Dates of Note in Country Music, February 16-28

Category: News

(Hall of Fame members in bold)

February 16:

Ronnie Milsap born in Robbinsville, North Carolina, 1944 (now 65)
Jo-Walker Meador born in Orlinda, Tennessee, 1924 (now 85)
Jimmy Wakely born in Mineola, Arkansas, 1914 (died 1982)
Smiley Burnette died (leukemia), 1967 (was 55)

February 17:

Buck Trent born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1938 (now 71)
Johnny Bush born in Houston, Texas, 1935 (now 74)
Jon Randall born in Dallas, Texas, 1969 (now 40)
Bryan White born in Shellman, Georgia, 1974 (now 35)
Billy Byrd born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 2001)
Gene Pitney born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1940 (died 2006). The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer recorded two albums of duets with George Jones.
Uncle Jimmy Thompson died (natural causes), 1931 (was 82)
Eck Robertson died (natural causes), 1975 (was 87)
Gus Hardin died (car wreck), 1996 (was 50)

February 18:

Juice Newton born in Lakehurst Naval Station, New Jersey, 1952 (now 57)
Dudley Connell of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Scheer, West Virginia, 1956 (now 53)
Pee Wee King born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1914 (died 2000)
Tootsie Bess, owner of Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, died (cancer), 1978 (was 61)
Johnny Paycheck died (emphysema), 2003 (was 64)

February 19:

Lorianne Crook born in Wichita, Kansas, 1957 (now 52)
Cedric Rainwater (real name: Howard Watts) born in Monticello, Florida, 1913 (died 1970)
Grandpa Jones died (stroke), 1998 (was 84)
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton officially break up their act, 1974

February 20:

Kathie Baillie of Baillie & the Boys born in Morristown, New Jersey, 1951 (now 58)
Claire Lynch born in Albany, New York, 1954 (now 55)

February 21:

Mary-Chapin Carpenter born in Princeton, New Jersey, 1958 (now 51)
Don Reno born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1926 (died 1984)

February 22:

Del Wood born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1989)
During a concert in London, Ontario, Johnny Cash asked June Carter to marry him, 1968

February 23:

Buck Griffin born in Corsicana, Texas, 1923 (now 86)
Rusty Young of Poco born in Long Beach, California, 1946 (now 63)
Minnie Pearl married Henry Cannon, 1947

February 24:

Little Roy Lewis of the Lewis Family born in Lincoln County, Georgia, 1942 (now 67)
Don Law born in London, England, 1902 (died 1982)
Webb Pierce died (cancer), 1991 (was 69)
Goldie Hill Smith died (cancer), 2005 (was 72)
Dinah Shore died (cancer), 1994 (was 77). The legendary pop singer and TV hostess was part of the family of live performers on WSM radio.

February 25:

Dr. Ralph Stanley born in Stratton, Virginia, 1927 (now 82)
Faron Young born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1932 (died 1996)

February 26:

Jan Crutchfield born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1936 (now 73)
Billy Jack Wills born in Hall County, Texas, 1926 (died 1991)
Johnny Cash born in Kingsland, Arkansas, 1932 (died 2003)

February 27:

Chuck Glaser of the Glaser Brothers born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1936 (now 73)
Walter Bailes died (various health problems), 2000 (was 80)

February 28:

Don Helms born in New Brockton, Alabama, 1927 (died 2008)
Joe South born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1940 (now 69)
Jim Denny born in Silver Point, Tennessee, 1911 (died 1963)
Audrey Williams born in Banks, Alabama, 1923 (died 1975)
Bunny Biggs of Jamup & Honey died (unknown causes), 1948 (was 52)
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith died (unknown causes), 1971 (was 72)

And a leap baby:
February 29:

Dinah Shore born in Winchester, Tennessee, 1916 (died 1994)