Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On July 26, 1922, Record executive Jim Foglesong was born in Lundale, West Virginia. In 1972, Charley Pride held No. 1 on the country chart with "It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer." Producer Scott Hendricks and Fred Foster share this birthday.
Record executive Jim Foglesong was born in Lundale, West Virginia. He signed stars like Garth Brooks, George Strait, Reba McEntire and Barbara Mandrell. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Fred Foster was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The Monument Records founder produced Roy Orbison hits like "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Crying" and worked with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. He died in 2019 at 87.
Guitarist and songwriter Al Anderson was born in Windsor, Connecticut. He wrote George Strait's "Love's Gonna Make It Alright" and LeAnn Rimes' "Big Deal."
Producer Scott Hendricks was born in Clinton, Oklahoma. He has worked with Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton.
Charley Pride held No. 1 on the country chart with "It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer." The song stayed on top for three weeks.
Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood reached No. 1 on the country chart with their duet "Bar Room Buddies."
Ben Keith, the pedal steel player best known for nearly 40 years with Neil Young, died at 73 in California. Early on he played on Patsy Cline's 1961 hit "I Fall to Pieces." He also worked with Linda Ronstadt and Willie Nelson.
Three members of the gospel group The Nelons died in a plane crash near Gillette, Wyoming. Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and Amber Nelon Kistler were lost. Autumn Nelon Streetman, the group's fourth member, was not on board.
Fred Foster (1931) and Producer Scott Hendricks (1956) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1972, Charley Pride held No. 1 on the country chart with "It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer." In 1980, Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood reached No. 1 on the country chart with their duet "Bar Room Buddies."
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