TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY


1897 Singer-songwriter Dorsey Murdock Dixon (Dixon Brothers) born in Darlington, S.C.

1926 Saxophonist Bill Justis ("Raunchy") born in Birmingham, Ala.

1927 Yodeler Kenny Roberts born in Lenoir City, Tenn.

1938 Singer-songwriter Melba Montgomery born in Iron City, Tenn.

1974 Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) born in Lubbock, Texas

1957 Bobby Helms' No. 1 single, "My Special Angel," charted

1985 Ricky Skaggs wins CMA Entertainer of the Year Award

1985 George Strait wins CMA Male Vocalist of the Year

1985 "God Bless The U.S.A." - written by Lee Greenwood - wins
CMA Song of the Year

1985 The Judds win CMA Single of the Year for "Why Not Me"

1985 George Strait wins CMA Album of the Year for "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind"

1985 Reba McEntire wins second straight of four CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Awards

1985 Chet Atkins wins eighth of nine and fifth consecutive CMA Instrumentalist of the Year Award

1985 Sawyer Brown wins CMA Horizon Award

1985 Flatt & Scruggs inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

1985 The Judds win first of three straight CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Awards

1985 Anne Murray & Dave Loggins win CMA Vocal Duo of the Year (for "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do")

1985 Hank Williams Jr. wins CMA Video of the Year for "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight"

1983 Singer-songwriter Sarah Ogan Gunning died

2000 Zeke Manners, of the original Beverly Hill Billies string band, died of heart failure at age 89.

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A LOOK AT COUNTRY MUSIC & THE PEOPLE MAKING IT TODAY

Patsy Cline Joins RIAA Diamond Club

With her Greatest Hits album just certified for shipments 10 million copies, the late Patsy Cline has been added to a short list of artists earning an RIAA Diamond Award.

Others previously surpassing the 10-million level include Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, the Dixie Chicks, the Eagles and Kid Rock.

Cline died in a plane crash in 1963 at age
30. Her Greatest Hits compilation was released in 1973.

Other gold and platinum certifications officially announced Tuesday (Oct. 11) include triple-platinum status for Keith Urban's Golden Road for shipments of 3 million and a platinum award for Gary Allan's Alright Guy for ship- ments of 1 million. Gold awards for shipments of 500,000 copies each went to Dierks Bentley's Modern Day Drifter, Jo Dee Messina's Delicious Surprise and LeAnn Rimes' This Woman.