Let’s hop in our metaphorical time machine and take a trip down memory lane.
On June 20, 1907 Jimmy Driftwood was born in Timbo, Arkansas. Driftwood was a musician and prolific song writer, most famously known for his songs ‘Tennessee Stud’ and ‘The Battle of New Orleans’. ‘The Battle of New Orleans’ won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1960. Many artists have covered a Jimmy Driftwood song in their careers, including: Eddy Arnold, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Johnny Cash, and Homer and Jethro. Driftwood passed away, due to a heart attack, on July 12, 1998 in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the age of 91.
On June 20, 1945 in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada Anne Murray was born. Murray has sold over 54 million albums worldwide in her career. She became the first Canadian female solo artist to reach the top of the US charts with her song ‘Snowbird’. Murray was also the first Canadian female singer to earn a Gold record; she reached this mark with ‘Snowbird’ as well. In 1984 Anne Murray became the first woman, and first Canadian, to win Album of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards for her album ‘A Little Good News’.
On June 20, 1991 Garth Brooks was on top of the US Country Album chart with his album ‘Ropin’ the Wind’. It was Brooks’ third studio album, and it replaced his previous album ‘No Fences’ at the number one spot. ‘Ropin’ the Win’ would enjoy a total of 18 weeks at the top of the chart. Tracks from the album included: ‘Against the Grain’, ‘Rodeo’, ‘Burning Bridges’, ‘Shameless’, ‘Cold Shoulder’, ‘In Lonesome Dove’, and ‘The River’.
On June 20, 2007 the Academy of Country Music presented a trio of singers, and one song writer, with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Don Williams, and song writer Harlan Howard all received the prestigious honor. They were presented the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award at the Tennessee State Museum. At the same ceremony Buck Owens was presented with the Jim Reeves International Award.
