Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Fri., Nov. 16)

The first hillbilly hit, Wendall Hall's Victor Recording of "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo," was released in 1923.

Troy Seals was born in Big Hill, Ky., in 1938.

Music publisher Wesley Rose wed Margaret Erdelyan in 1940.

The first radio broadcast of Atlanta's "WSB Barn Dance" was in 1940.

Songwriter and musician Larry Cordle ("Murder on Music Row") was born in Cordell, Ky., in 1949.

Carl Smith's recording of "Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way" charted in 1951.

The Osborne Brothers & Jimmy Martin recorded six sides for RCA Records including "20/20 Vision" and "Save It! Save It!" in 1954.

Faron Young was officially released from the U.S. Army in 1954.

Patsy Cline recorded "I Fall to Pieces" in 1960.

Merle Haggard recorded the Top Five single, "I Threw Away the Rose," in 1966.

The last performance by Bob Will's Texas Playboys was at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Ft. Worth, Texas, in 1986.

Lorrie Morgan married Jon Randall in 1996.

MORE COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY FOR THIS WEEKEND

(Sat., Nov. 17)

Gordon Lightfoot was born in Orilla, Ontario, Canada, in 1938.

Gene Clark, founding member and singer for the Byrds was born in Tipton, Mo., in 1941.

Ernest Tubb recorded "There's Nothing More to Say," "Just Rollin' On," "Wasting My Life Away," "I Ain't Goin' Honky Tonkin' Anymore," "First Year Blues," "I Hate to See You Go" and "Time After Time" in 1941.

"Opry House Matinee" starring Ernest Tubb & Eddy Arnold as hosts debuted on the Mutual Network in 1945.

Eva Overstake Foley, wife of Red Foley, died in 1951.

Pee Wee King recorded "Congratulations Joe," "Prelude to A Broken Heart," "Do You Remember" and "My Darlin' (We're Not Too Young To Know" in 1957.

Glen Campbell's recording of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Gentle On My Mind" were certified gold in 1968.

Sammy Kershaw's Feeling Good Train went gold in 1994.

"The Fever" by Garth Brooks debuted on the charts in 1995.

(Sun., Nov. 18)

Jimmy Swan was born in Cullman, Colo., in 1912.

Jacky Ward was born in Groveton, Texas, in 1946.

The Louvin Brothers recorded their first session for Apollo Records in 1947.

Web Pierce recorded the No.2 single "Yes, I Know Why" in 1955.

Glen Campbell's Wichita Lineman album was certified "gold" in 1968.

Jerry Lee Lewis and his third wife, Myra, were divorced in 1970. Marrying her in 1957, when she was just 13 (and his second cousin), all but ruined his career.

Barbara Mandrell topped the charts for the third consecutive week with "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed" in 1978.

Barbara Mandrell hosted her first network TV special in 1980.

Xavier B. Cosse, country music promoter, manager and husband of singer Martha Carson, died at age 73 in 1990.

Esco Hankins died at age 66 in Lexington, Ky., in 1990.

When Fallen Angels Fly by Patty Loveless went gold in 1994.

Doug Sahm, founding member of the Texas Tornados, died in Taos, N.M., in 1999.

COUNTRY MUSIC TRIVIA

Q: What group's first single was "Prayin' For Daylight"?

A: Rascal Flatts, who returns to the Opry during Opry at the Ryman this weekend. Fans can also catch Rascal Flatts on "CMT's Most Wanted Live," taped at the Country Music Hall of Fame this Friday.

MUSIC AND MORE

WAYLON JENNNINGS IN SICKBAY

Waylon Jennings is recovering from leg surgery in a Phoenix area hospital.

In a prepared statement, a spokeswoman for the country star said Jennings has postponed concerts originally scheduled for this Friday and Saturday in Tucson and Phoenix.

Jennings was admitted to the hospital late last week, according to the statement, and underwent leg surgery. This is the second surgery Jennings has undergone for treatment of peripheral vascular disease. The first was in April of last year.

The illness has made it difficult for Jennings to walk in recent years.

According to the statement, the medical director at the undisclosed hospital reported that Jennings' prognosis is good, "and I expect Waylon to be able to return to his routine activities soon."

Jennings has recorded more than 73 albums, including 13 consecutive multi-platinum, platinum and gold albums in the 1970s. In 1993, his "Greatest Hits" album went quadruple-platinum.

Jennings has won two Grammy awards and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

BRAD PAISLEY ON THE SEXY LIST

Handsome young country star Brad Paisley has now officially entered the ranks of the nation's sexiest men. In the newest edition of People magazine, the publication includes the two-time CMA award winner among the ranks of the nation's most-visible hunks, including George Clooney and John Stamos. Pierce Brosnan is on the cover of the issue.

In the article accompanying the photo layout, Paisley tells the publication that "you can probably attribute 90 percent of all guitars bought in the United States to the hope that playing one will attract girls."

The 31-year-old singer lists Glen Dale, Va., as his hometown. Paisley has a down-home "country" look about him, accentuated with one of the most piercing set of dark brown eyes you've even seen. Ironically, his first album was called, "Who Needs Pictures."

(Thanks to UPI Feature Reporter Dennis Daily)

Coming Soon To The Opry Stage:

Nov. 16: Hal Ketchum, Riders in the Sky, IIIrd Tyme Out, Rascal Flatts, Rhonda Vincent, Gene Watson

Nov. 17: Eddy Raven, Riders in the Sky, Rascal Flatts, Gene Watson

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

Nov. 24 (1:00 pm Matinee): David Ball

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

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

Dec. 1 (1:00 pm 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 (1:00 pm Matinee): Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings