March 27th: On this day

1929
Born on this day was Don Warden, American country musician and manager best known for his years on The Porter Wagoner Show and as the manager of Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Warden was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2008.

1947
Tex Williams recorded “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. The song which was co-written with Merle Travis and produced by Lee Gillette, spent 15 weeks at #1 on the country chart in 1947. The song can be heard in the opening of the 2006 film, Thank You for Smoking.

1965
Roger Miller was at #1 on the US Country charts with “King Of The Road.” The song has been covered by many other artists, including George Jones, Dean Martin, Boxcar Willie, Randy Travis, the Statler Brothers, Rufus Wainwright & Teddy Thompson, The Proclaimers and Jerry Lee Lewis.

1993
Clint Black was at #1 on the US Country charts with “When My Ship Comes In”, the final single released from his 1992 album The Hard Way.

1998
Country music star Gene Autry, who sold the California Angels baseball team to Disney, was honored with a bronze statue, as Anaheim Stadium was re-opened after major renovations.

2002
Lyle Lovett was rushed to Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital after his leg was broken in 20 places when a bull trampled him. The Country star was working on his uncle’s Texas ranch at the time of the accident; Lovett was injured when trying to protect his uncle, who was flipped by the bull.

2007
Curb Records released Let It Go, the eleventh album by Tim McGraw. The album, which entered the US Billboard 200 at #1, produced seven Top 20 chart singles on the Hot Country Songs charts.

2011
Shania Twain was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the Juno Awards.

2013
Gordon Stoker died aged 88. He was a member of the world-famous Jordanaires and was heard on records by artists such as Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves.