This Day in Country Music

[Spiritinthesky]

8th Dec 1982, Marty Robbins, the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist died of a heart attack. One of the most popular and successful country and Western singers of his era, Robbins released over 50 singles and 100 albums. In addition to his recordings, Robbins was an avid race car driver, competing in 35 career NASCAR races with six top 10 finishes, including the 1973 Firecracker 400. In 1967, Robbins played himself in the car racing film Hell on Wheels.

[Spiritinthesky]

9th Dec 1968, During recording sessions at Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Merle Haggard recorded "Hungry Eyes" which was featured on his 1969 album A Portrait of Merle Haggard and when released as a single became a Country #1 and one of the most famous of his career.

[Spiritinthesky]

10th Dec 1996, Faron Young, American singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s shot himself after apparently being depressed that the music industry had turned its back on him. He died in Nashville the following day. His hits included "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')" and "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young." His ashes were spread by his family over Old Hickory Lake outside Nashville at Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash's home while the Cashes were away.

[Spiritinthesky]

11th Dec 1944, Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, was Brenda Lee. At 4 ft. 9 inches tall (approximately 145 cm), she received the nickname 'Little Miss Dynamite' in 1957 after recording the song "Dynamite"; and was one of the earliest pop stars to have a major contemporary international following. In 1997, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

[Spiritinthesky]

12th Dec 1966, Merle Haggard released the single "The Fugitive" (later titled "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" on the album), which became Haggard's first #1 hit on the country chart. Although not written by Haggard, the song became one of the most closely associated with the early part of his career, as it drew upon his then still-relatively recent prison term for burglary.

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13th Dec 1989, Born on this day in Reading, Pennsylvania, was Taylor Alison Swift, singer, songwriter, musicican, named by Billboard as most financially successful music artist of 2011, with net earnings of more than $35 million. Her debut single ‘Tim McGraw’ released in June 2006, peaked at #6 on the US Country chart. Swift moved to Nashville, Tennessee at the age of fourteen to pursue a career in country music and became the youngest songwriter ever hired by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house.

[Spiritinthesky]

14th Dec 1932, Born on this day in Colt Arkansas, was Charlie Rich, singer and musician. In the latter part of his life, Rich who acquired the nickname The Silver Fox is best remembered for his 1973 hits, "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl". After "The Most Beautiful Girl", #1 hits came quickly, as five songs topped the country charts in 1974. Rich died in his sleep on July 25, 1995 aged 62. More on Charlie: http://www.thisdayincountrymusic.com/pages/charlie_rich

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15th Dec 1891, Born on this day in Maces Spring, Virginia, was American musician and founding member of The Carter Family A. P. Carter who was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Carter was inducted as part of The Carter Family in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970 and in 1993, his image appeared on a US postage stamp honoring the Carter Family. Carter died on 7th Nov 1960.

[Spiritinthesky]

16th Dec 1978, American country music singer-songwriter Jenny Lou Carson died aged 63. She was the first woman to write a #1 country music hit ("You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often"), and from 1945 to 1955 she was one of the most prolific songwriters in country music. She became an expert sharpshooter and learned to spin a rope and manipulate a bullwhip. She toured the state of Texas putting on her cowgirl show and singing with her partner Texas Tommy

[Spiritinthesky]

17th Dec 1966, Born on this day, was Tracy Byrd, country music singer, songwriter, who broke through on the country music scene with his 1993 single "Holdin' Heaven", which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Although he did not land a second #1 until 2002's "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo", Byrd has charted more than thirty hit singles in his career, including eleven additional Top Ten hits. He has also released nine studio albums and two greatest-hits albums.