Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Thurs., Dec.27)

Guitarist Scotty Moore was born in Gadsden, Tenn., in 1931.

Exile's Les Taylor born in Oneida, Ky., in 1948.

Merle Haggard debuted on the charts with "Sing a Sad Song" in 1963.

Bob Luman died in 1978 at age 41.

Jimmy Buffett's album "Volcano" was certified gold in 1979.

Rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, 50, filed for divorce from his sixth wife, 23-year-old Kerrie in 1985. The couple later reconciled.

MUSIC AND MORE

COUNTRY.COM'S TOP PICKS OF THE YEAR

The critics at the news provider country.com have put together their Top-10 lists for the year. They include:

-- Top 10 Country Albums of 2001

1. Merle Haggard, "Roots, Vol.1"

2. Lucinda Williams, "Essence"

3. Alison Krauss & Union Station, "New Favorite"

4. Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Eternal and Lowdown"

5. Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, "Together at the Bluebird Café"

6. Gene Watson, "From the Heart"

7. Rodney Crowell, "The Houston Kid"

8. Chris Knight, "A Pretty Good Guy"

9. Patty Loveless, "Mountain Soul"

10. Tammy Cochran, "Tammy Cochran"

-- 10 Best Country Reissues

1. Clarence "Tom" Ashley, "Greenback Dollar"

2. Don Rich & The Buckaroos, "Country Pickin': The Don Rich Anthology"

3. The Monrow Brothers, "Vol. 2, Just a Song of Old Kentucky"

4. Jimmy Martin, "The King of Bluegrass"

5. Bob Wills

6. Various Artists, "Old-Time Music From Southwest Virginia"

7. Red Allen, "The Folkways Years 1964-1983"

8. Joe Maphis, "Fire on the Strings"

9. Ralph Stanley, "Clinch Mountain Gospel"

10. Buck Owens, "Young Buck, The Complete Pre-Capitol Recordings of Buck Owens"