Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On October 12, 1981, Alabama won both Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year at the 15th CMA Awards, hosted by Barbara Mandrell. In 1987, Kenny Rogers hosted the 21st CMA Awards at the Opry House. It’s also Martie Maguire’s birthday.
Alabama won both Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year at the 15th CMA Awards, hosted by Barbara Mandrell. George Jones was Male Vocalist, Don Williams' I Believe in You took Album of the Year, and the Oak Ridge Boys' "Elvira" won Single.
Harmonica man Terry McMillan was born in Lexington, North Carolina. One of Nashville's busiest session players, he recorded with Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Garth Brooks and Ray Charles. He died in 2007 at 53.
Martie Maguire was born in York, Pennsylvania. The fiddler and founding member of The Chicks played on No. 1 hits like "Wide Open Spaces" and "Travelin' Soldier." She also formed Court Yard Hounds with her sister Emily.
Songwriter and producer Shane McAnally was born in Mineral Wells, Texas. He co-wrote Kacey Musgraves' "Follow Your Arrow" and "Space Cowboy," which won him a Grammy, and has penned hits for many of Nashville's biggest names.
Fiddler Jim Van Cleve was born in Sarasota, Florida. He helped found the bluegrass band Mountain Heart and became a sought-after session player for stars like Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton.
Kenny Rogers hosted the 21st CMA Awards at the Opry House. Randy Travis won big with "Forever and Ever, Amen" and his album Always & Forever. Hank Williams Jr. was Entertainer of the Year, and Reba McEntire was Female Vocalist.
Liberty Records released Garth Brooks' "Somewhere Other Than the Night," the second single from The Chase. It went on to hit No. 1 on the country chart.
Faith Hill's first album, Take Me as I Am, came out on Warner Bros. Nashville. Its first two singles, "Wild One" and her take on "Piece of My Heart," both reached No. 1 on the country chart.
Darius Rucker released Charleston, SC 1966, named in the style of Radney Foster's Del Rio, TX 1959. Its lead single, "Come Back Song," which he wrote with Chris Stapleton and Casey Beathard, became his fourth country No. 1.
Farm Aid came to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, raising money for family farmers. Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young led a bill that included Martina McBride, John Conlee, Robert Earl Keen and Hootie and the Blowfish.
Source: glidemagazine.comJohn Denver died at 53 when the small plane he was flying went down in Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California. The 1975 CMA Entertainer of the Year gave us "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy."
Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer Dallas Harms died in Hamilton, Ontario, at 84. He topped the Canadian country chart with "Honky Tonkin' (All Night Long)" in 1982, and his song "Paper Rosie" became a hit for Gene Watson.
Martie Maguire (1969) was born on this date.
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