2011-05-14 Country singer Blake Shelton (34) weds singer Miranda Lambert (27) at Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas
• 2011-05-20 Actor Doug Hutchison (51) weds country singer Courtney Stodden (16) in Las Vegas, Nevada
• 2012-06-10 Country music singer Wynonna Judd (48) weds "Highway 101" drummer Cactus Moser in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee
• 2013-10-24 Country music singer-songwriter Ashley Monroe (27) weds MLB pitcher John Danks (28) at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee
• 2015-03-21 Country music singer Jason Aldean (38) weds former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr (27) in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

• 2016-01-08 American country music singer Colton Dixon (24) weds longtime love Annie Coggeshall in Nashville, Tennessee
• 2016-05-04 Country singer Randy Houser (39) weds Tatiana Starzynski in an intimate outdoor ceremony in Tennessee
• 2017-03-12 Country music singer-songwriter and guitarist Frankie Ballard (34) weds Old Smokey Boots owner Christina Murphy
• 2017-04-15 Country music singer and songwriter Sam Hunt (32) weds Hannah Lee Fowler (28) in Cedartown, Georgia; divorce in 2022
• 2017-05-06 Country music singer Josh Gracin (36) weds partner Katie Weir in Nashville, Tennessee
• 2017-05-13 Country music vocalist Dan Smyers (29) weds longtime love Abby Law in Nashville, Tennessee

• 2020-08-01 American country singer Luke Combs (30) weds Nicole Hocking (28) at home in Florida

• 1960-11-05 Johnny Horton, American country and rockabilly singer ("The Battle of New Orleans"), dies in a car accident at 33
• 1963-03-05 Harold "Hawkshaw" Hawkins, American country singer (Ozark Jubilee; "Lonesome 7-7203"), dies in a plane crash at 41

• 1963-03-05 Lloyd "Cowboy" Copas, American country singer ("Candy Kisses"; "Alabam"), dies in a plane crash at 49
• 1964-07-31 Jim Reeves, American country singer ("He'll Have To Go"; "Distant Drums"), and actor (Kimberley Jim), dies in airplane crash at 39
• 1965-06-20 Ira Louvin, American country singer (Louvin Brothers), dies at 41
• 1967-02-16 (Lester) "Smiley" Burnette [Burnett], American country music performer, singer-songwriter ("Ridin' Down the Canyon (To Watch the Sun Go Down)"), and actor (Petticoat Junction - "Charlie"), dies of leukemia at 55
• 1968-09-19 Red Foley, American country singer ("Mr Smith Goes to Washington"), dies at 58
• 1972-06-23 Elton Britt, American country singer-songwriter, and guitarist (Saturday Night Jamboree), dies of a heart attack at 58
• 1973-07-15 Clarence White, American session and country-rock guitarist (The Byrds, 1968-73 - "Ballad of Easy Rider"), struck and killed by a drunk driver at 29
• 1973-09-19 Gram Parsons [Cecil Ingram Connor III], American country-rock singer-songwriter (Byrds - Sweethearts of the Rodeo; Flying Burrito Brothers; "Grievous Angel"), dies of a drug overdose at 26
• 1973-11-10 Stringbean [David Akeman], American country singer, comedian, and banjo player (Hee Haw), murdered by burglars at his home at 58
• 1974-01-02 (Woodward) "Tex" Ritter, American country singer (5 Star Jubilee, "Wayward Wind"), dies of a heart attack at 67
• 1975-07-19 (William) "Lefty" Frizzell, American country music singer and songwriter ("If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)"; "Saginaw, Michigan"), dies at 47
• 1977-10-08 Giorgos Papasideris, Greek country singer, composer and lyricist, dies at 75
• 1978-01-10 Zeb Turner, country-rock performer (Chew Tobacco Rag), dies at 62
• 1978-04-21 Sandy Denny, country singer, dies at 37

• 1979-01-08 Sara Carter, American country musician, songwriter and vocalist (Carter Family), dies at 81
• 1979-02-21 Ray Whitley, American country and western singer-songwriter ("Back in the Saddle Again") and actor (Tim Holt films), dies at 77
• 1980-04-04 Woodrow Wilson "Red" Sovine, American country music singer, dies following a heart attack leading to a car crash at 62
• 1981-09-03 Mary Jane DeZurik, American country singer and hillbilly yodeler (The Cackle Sisters - National Barn Dance, Grand Ole Opry), dies at 64
• 1982-09-23 Jimmy Wakely, country western singer, dies of heart failure at 68
• 1982-12-08 Marty Robbins, American country singer (Devil Woman, I Walk Alone), dies of complications following cardiac surgery.at 57
• 1983-10-20 Merle Travis, American country singer, dies at 75
• 1983-11-13 Alvin "Junior" Samples, American comedian and country singer (Hee Haw), dies of a heart attack at 57
• 1984-09-06 Ernest Tubb, American country musician ("Walking the Floor Over You"), dies of emphysema at 70
• 1985-10-11 Tex Williams, American country-western singer, dies of cancer at 68
• 1986-02-10 "Uncle" Art Satherley, British-American record producer (1968 Academy of Country Music Award), dies at 96
• 1986-06-27 (Otis W.) "Joe" Maphis, American session and country music guitarist ("Dim Lights"), dies of lung cancer at 75
• 1987-06-25 Boudleaux Bryant, American country music and pop songwriter ("Rocky Top"; "Love Hurts"; "Bye Bye Love"), dies at 67
• 1987-08-04 Kenny Price, American country singer ("Walking on New Grass"; "Happy Tracks"), dies of a heart attack at 56
• 1987-09-23 O. B. McClinton, American country singer (Man needs a woman), dies at 47
• 1988-04-28 B. W. Stevenson, American country singer, dies at 38
• 1989-02-04 Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, American country singer (Homer & Jethro), dies at 69
• 1989-05-09 Keith Whitley, American country music singer ("Don't Close Your Eyes"), dies of alcohol poisoning at 33
• 1989-10-03 Del Wool [Adelaide Hazelwood], American country musician, dies at 69
• 1990-08-15 Lew DeWitt, American country singer and composer (Statler Brothers - "Flowers on the Wall"), dies of Crohn's disease complications at 52
• 1991-02-24 Webb Pierce, American honky-tonk country singer-songwriter, and guitarist ("In The Jailhouse Now"; "Wondering"; "There Stands The Glass"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 64
• 1991-09-04 Dottie West, American country singer (Here Comes my Baby), dies at 58 in a car
• 1991-10-17 "Tennessee" Ernie Ford, American country music singer ("Sixteen Tons"), and actor (I Love Lucy; The Ford Show), dies of liver disease at 72
• 1992-04-17 Hank Penny, country music singer, dies at 73 of heart failure

• 1993-02-25 Toy Caldwell, American Southern-rock musician (Marshall Tucker Band), dies of cocaine induced cardio-respiratory failure at 45
• 1993-11-30 David Houston, American country music singer (Almost Persuaded), dies at 57
• 1995-04-02 Leo LeBlanc, American country musician and pianist who was legally blind, dies of cancer at 55
• 1995-05-25 Dick Curless, American country music singer-songwriter (A Tombstone Every Mile), dies of stomach cancer at 63
• 1995-07-25 Charlie Rich, American country singer ("Behind Closed Doors"; "The Most Beautiful Girl"), dies of a pulmonary embolism at 62
• 1996-02-17 Gus Hardin [Carolyn Ann Blankenship], American country singer, dies at 50
• 1996-05-03 Patsy Montana [Ruby Rose Blevins], American country singer, songwriter and yodeler ("I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart"), dies at 81
• 1996-12-05 Wilf Carter, country singer, dies at 91
• 1996-12-10 Faron Young, American country singer ("Hello Walls"; "It's Four in the Morning"), and actor (Hidden Guns; Daniel Boone, Trailblazer), commits suicide at 64
• 1997-06-19 Bobby Helms [Robert Lee Helms], American country music singer (Jingle Bell Rock), dies at 63
• 1997-12-21 Amie Comeaux, American country music singer, dies at 21
• 1997-12-31 Floyd Cramer, American Country Music Hall of Fame pianist ("Last Date"; "On the Rebound"), dies of cancer at 64
• 1998-01-07 Owen Bradley, American pop country music record producer (Patsy Cline; Loretta Lynn; Conway Twitty), dies at 82
• 1998-01-24 Justin Tubb, American country singer (Grand Ole Opry), dies at 62
• 1998-02-19 (Louis) "Grandpa" Jones, American country music singer and banjo wizard (Hee Haw), dies at 84
• 1998-05-07 Eddie Rabbitt, American songwriter ("Kentucky Rain"), and country singer ("I Love a Rainy Night"), dies of lung cancer at 56
• 1998-08-29 Charlie Feathers, American country music and rockabilly singer-songwriter, and musician ("Can't Hardly Stand It"), dies at from stroke complications at 66
• 1999-11-18 Doug Sahm, American musician (Sir Douglas Quintet; Texas Tornadoes), dies of a heart attack at 58
• 1999-12-20 [Clarence] Hank Snow, Canadian country singer ("I'm Moving On"; "I Went To Your Wedding"), dies of heart failure at 85
• 2001-12-03 Grady Martin, American country music guitarist (The Nashville A-Team), dies at 72
• 2002-02-13 Waylon Jennings, American country singer and guitarist ("I'm A Ramblin' Man" ), dies of diabetic complications at 64
• 2002-03-03 Harlan Howard, American country music songwriter, dies at 74
• 2003-02-19 Johnny Paycheck [Donald Lytle], American country singer ("ake This Job and Shove It"), dies after contracting emphysema and asthma at 64

• 2003-09-19 Slim Dusty [David Kirkpatrick], Australian country music singer-songwriter, dies of cancer at 76
• 2003-09-24 Rosalie Allen, American country singer, yodeler, and disc jockey, dies of congestive heart failure at 79
• 2003-11-17 Don Gibson, American country musician ("Sweet Dreams"), dies at 75
• 2003-12-16 Gary Stewart, American country singer (She's Actin' Single), commits suicide by shooting himself in the neck at 59
• 2003-12-22 Dave Dudley, American country singer (Six Days on the Road), dies at 75
• 2004-12-07 Jerry Scoggins, American country singer ("The Ballad of Jed Clampett"), dies at 91
• 2004-12-27 Hank Garland, American country, rock, and jazz Nashville-based session guitarist, dies of complications from a staph infection at 74
• 2005-02-12 Sammi Smith, American country music singer (Help Me Make It Through the Night), dies at 61
• 2005-03-09 Chris LeDoux, American country singer (Ridin' for a Fall), dies at 56
• 2006-03-23 Cindy Walker, American songwriter ("Dream Baby"; "You Don't Know Me") and country singer, dies at 87
• 2006-03-25 (Alvis) "Buck" Owens, American "Bakersfield Sound" country singer-songwriter ("Under Your Spell Again"), bandleader (The Buckaroos - "Act Naturally"), and TV personality (Hee Haw), dies of an apparent heart attack at 76
• 2006-05-21 Billy Walker, American country music singer and guitarist ("Charlie's Shoes"), dies, along with his wife and two band members, in a single vehicle car accident, at 77
• 2006-10-26 Tillman Franks, American country music bassist, songwriter and artist manager (Webb Pierce), dies at 86
• 2007-01-01 Del Reeves, American country music singer, dies at 74
• 2007-01-06 Sneaky Pete Kleinow, American country-rock musician (Flying Burrito Brothers), dies at 72
• 2007-08-04 Lee Hazlewood, American country singer and songwriter ("Summer Wine"; "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'"), dies of renal cancer at 78
• 2007-10-28 Porter Wagoner, American country singer, discovered Dolly Parton ("Y'All Come"; "A Satisfied Mind"), dies of lung cancer at 80
• 2007-11-06 Hank Thompson, American country music singer (The Brazos Valley Boys), dies at 82
• 2008-04-12 Danny Davis [George Nowlan], American country musician (Nashville Brass), dies at 83
• 2008-04-22 Paul Davis, American country-rock-pop singer-songwriter and piano player ("I Go Crazy"; "65 Love Affair"), dies of a heart attack at 60
• 2008-05-08 Eddy Arnold, American country music singer ("Make The World Go Away"; "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye"), dies at 89
• 2008-08-05 Reg Lindsay, Australian country and western singer-songwriter ("Armstrong"; "Close The Door Lightly"), dies of pneumonia, at 79
• 2008-08-21 Buddy Harman, American country music drummer (Grand Ole Opry, Elvis Presley), dies at 79
• 2008-08-31 Jerry Reed, American country music singer ("When You're Hot, You're Hot") and actor (Bat 21; Smokey & the Bandit), dies of complications from emphysema at 71
• 2009-03-25 "England" Dan [Seals], American pop and country singer (England Dan & John Ford Coley - "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"), dies of cancer at 61
• 2009-04-28 Vern Gosdin, American country singer ("Set 'Em Up Joe"), dies after a stroke at 74
• 2010-06-13 Jimmy Dean, American country and rockabilly singer ("Big Bad John"), television host (Jimmy Dean Show), actor (Diamonds Are Forever), and sausage maker,, dies at 81
• 2011-01-26 Charlie Louvin, American country singer-songwriter (Louvin Brothers - "The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me)")dies of cancer at 83
• 2011-03-17 Ferlin Husky, American country singer (Born to Lose, Gone), dies at 85
• 2011-03-31 Mel McDaniel, American country singer ("Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On") dies of lung cancer at 68

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