Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Thursday, July 11) Advertisement Gordon "Commander Cody" Frayne born in 1944. Kenny Rogers quit The New Christy Minstrels to form The First Edition in 1967. Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson's "Pancho & Lefty" album certified gold in 1983. MUSIC AND MORE BILLBOARD TO CHART BLUEGRASS Billboard magazine this month begins tracking bluegrass album sales separately. The music mag's new "Top Bluegrass Albums" chart will rank the widely varied styles that make up the genre, from traditional to its more modern, progressive music. The chart is to be kept by Wade Jessen, who also will manage the country and religious music charts. Top-selling bluegrass albums such as the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, and those from Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss & Union Station still will appear on the Top Country Albums chart. TRIO LOOKS BACK AT BILL MONROE, OTHERS Newly released "Looking Back," the second album by Phillips, Grier & Flinner, pools the work of some mighty talented musicians. Bassist Todd Phillips has two Grammies, David Grier has seven guitar player of the year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association and mandolin player Matt Flinner has two Winfield National Championships. Advertisement "Looking Back," released by Compass Records this week, features the talented trio playing favorites by Bill Monroe, the Beatles and others. RADNEY FOSTER HAS NEW DAUGHTER Radney Foster, whose new single "Everyday Angel" is due for release next week, has a brand-new angel in his life -- a daughter. Wife Cyndi Hoelzle gave birth to Maureen Joy Foster on Monday. Foster has two sons, but he says "This girl business is scary."
