Both Kinds of Music

Happy Birthday - Roy Rogers, Billy Sherrill, Gram Parsons & Ryan Adams

Happy Deathday - Johnny Horton

1911 - Leonard Slye born in Cincinnati, Ohio. As Roy Rogers, he becomes a silver screen cowboy, joining the Country Music Hall of Fame as a solo star and as a member of The Sons Of The Pioneers

1936 - Songwriter-producer Billy Sherrill born in Phil Campbell, Alabama. He writes “Stand By Your Man,” “Almost Persuaded” and “The Most Beautiful Girl,” and produces George Jones, Johnny Paycheck and Marty Robbins, among others

1946 - Gram Parsons born in Winter Haven, Florida. As a member of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, and as a solo artist, he becomes an important figure in the development of country-rock. He tours and records with protege Emmylou Harris

1956 - Elvis Presley attends the opening of the Beginner Driver Range in Memphis, the first driving school in the nation sponsored by the police department

1956 - Jerry Lee Lewis scores an impromptu audition at Memphis’ Sun Records, with engineer Jack Clement. In less than 10 days, he makes his first record

1960 - Johnny Horton dies in an auto accident in Austin, after performing at the Skyline. Also injured: manager Tillman Franks and guitarist Tommy Tomlinson. Horton’s last words before the accident: “You know, Tillman, the Lord’s been real good to me this year”

1968 - RCA releases Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream”

1969 - Jerry Reed records his million-selling “Amos Moses”

1973 - Phil Kaufman and Michael Martin plead guilty for the theft of Gram Parsons’ casket in September. They receive suspended 30-day sentences, are fined $300 apiece and required to pay $750 for the casket

1974 - Ryan Adams born in Jacksonville, North Carolina. After fronting the alt-country band Whiskeytown, he becomes a critically acclaimed figure blending roots rock and country influences. He also writes the Tim McGraw hit “When The Stars Go Blue”

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