topped the country charts with "There Must Be More to Love Than This" 10-6-1970.

Johnny Darrell, age 57, died in Kennesaw, Georgia, from diabetes 10-7-199.

Anne Murray becomes the first female to win the CMA's Album of the Year award 10-8-1984.

Elvis Presley debuted on the Louisiana Hayride 10-9-1954.

Joe Poovey, age 57, recording artist/guitarist/deejay/songwriter, died in his sleep 10-10-1998.

Roy Orbison appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show 10-11-1964.

John Denver, age 53, died when the plane he was flying crashed into the Pacific Ocean, near Monterey, California, on 10-12-1997. Seven months earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration refused to issue a pilot's license to John, because of alcohol related problems.

Horace "Hoss" Logan, the founder of the Louisiana Hayride, died in Victoria, Texas on 10-13-2002.

The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company purchased a 30-minute segment of the Grand Ole Opry on 10-14-1938. The Prince Albert Show was born, and Roy Acuff was picked to be the host. The NBC radio Red network picked up the show, and broadcast it every Saturday night to twenty-six NBC stations, in addition to WSM. By 1943 the show was featured on the full NBC network, and could be heard coast to coast on 125 stations. Country music was on it's way.

The audience, at a Madison Square Garden Rock concert on 10-15-1971, booed Rick Nelson. As a result of this incident, Rick wrote "Garden Party."

Johnny Cash performed at Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Celebration in NYC 10-16-1992.

Willie Nelson taped the pilot show for Austin City Limits 10-17-1974.

Hightone Records released Rosie Flores' "Rockabilly Filly" 10-18-1995.

Grant Turner, age 79, the dean of WSM announcers, died in Nashville 10-19-1991. A WSM and Opry announcer for forty-nine years, Grant was Inducted into the Country Music Disk Jockey Hall of Fame in 1975, and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1981.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane crashed, killing six band members and back-up singers on 10-20-1977.

Rockabilly legend Gene Vincent, age 36, died 10-12-1971.

Carl Perkins wrote "Blue Suede Shoes" in his apartment 10-22-1955.

Mother Maybelle Carter, age 68, died 10-23-1978. Inducted CMHF 1970.

The Gaylord Entertainment Company came to Nashville, Tennessee on 10-24-1991. Traditional Country Music was immediately exposed to a fatal disease, and slowly died a painful death.
Johnny Cash played his final concert date in Flint, Michigan l0-25-1997.

Garth Brooks announced one of his many retirements from music on 10-26-2000. Reporters were not told if Chris Gaines was hanging it up too.

The Grand Ole Opry moved from WSM's Studio C, to Nashville's Hillsboro Theatre, on 10-27-1934. The Hillsboro seated 2,400 people, and for the first time the stars would have dressing rooms. At this time the artists were instructed to wear costumes on the show. The opening night at the Hillsboro Theatre was Vito Pellettiere's debut as the Opry's first stage manager. Mr. Pellettiere's contribution to the success of the Opry over the next forty years cannot be overstated.

Brenda Lee recorded "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" at Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut studio on 10-28-1958. The session musicians were; Buddy Harmon on drums, Grady Martin and Hank Garland on guitar, Floyd Cramer on Piano, Bob Moore on stand-up bass, and Harold Bradley on electric bass.

Slim Whitman left the Louisiana Hayride and joined the Grand Ole Opry 10-29-1955.

Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman," certified gold 10-30-1964.

Anita Kerr, "Anita Kerr Singers," born Anita Jean Grilli, in Memphis, TN 10-31-1927. At the peak of their career (early 60's) the Anita Kerr Singers appeared on approximately one out of every four Nashville record releases.

Check out my entire Country Calendar at: www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalendar.html


Rockabilly Pioneer
Joe Poovey 1941-1998