November 30 – This Day in Country Music History

Vito Pellettieri was born in Nashville. He became the longtime stage manager of the Grand Ole Opry.

Source: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Western swing pianist Fred “Papa” Calhoun was born in Chico, Texas. He played with Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies.

Source: Texas State Historical Association.

Clark McEntire was born in Graham, Oklahoma. A three-time world champion steer roper, he was the father of country singers Reba and Pake McEntire and gospel singer Susie Luchsinger.

Source: ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Thurman Theodore “Teddy” Wilburn was born in Hardy, Arkansas. He and his brother Doyle went on to perform as the Wilburn Brothers and joined the Grand Ole Opry.

Source: Official WSM Grand Ole Opry History Picture Book.

Bassist Bob Moore was born in Nashville. As a member of the Nashville A-Team, he played on recordings by Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, and Loretta Lynn.

Source: AllMusic.

Songwriter and producer George Richey was born George Richardson in Promise Land, Arkansas. He co-wrote The Grand Tour and ’Til I Can Make It on My Own.

Source: MusicRow.

Singer and guitarist Jack Reno was born near Bloomfield, Iowa. His country recordings included Repeat After Me.

Source: AllMusic.

Producer and record executive Jimmy Bowen was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico. His Nashville production work included records by George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Hank Williams Jr.

Source: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Jeannie Kendall was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She and her father, Royce, performed as the Kendalls.

Source: AllMusic.

Malinda “Mindy” McCready was born in Fort Myers, Florida. In 1996, Guys Do It All the Time became her first country No. 1.

Source: McCready family obituary.

Country singer Dale McBride, father of Terry McBride of McBride & the Ride, died in Pflugerville, Texas.

Source: Billboard obituary, December 12, 1992.

David Houston died in Bossier City, Louisiana. An Opry member, Houston won a Grammy for Almost Persuaded and recorded My Elusive Dreams with Tammy Wynette.

Source: The Washington Post obituary.

Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman rose from No. 16 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country LP’s chart in its third week on the chart.

Source: Billboard, November 30, 1968.

Cover photo: Capitol Records publicity photograph, 1967, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and color-toned.

Merle Haggard and the Strangers moved from No. 2 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country LP’s chart with Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album.

Source: Billboard, November 30, 1974.

Reba McEntire’s What If It’s You climbed from No. 2 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in its second week on the chart.

Source: Billboard, November 30, 1996.

The RIAA certified Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler album gold.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified the Kendalls’ Churchill album Heaven’s Just a Sin Away gold.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified Garth Brooks’ No Fences double platinum.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified Randy Travis’ Heroes & Friends gold.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

The RIAA certified Elvis Presley’s box set From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential ’60s Masters gold.

Source: RIAA Gold & Platinum.

Jimmie Rodgers recorded Blue Yodel, also known as T for Texas, for Victor.

Source: UC Santa Barbara Library — Discography of American Historical Recordings.

The Light Crust Doughboys recorded It Makes No Difference Now in Dallas. Vocalion issued it backed with Troubles.

Source: 45cat — Vocalion 04559.

The King Cole Trio recorded Straighten Up and Fly Right at its first Capitol session. The recording later topped Billboard’s early folk jukebox chart.

Source: Nat King Cole Capitol session discography.

Ernest Tubb recorded Missing in Action for Decca in Nashville.

Source: Decca 78 rpm discography.

Mark O’Connor recorded The Devil Comes Back to Georgia with Charlie Daniels, Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, and Travis Tritt.

Source: Bluegrass Discography — recording session.

MCA released Mark Chesnutt’s I Just Wanted You to Know as a single from Almost Goodbye.

Source: Wikipedia — single discography.

Ralph Stanley and Bob Dylan recorded The Lonesome River at Masterlink Studios in Nashville for Rebel Records.

Source: Bluegrass Discography — Ralph Stanley sessions.

John Denver’s Back Home Again reached No. 1 for the first time on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart.

Source: Billboard, November 30, 1974.

The Statler Brothers’ Too Much on My Heart, written by Jimmy Fortune, moved from No. 2 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart.

Source: Billboard, November 30, 1985.

Randy Travis took Forever Together, which he co-wrote with Alan Jackson, to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

Source: Billboard, November 30, 1991.

The western Roll, Wagons, Roll opened with Tex Ritter playing Tex Masters.

Source: American Film Institute Catalog.

Sarah Ophelia Colley made her Grand Ole Opry debut as Minnie Pearl on WSM in Nashville.

Source: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Eddy Arnold signed his first recording contract with Victor Records.

Source: Michael Streissguth — Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound.

The singing-cowboy western Blue Canadian Rockies opened, starring Gene Autry and Pat Buttram. Autry sang the title song, written by Cindy Walker.

Source: Wikipedia — film release and credits.

Johnny Cash’s Christmas special aired on CBS, with guests including the Statler Brothers, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Source: Cash Box — original production company broadcast listing.

Country singer Gary Morris began his Broadway run as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.

Source: Internet Broadway Database — The Broadway League.

Martina McBride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Source: Grand Ole Opry.

CBS aired Dolly Parton: Treasures, a television special featuring music from her album Treasures.

Source: TV Tango broadcast listings.

John McEuen joined Phish at Arco Arena in Sacramento. The set included Bill Monroe’s Uncle Pen.

Source: Phish official concert archive.

Fox premiered the animated Christmas special Annabelle’s Wish, which was narrated by Randy Travis.

Source: Cayman Compass — contemporary television preview.