November 27 – This Day in Country Music History

Singer and songwriter Werly Fairburn was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He recorded country and rockabilly for labels including Capitol and Columbia and wrote songs recorded by Carl Smith and Jim Reeves.

Source: Bear Family Records.

Buzz Cason was born in Nashville, Tennessee. The songwriter and producer co-wrote Everlasting Love and founded Nashville’s Creative Workshop studio, where he worked with artists including Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.

Source: NAMM Oral History.

Eddie Rabbitt was born in Brooklyn, New York. Before his own run of country hits, he co-wrote Kentucky Rain for Elvis Presley and wrote Pure Love, which Ronnie Milsap took to No. 1.

Source: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Session drummer Sammy Creason was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He went on to work with artists including Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and Tony Joe White.

Source: Delta Boogie — Delta Musicians.

Jimmy Widener, rhythm guitarist in Hank Snow’s Rainbow Ranch Boys, died in Nashville. Cash Box reported his death in its December 15 country music news.

Source: Cash Box archive.

Texas honky-tonk singer Charline Arthur died at 58. The RCA Victor recording artist and Big D Jamboree performer helped lay the groundwork for rockabilly with her blues-inflected country sound.

Source: Texas State Historical Association.

Walter Bailes died at 80 in Sevierville, Tennessee. The West Virginia singer and songwriter performed with the Bailes Brothers, whose country-gospel recordings included Dust on the Bible.

Source: Atchley Funeral Home.

Decca released Patsy Cline’s Showcase, produced by Owen Bradley and featuring the Jordanaires. The album includes I Fall to Pieces, Crazy, and a recording of Bob Wills’ San Antonio Rose.

Source: Geffen / UMG catalog on Apple Music.

Clint Black released his second studio album, Put Yourself in My Shoes. The RCA release includes Loving Blind and Where Are You Now.

Source: Clint Black.

Faith Hill’s Breathe entered Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart at No. 1. It also opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with 242,000 first-week sales reported by Billboard.

Source: Billboard archive.

The RIAA certified Bobby Goldsboro’s United Artists album Honey gold.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA awarded gold certification to Charlie Rich’s Epic album Behind Closed Doors.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified Don Williams’ MCA compilation The Best of Don Williams, Volume III gold and his MCA album I Believe in You platinum.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified Linda Ronstadt’s Simple Dreams triple platinum and Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind double platinum.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified Linda Ronstadt’s Capitol album Heart Like a Wheel double platinum.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified Linda Ronstadt’s Asylum single Blue Bayou platinum.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

Jimmie Rodgers recorded Blue Yodel No. 11 (I’ve Got a Gal) in Atlanta, Georgia. Victor issued the performance in 1933.

Source: New World Encyclopedia.

Daryle Singletary released Too Much Fun as the third single from his self-titled debut album. Curtis Wright and Jeff Knight wrote the song.

Source: Wikipedia.

Epic released Joe Diffie’s Bigger Than the Beatles, the lead single from Life’s So Funny. Jeb Stuart Anderson and Steve Dukes wrote the song.

Source: Epic / Sony catalog on Apple Music.

Jimmy Wakely’s One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) reached No. 1 for the first time on Billboard’s Most Played Juke Box Folk Records chart, sharing the top spot with Eddy Arnold’s Just a Little Lovin’ (Will Go a Long Way).

Source: Billboard archive — Folk Record Section.

Mel Tillis took Good Woman Blues to No. 1 for the first time on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart. The song was written by Ken McDuffie.

Source: Country Thang Daily.

Janie Fricke reached No. 1 for the first time with It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Easy on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart. Mark Gray, Les Taylor, and Shawna Harrington-Burkhart wrote the song.

Source: Country Universe.

Alabama’s Reckless rose from No. 2 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in its twelfth chart week.

Source: Billboard archive.

Columbia Pictures released the Western musical Go West, Young Lady. Penny Singleton, Glenn Ford, and Ann Miller starred, with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys among the musical performers.

Source: AFI Catalog.

Paramount released Fun in Acapulco, starring Elvis Presley as singer and lifeguard Mike Windgren and Ursula Andress as Margarita Dauphine.

Source: Elvis Presley Official Site.

Grand Ole Opry member Margie Bowes appeared at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Opry historian Byron Fay identifies the show as her final appearance as a member of the cast.

Source: Fayfare’s Opry Blog — November 27, 1971 program.

Eddie Rabbitt married Janine Girardi on his 35th birthday.

Source: Contemporary Musicians / Encyclopedia.com.

Rita Coolidge appeared on The Glen Campbell Music Show. She sang Words and joined Campbell for Something ’Bout You Baby I Like and Show Me That You Love Me.

Source: Country Thang Daily.

Joe Diffie became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on November 27, 1993. He performed Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die), John Deere Green, and Honky Tonk Attitude that night.

Source: Grand Ole Opry souvenir program.

Reba McEntire performed at Texas Stadium during halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Oilers. Her performance benefited The Salvation Army.

Source: Dallas Cowboys archive.