On This Day in Country Music: September 5

Jamie Oldaker

Drummer Jamie Oldaker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He played on records by the Bellamy Brothers, Asleep at the Wheel, Vince Gill and Willie Nelson. He died in 2020 at 68.

Johnny Cash ruled the country albums chart with At San Quentin, cut live for the inmates of the California prison. It held No. 1 for 20 straight weeks, and "A Boy Named Sue" won him a Grammy.

Janis Joplin began the recording sessions where she cut "Me and Bobby McGee," written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. Her version hit No. 1 on the pop chart in 1971, after her passing.

Hank Williams Jr. put out "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)," the first single from The Pressure Is On. It became his fifth No. 1 country hit.

The Steven Seagal movie Fire Down Below opened in theaters. Country fans spotted Randy Travis, Mark Collie, Ed Bruce, Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt, and Kris Kristofferson played a coal company owner.

Songwriter Joe South died at his home in Flowery Branch, Georgia, at 72. He wrote "Games People Play" and Lynn Anderson's big hit "Rose Garden," which charted in 16 countries.

Jimmy Johnson, guitarist and producer with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, died at 76. He worked on records by Willie Nelson, the Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Eddie Rabbitt and Billy "Crash" Craddock.