Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Friday, Aug. 16) Advertisement Emory Martin -- "radio's only one-armed banjo player" -- born in Bon Aqua, Tenn., 1916. Eric Weissberg, half of the duo that popularized "Dueling Banjos," born, 1939. Elvis Presley died at Graceland, 1977. (Saturday, Aug. 17) Charlie Rich's first recording session for Sun Records, 1958. Brooks & Dunn's first album, "Brand New Man," certified platinum, 1992. Ralph Stanley critically injured in an auto accident in Virginia, 1951. (Sunday, Aug. 18) Molly Bee born Molly Beachwood in Oklahoma City, Okla., 1939. Jerry Jeff Walker recorded "Viva Terlingua" album live in Luckenbach, Texas, 1973. Elvis Presley's funeral, 1977. MUSIC AND MORE PHIL VASSAR'S ALBUM DEBUTS AT NO. 4 Phil Vassar's second compact disc, "American Child," debuted at No. 4 on this week's Billboard country albums chart. Vassar's self-titled first album went gold and produced a No. 1 single, "Just Another Day In Paradise." "Unleashed" by Toby Keith, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" by Kenny Chesney and the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack remained 1-2-3 on the Billboard chart. "Drive" by Alan Jackson slipped to No. 5. Advertisement CHESNEY SINGLE STILL NO. 1 Kenny Chesney's single, "The Good Stuff" was good enough to stay atop the Billboard hot singles chart this week. The Dixie Chicks' "Long Time Gone" rose a notch to No. 2, "Unbroken" by Tim McGraw jumped from No. 6 to No. 3, Darryl Worley's "I Miss My Friend" moved up to No. 4 and "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)" by Toby Keith fell from No. 2 to No. 5. KRAUSS, UNION STATION GET 12 BLUEGRASS AWARD NODS Alison Krauss & Union Station on Friday received a total of 12 nominations for International Bluegrass Music Association awards to be handed out Oct. 17 in Louisville, Ky. Krauss and the band got the nod for seven awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Best Instrumental Group, Song of the Year ("The Lucky One") and Album of the Year ("New Favorite"). Krauss, a two-time Grammy winner, and individual band members also are up for several other awards. The Del McCoury Band, which has won the most IBMA awards, took 11 nominations. Six each went to show co-host Ricky Skaggs, Mountain Heart, and reigning entertainer of the year Rhonda Vincent and her band, Rage. Advertisement TIM MCGRAW HOME TO LOUISIANA FOR TV SPECIAL Louisiana boy Tim McGraw goes home next month to tape his first TV special scheduled to air on NBC this fall. McGraw will perform Sept. 7 at the C.W. Earle Cotton Gin in his hometown of Start, in northeast Louisiana. Tickets are $10, and a portion of the proceeds will go to local charities. SHANIA, JOHN MICHAEL SET ALBUM RELEASE DATES Multi-platinum artists Shania Twain and John Michael Montgomery have set release dates for their new albums. Twain's "Up!" is due out Nov. 12, featuring 19 new songs she co-wrote with husband and producer Mutt Lange. It's her first album since "Come On Over," which sold 34 million copies worldwide. Montgomery's "Pictures," due in stores on Oct. 8, reunites him with Scott Hendricks, who produced Montgomery's successful "Kickin' It Up" and "John Michael Montgomery" albums.
