March 19th: On this day

1961
Marty Robbins was at #1 with “Don’t Worry” his seventh Country chart topper, (which stayed at #1 for ten weeks). “Don’t Worry” is an early example of guitar distortion after session guitarist Grady Martin, using a faulty channel in the mixing-desk for his six-string bass, created a distorted sound. Although Martin didn’t like the sound, Robbins’ producer left the guitar track as it was.

1972
Freddie Hart and the Heartbeats were at #1 on the country chart with “My Hang-Up Is You”, Hart’s second #1 on the US country singles chart. The single stayed at the top for six weeks and spent a total of eighteen weeks on the chart.

2000
Dixie Chicks fifth studio album Fly was at #1 on the country chart. The album debuted and peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 and has now sold over 10 million units. The album earned 4 Grammy nominations and the group won 2: Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Ready to Run” and Best Country Album.

2007
Days after an announcement that Lonestar had parted ways with longtime record label BNA Records, lead singer Richie McDonald announced plans to depart the group at the end of the year, in search of a solo career.

2010
Josh Turner was at #1 on the Country singles chart with “Why Don’t We Just Dance”, released in August 2009 as the lead-off single from his album Haywire. The song became Turner’s third #1 hit.

2013
Police in north Florida cited country music singer David Allan Coe for running a red light before being struck by a tractor-trailer near downtown Ocala. Police said Coe was driving a 2011 Suburban when he ran the red light. The truck hit the SUV broadside, pushing it into a nearby parking lot. The truck flipped on its side, wrapped around a pole and spilled the radishes and corn it was hauling.