Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On March 6, 1967, the second Academy of Country Music Awards were handed out at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, with Lorne Greene as host. In 1972, Dolly Parton put out Touch Your Woman on RCA Victor. Red Simpson and Trent Willmon share this birthday.
The second Academy of Country Music Awards were handed out at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, with Lorne Greene as host. Merle Haggard took Top Male Vocalist and Bonnie Guitar won Top Female Vocalist. Merle and Bonnie Owens also won Top Vocal Group.
Bob Wills, the King of Western Swing, was born James Robert Wills near Kosse, Texas. He led the Texas Playboys with his fiddle and died in Fort Worth in 1975.
Red Simpson was born in Higley, Arizona. He sang trucker songs like "I'm a Truck" and wrote "Sam's Place," a No. 1 hit for Buck Owens. He died in 2016 at 81.
Pedal steel player Ben Keith was born in Fort Riley, Kansas. He played on Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces" and spent nearly 40 years with Neil Young. He died in 2010 at 73.
Songwriter Peter McCann was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He had a 1977 hit with "Do You Wanna Make Love," and his songs were cut by Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers and the Oak Ridge Boys. He died in 2023 at 74.
Songwriter Sam Hogin was born in Bruceton, Tennessee. He earned CMA Song of the Year nods for Don Williams' "I Believe in You" and Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing." He died in 2004 at 54.
Songwriter Skip Ewing was born in Redlands, California. His songs have been cut by stars like Kenny Rogers and Reba McEntire, and he sang with Reba on the radio version of "Every Other Weekend."
Trent Willmon was born in Amarillo, Texas, and grew up on a ranch. Besides making his own records, he helped write Montgomery Gentry's "Back When I Knew It All" and Steel Magnolia's "Keep On Lovin' You."
Dolly Parton put out Touch Your Woman on RCA Victor. It was her ninth solo studio album, and the title song earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.
Jerrod Niemann's tour bus caught fire while he was on the road. He walked away unhurt and gave Lee Brice credit for warning him about the flames in time.
Canadian country singer Stompin' Tom Connors died at 77 at his home in Ontario. Fans know him best for "The Hockey Song," "Sudbury Saturday Night" and "Bud the Spud."
Red Simpson (1934) and Trent Willmon (1973) were all born on this date.
Every entry is checked by the Country Thang Daily editors. Spot something we got wrong? Let us know and we’ll fix it and note the change.