Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Wed., Nov. 28)

One-time Grand Ole Opry member Robert Lunn was born in Franklin, Tenn., in 1912.

Fiddler Cecil Brower was born in Bellevue, Texas, in 1914.

WSM Barn Dance, which later became the Grand Ole Opry, made its radio debut in 1925.

Jimmie Rodgers recorded "That's Why I'm Blue," " Why Did You Give Me Your Love?" and "A Drunkard's Child" in 1929.

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys recorded "San Antonio Rose" in 1938.

Eddy Arnold wed Sally Gayhart in 1941.

The Speer Family conducted its first recording session for Columbia in 1947.

Hank Locklin debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in 1953.

Roy Acuff began a six-week tour of Alaska in 1954,

Kristine Arnold of the Sweethearts of the Rodeo was born in Manhattan Beach, Calif., in 1958.

Homer and Jethro's parody, "The Battle of Kookamonga," won a Grammy for Best Comedy Performance in 1959.

Carrie Rodgers, widow of Jimmie Rodgers, died in 1961.

Willie Nelson debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in 1964.

Opry member Steve Wariner held the No.1 spot on the country charts with "Lynda" in 1987.

Wanna Coffman, bass player and the last surviving member of Milton Brown's Musical Brownies, died at age 80 in 1991.

COUNTRY MUSIC TRIVIA

Q: What artist, who won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1977 & 1978, is the sister of a famous Opry member?

A: Crystal Gayle, who returns to the Opry during Opry at the Ryman this Saturday.

MUSIC AND MORE

COUNTRY STAR CLEARED OF INFRINGEMENT

John Michael Montgomery has been cleared by the Kentucky Supreme Court of charges that he violated rights retained by the estate of his late father by using the elder Montgomery's image on a recent video.

JMM used clips of his dad singing a song he once wrote in a video called "I Miss You A Little." His father worked for years as an electrician and a meat cutter, but always wanted to be a country star. The film clip shows him performing a song that he once presented to Ernest Tubb, hoping it would be a hit.

But the wife of the late Montgomery and another family member had sued, claiming that using the footage violated the rights of the estate because the younger Montgomery had never asked for permission. Court records now show that the Bluegrass State's highest court disagreed.

NEW GARTH ALBUMS WITH NO WORK INVOLVED?

Even though back-in-the-public-eye superstar Garth Brooks is promising to crank out some new albums in the next few years, there are reports that the country icon has enough stuff "in the can" that Capitol Records could likely press two or three new CDs without the singer ever returning to a recording studio.

Country.com quotes studio engineers saying Brooks has been so prolific during recording sessions that every time he has put out an album several songs were not included, but are on tape, unreleased. Amazingly, as many as 30 songs remain in Capitol's vaults.

Brooks is legendry for his retreading of old or modified material. A 1998 release, "The Limited Series," was simply a repackaging of his first six releases with the addition of a song that didn't fit in earlier sets.

(The above two items thanks to UPI Feature Reporter Dennis Daily)

ELVIS IN HALL OF FAME

The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in a ceremony Tuesday. The ceremony, hosted by the Oak Ridge Boys, was held at the First Baptist Church in Franklin, Tenn.

The honor makes Presley the only artist to be a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

KINLEYS LEAVE SONY

Twin sister act, The Kinleys, have parted ways with Sony Music/Epic, their record label that produced two albums including Just Between You and Me. The Kinleys, Heather and Jennifer, won the 1998 ACM Best New Duo or Group Award and recorded such hits as "Just Between You and Me" and "Somebody's Out There Watching." The duo will not tour for most of 2002 to concentrate on their songwriting and Jennifer's new arrival. Jennifer and husband, Adam Hughes, are expecting their first child in May 2002.

GAYLORD SELLS WORD

Gaylord Entertainment will sell their Christian label, Word Entertainment division, to Warner Music Group for $84.1 million in cash. Word artists include Amy Grant and Rachael Lampa. The sale is expected to be complete by early 2002. The company will continue to be based in Nashville.

Coming Soon To The Opry Stage:

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

Dec. 1 (1 p.m. matinee): Asleep at the Wheel, Carolyn Dawn Johnson

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

Dec. 7: Gillian Welch, Clint Black, Chalee Tennison, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Dobie Gray, Darryl Worley

Dec. 8 (1 p.m. matinee): Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, Chalee Tennison

Dec. 8: Travis Tritt, Diamond Rio, Gillian Welch, Clint Black, Chalee Tennison, Darryl Worley

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, Emmylou Harris