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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Monday, Dec. 2)

Ruth Poe, a member of early Grand Ole Opry act, the Poe Sisters, born near Big Creek, Miss., 1945.

John Wesley Ryles born in Bastrop, La., 1950.

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton debut on the chart with "The Last Thing On My Mind," 1967.

"Kenny and Dolly: A Christmas to Remember" airs on CBS-TV, 1984.

MUSIC AND MORE

DIRT BAND DONATES MEMORABILIA TO HALL MUSEUM

Next week the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will mark the 30th anniversary of its signature album by donating artifacts to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

The Dec. 10 ceremony will document the band's historic "Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. III," which was reissued Oct. 1.

Live music and stories will be presented before the first public screening of "Farther Along," a film documenting the Circle Vol. III sessions.

"The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has certainly established an important tradition with these collaborative Circle recordings, which have served to bring new audiences to traditional music," museum director Kyle Young said in a news release.

NELSON, CASH ON PBS 'FREEDOM' SERIES CD

Country music stars are featured on "Freedom: Songs From The Heart of America," set for release next week as a musical companion to an upcoming PBS-TV series. "Freedom: A History of US," premieres on PBS-TV Jan. 12.

The three-disc, 67-song collection includes the work of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins and other country artists.

"Tracks on the album cover virtually every important historical event in American history -- from the Revolutionary War through today's terrorism challenges," said a Columbia Records release.