On This Day in Country Music: October 2

Leon Rausch

Leon Rausch was born in Billings, Missouri. Known as "the voice" of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, he sang lead for the band starting in 1958 and kept western swing alive for decades after. He died in 2019 at 91.

Jo-El Sonnier

Cajun singer and accordion man Jo-El Sonnier was born in Rayne, Louisiana. He reached the country Top 10 in 1988 with "No More One More Time" and "Tear-Stained Letter" on RCA. He died in January 2024 at 77.

Chris LeDoux

Chris LeDoux was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. A world champion bareback rider, he sang about rodeo life and sold more than six million albums, many of them his own releases. He earned a Grammy nod for "Whatcha Gonna Do with a Cowboy" with Garth Brooks.

Danny Mayo

Songwriter Danny Mayo was born in Gadsden, Alabama. He co-wrote Tracy Byrd's "The Keeper of the Stars" and Confederate Railroad's "Jesus and Mama." He died of a heart attack on his 49th birthday in 1999.

Gillian Welch

Gillian Welch was born in New York City. She sang "I'll Fly Away" with Alison Krauss on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Lynn Anderson's album "You're My Man" was No. 1 on the country album chart, where it stayed seven weeks. Her husband, Glenn Sutton, produced it, and the title song was her second No. 1 single.

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Walker Hayes was No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with "Fancy Like." The song caught fire after Hayes posted a TikTok dance with his kids, and it spent 20 weeks on top that year.

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The Del McCoury Band was named Entertainer of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Awards in Louisville, Kentucky. It was the eighth time the band won bluegrass music's top prize.

A young Elvis Presley made his only Grand Ole Opry appearance, singing his upbeat take on Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky." The crowd gave him a polite but cool welcome, and he never played the Opry again.

Brad Paisley surprised Darius Rucker after his Opry set by posing as a fan in a question time and asking if he wanted to join the Grand Ole Opry. Rucker said yes and was inducted later that month.

DeFord Bailey cut eight harmonica sides for Victor Records in Nashville, among the first professional recordings made in the city. The Grand Ole Opry star was also the first Black performer on the show.

Dolly Parton released "My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner," her 10th solo studio album. As the title says, the songs on the original record were all written by her duet partner Porter Wagoner.

Alabama released "Love in the First Degree," written by Tim DuBois and Jim Hurt. It became the band's fifth straight No. 1 country hit and reached No. 15 on the pop chart, its best pop showing.

Farm Aid turned 25 with a benefit show at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founders Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young played, along with Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson, Norah Jones and Dave Matthews.

Terri Gibbs was a guest on "The Glen Campbell Music Show." She sang "Ashes to Ashes," then joined Glen on her hit "Somebody's Knockin'" and several more songs.

Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy, died at his home in Studio City, California, at 91. He had marked his birthday just three days earlier.

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