Let’s hop in our metaphorical time machine and take a trip down memory lane.
Let’s go way back to start today’s trip. On July 9, 1907 Eddie Dean was born in Hopkins County, Texas. Dean was a singer and actor who was best known for his 1955 song ‘I Dreamed of a Hill-Billy Heaven’. ‘I Dreamed of a Hill-Billy Heaven’ would actually become an even greater hit in 1961 when it was re-released by singer Tex Ritter. Eddie Dean’s other claim to fame is that Roy Rogers and Gene Autry both claimed that Dean is the best cowboy singer of all time. Eddie Dean would pass away on March 4, 1999; he was 91 years old.
On July 9, 1953 David Ball was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Ball saw his most success in the mid 90’s to late 2000’s. Ball’s ‘Thinkin Problem’ (1994) and ‘Riding with Private Malone’ in 2001 both peaked just short of the top spot on the charts, coming in at number two.
On July 9, 1968 Tammy Wynette was at number one on the US Country Singles chart with her song ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E’. The song was written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman. ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E’ also became a minor pop hit as well when it appeared on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts as well. The song is most recognizable by its start; where the word ‘divorce’ is spelled out letter by letter so the children won’t understand what the parents in the song are discussing. Wynette’s original recorded version of the song features in the films ‘Five Easy Pieces’ and ‘Brokeback Mountain’.
On July 12, 2011 The Country Music Association would add another dozen members to their Hall of Fame. The honorees included: Bill Anderson, Waylon Jennings, Sam Phillips, The Louvin Brothers, The Delmore Brothers, The Jordanaires, Webb Pierce, Don Gibson, The Everly Brothers, Don Law, Ken Nelson, and Homer and Jethro.