Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Fri., Feb.1) Advertisement Carolyn DeZurik of the Cackle Sisters was born in 1919. Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook was born in 1937. Don Everly of the Everly Brothers was born in 1937. Del McCoury was born in 1939. Merle Haggard recorded "(Today) I Started Loving You Again" in 1968. Scotty Wiseman died at age 71 in 1981. Reba McEntire made a guest appearance on the CBS sitcom "Evening Shade" in 1993. MORE COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY FOR THIS WEEKEND (Sat., Feb.2) Minstrel and vaudevillian comedian Emmett Miller was born in 1900. Lester McFarland of the WLS duet Mac and Bob was born in 1902. Glenn Barber was born in 1935. Howard Bellamy was born in 1946. Alabama's first Top-20 single, "My Home's in Alabama," debuted on the charts in 1980. Advertisement The Judds' "Heartland" album was certified platinum in 1987. Willie Nelson reached a compromise in 1993 with the IRS over the back taxes he owed the government. The deal meant they'd call it even, and his debt would be marked "paid." Also in 1993, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and George Strait tied with five nominations each for the TNN/Music City News Country Awards. (Sun., Feb.3) Dave Rich was born in 1936. Linda Hargrove was born in 1951. The "Million Dollar Quartet" -- comprised of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash -- record together at the Sun Studio in Memphis in 1956. Buddy Holly, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and Richie Valens were killed in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa, in 1959. Matraca Berg was born in 1964. Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden" single was certified gold in 1971. Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young announced plans for the fifth Farm Aid concert March 14, 1992, in Irving, Texas. Advertisement MUSIC AND MORE THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC A couple dozen country music artists are spending this week in the Colorado Rockies, but they're doing more than just skiing. They're trying to raise as much money as possible for the fight to eradicate cancer. "We all have people in our lives," Andy Griggs said about his reason for joining the 8th Annual Country In The Rockies benefit event. "I lost my father to cancer." Griggs -- whose latest single "Tonight I Want To Be Your Man" just hit country radio -- lent his talent as one of the opening acts for a concert featuring Jo Dee Messina. Australian singer Sherrie Austin, along with Billy Dean, also performed. The Messina concert was just one of the activities for the five-day event, which began Jan. 29 and will continue through Sunday, in Crested Butte, Colorado. There also are silent and live auctions and Celebrity Bartending Night. Country In The Rockies benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation, which funds research at the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. This year, the celebrity roster includes Willie Nelson, who will headline a concert Saturday, Kathy Mattea, Robert Earl Keen, Suzy Bogguss, Gary Morris, Gary Chapman and others. Advertisement Last year's event raised about $1 million. (Thanks to UPI's Crystal Caviness) BIRDHOUSES FOR CHARITY Tim McGraw, George Jones and Jessica Andrews are the first three country stars to decorate birdhouses to be auctioned off for a local charity. Country.com reports the trio's works of art will benefit the W.O. Smith School of Music. The project -- called "The Birdhouse Thing" -- will culminate in an auction on March 14 at a Nashville shopping mall. Montgomery Gentry, Wynonna Judd, Ashley Judd and Crystal Gayle have also promised to get out the paint brushes. (Thanks to UPI's Dennis Daily)
