Ray Turner’s Day in Country Music History
July 2nd: On this day
1923
Born on this day, in Maces Spring, Virginia, was Janette Carter who was the last surviving child of A.P. and Sara Carter, of Carter Family musical fame. In 1976, she and community members built an 880-seat amphitheater, the Carter Family Fold, beside the store her father operated in Southwestern Virginia. Today, the Carter Family Fold attracts more than 50,000 visitors a year. She died on 22nd Jan 2006 aged 82.
1925
Born on this day, in Wichita, Kansas, was Marvin Rainwater, country and rockabilly singer and songwriter who had several hits during the late 1950s, including “Gonna Find Me a Bluebird” and “Whole Lotta Woman.” He was known for wearing Native American-themed outfits on stage and was 25 percent Cherokee. Rainwater died on Sept 17 2013.
1983
Born on this day, was Michelle Branch, singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room andHotel Paper, and in 2005, she formed the country music duo The Wreckers with friend and fellow musician Jessica Harp, and produced the Grammy-nominated single “Leave the Pieces”. The Wreckers disbanded in 2007 to pursue their respective solo careers.
1991
MCA released Trisha Yearwood, the eponymous debut album by future country music superstar Trisha Yearwood. It features her first Billboard Hot Country Songs hit “She’s in Love with the Boy”, which reached the top of the country charts in June 1991. Also included are follow-up hits “Like We Never Had a Broken Heart”, “That’s What I Like About You”, and “The Woman Before Me”. The album which itself reached the #2 position on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart contains the track “Victim of the Game”, originally recorded by Yearwood’s friend and future husband, Garth Brooks, for his 1990 album No Fences.
2005
The Live 8 concerts were held around the world to battle poverty, which saw Tim McGraw and Faith Hill performing in Rome, and Toby Keith and Keith Urban in Philadelphia. Among other acts who took part: Paul McCartney, U2, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Sting and Brian Wilson. More than 1,000 musicians performed at the concerts, which were broadcast on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks.