Ray Turner’s Day in Country Music History

July 4th: On this day

1916
Born on this day in Annville, Jackson County, Kentucky, was David Akeman better known as Stringbean (or String Bean), American country music banjo player and comedy musician best known for his role on the hit television show, Hee Haw. On November 10, 1973, Akeman and his wife were murdered by burglars at their rural Tennessee home in 1973 after they returned home after he performed at the Grand Ole Opry.

1949
Born on this day in Shreveport, Louisiana, was James Stroud, drummer and record producer. He has worked with Eddie Rabbitt, Conway Twitty, Eddy Raven, Clint Black, John Anderson, Clay Walker, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw.

1964
Buck Owens was at #1 on the Country singles chart with “My Heart Skips a Beat”, Owens’s third #1. The B-side, “Together Again”, also hit #1 on the country chart both replacing and being replaced by “My Heart Skips a Beat” from the top spot.

1985
Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic in Austin featured the first live assembly of the Highwaymen: Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. Also appearing was, Neil Young, Hank Snow and June Carter Cash.

1986
The second Farm Aid benefit concert took place at Manor Downs Racetrack, Manor, Texas. Held to raise money for family farmers in the US, the concerts were organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Artists who appeared included: Alabama, The Beach Boys, Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Exile, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Emmylou Harris, Jason & the Scorchers, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Bon Jovi, Nicolette Larson, Los Lobos, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, Vince Neil and Willie Nelson.

2006
Johnny Cash released American V – A Hundred Highways his 93rd overall album and a posthumous album by Johnny Cash. As the title implies, it is the fifth entry in Cash’s American series. Like its predecessors, American V: A Hundred Highways was produced by Rick Rubin and released on Rubin’s American Recordings record.