Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Tues., Nov. 20)

Legendary fiddler and country music pioneer Eck Robertson was born Alexander Campbell Robertson in Delaney, Ark., in 1887.

Comedienne Judy Canova was born in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1916.

Songwriter Curly Putnam was born in Princeton, Ala., in 1930.

George Grantham of the country-rock group Poco was born in Cordell, Okla., in 1947.

Eddy Arnold's No.1 single "A Heart Full of Love (for a Handful of Kisses)" charted in 1948.

Singing cowboy and western movie star Gene Autry made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1954.

Also in 1954, the bartenders' union in Hammond, Ind., asked a local radio station (WJOB-AM) to stop playing the song "The Drunken Driver" by Ferlin Husky -- about a drunken driver who kills two children -- because it was hurting business.

RCA Records bought Elvis Presley's contract from Sun Records for $40,000 in 1955.

Jimmy Martin recorded "Wooden Shoes," "Home Run Man" (written by Grand Ole Opry star Buck White) and "The Joke's On You" for Decca Records in 1958.

Little Jimmy Dickens recorded "The Violet and the Rose" for Columbia Records in 1961. The song marked Dicken's return to the charts after an eight-year absence.

Jimmy Dean topped the charts with "Big Bad John," also in 1961.

Bandleader and early WSM Radio star Francis Craig died in Sewanee, Tenn., in 1966.

The National Transportation Safety Board in 1997 denied reports by a San Francisco TV station that John Denver's plane crashed into Monterey Bay the previous month because it had run out of gas. The NTSB said fuel loss was only one possibility under investigation.

The Dixie Chicks' first prime-time concert special aired on NBC in 2000. "Dixie Chicks: On The Fly" was shot in Washington, D.C., during the group's "Fly Tour."

Lonestar celebrated their third No. 1 single, "What About Now," from their album Lonely Grill, also in 2000.

COUNTRY MUSIC TRIVIA

Q: What Opry group evolved from Opryland Themepark's The Tennessee River Boys?

A: Diamond Rio, which returns to the Opry during Opry at the Ryman on Nov. 30.

MUSIC AND MORE

TRAVIS TRITT THRILLED WITH LATEST CD

Travis Tritt says he is ecstatic about the success of his latest CD, "Down the Road I Go." Country.com reports that the disc has just gone platinum. It's the seventh Tritt venture to reach that sales level.

Tritt admits that a couple of years ago he thought his career was on the wane and he might never get back into the top 10 in the country world. He made the remarks during a party late last week in Nashville, held at an area watering hole for friends and record promoters.

Tritt is also about to expand his Web site to include more biographical information and photographs. For those who are not fans of country music and can't put a face with the name, visit travis-tritt.com.

(Thanks to UPI Feature Reporter Dennis Daily)

COCHRAN'S NEW VIDEO

Tammy Cochran's new video, "I Cry," will debut on "CMT Most Wanted Live" on Wednesday (at 6 p.m. ET). Cochran will be on the set of for the premiere. The video was shot on location in Hollywood including at the Beauty Bar on Cahuenga Boulevard.

GARTH ON 'HOLLYWOOD SQUARES'

Garth Brooks will appear on special episodes of "Hollywood Squares" Nov. 26-30 along with cast member Whoopi Goldberg and others from the "Call Me Claus" TV movie.

Brooks is a major "Hollywood Squares" fan. "In my opinion if you watched the show 365 days a year for the next 100 years, you couldn't get enough of Hollywood Squares," he said.

"Call Me Claus" airs Dec. 2nd (at 8 p.m. ET) on TBS and features original music from Brooks.

REBA IN WASHINGTON

Opry member Reba McEntire will host the 20th Annual "Christmas in Washington" benefit show, which will air Dec. 16 on TNT. Joining Reba are Tony Bennett, Charlotte Church and Mandy Moore. Proceeds benefit Children's National Medical Center.

BROOKS & DUNN IN AUSTIN

CMA award winners Brooks & Dunn will appear on "Austin City Limits" on PBS this Saturday (check local listings for exact times). The duo will perform the entire one-hour show with hits from past albums as well as ones from their current CD, Steers & Stripes.

CLINT BLACK ON NEWSTANDS

Look for Opry member Clint Black on newstands everywhere! Clint & Lisa Hartman Black appear on the cover story of the Nov. 2001 issue of "Cowboys & Indians" magazine, as well as on the cover of the Nov. 27 "Country Weekly" issue with their new daughter.

Coming Soon To The Opry Stage:

Nov. 23: David Ball, Jimmy Dickens, Confederate Railroad, Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek, T Graham Brown

Nov. 24 (1 p.m. Matinee): David Ball

Nov. 24: Del McCoury Band, David Ball, Jimmy Dickens, Ralph Stanley, T Graham Brown

Nov. 30: Joe Diffie, Steve Wariner, Del McCoury Band, Diamond Rio, John Conlee, Jean Shepard

Dec. 1 (1 p.m. Matinee): Asleep at the Wheel

Dec. 1: Joe Diffie, Asleep at the Wheel, Del McCoury Band, John Conlee, Jean Shepard, Crystal Gayle

Dec. 7: Gillian Welch, Clint Black

Dec. 8 (1 p.m. Matinee): Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings

Dec. 8: Travis Tritt, Diamond Rio, Gillian Welch, Clint Black

Dec. 14: Jeff Carson, Charley Pride

Dec. 15: Tracy Lawrence, Jeff Carson, John Prine, Charley Pride

Dec. 15 (1 p.m. Matinee): Jeff Carson

Dec. 21-22: Dale Watson

Dec. 28-29: Marty Stuart

Jan. 4-5: T. Bubba Bechtol

Jan. 11-12: Mark Wills

(For Opry tickets, log on to opry.com or call 615-889-3060 or TicketMaster at 615-255-9600. Artists and schedule subject to change.)

By Opryland USA in Nashville and UPI