The Music and Memories of January 20

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Kevin's Country Calendar

The Headlines:

1997- Billy Ray Cyrus, Lonestar, Trisha Yearwood and Kim Richey are among the performers who entertain at Bill Clinton's inaugural celebration.  Vice president Al Gore and wife Tipper dance to the "Tennessee Waltz."

1973- Jerry Lee Lewis makes his Grand Ole Opry debut, breaking two promises: he won't sing rock & roll, and won't swear. The set list includes "Another Place, Another Time," "Johnny B. Goode," "Great Balls Of Fire" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On."  Ironically, "Great Balls Of Fire" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" were both #1 Country hits.

The #1 Hits:

2001- Born To Fly- Sara Evans

1990- Nobody's Home- Clint Black

1979- I Really Got The Feeling- Dolly Parton

1973- Soul Song- Joe Stampley

1968- Sing Me Back Home- Merle Haggard

Birthdays:

Slim Whitman, 1924.  This may surprise many Country Music fans, but Slim racked up 37 Billboard Country hits.  Although many were "low" charting singles, his biggest hits came with 1952's "Indian Love Call," 1954's "Rose-Marie," and 1965's "More Than Yesterday."  Slim became a popular recording artist and crooner later in his career, thanks to national television commercials.

John Michael Montgomery, 1965.  In 1992 he breaks through with "Life's A Dance" on his way to smash power ballads like "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That."   In 1994, he is named the best new artist of the year with the CMA Horizon Award.

Kevin Richards' Classic Country Hall of Fame Show is heard every Sunday, 6-9am eastern on Country 107.7/WGNA-FM.

Sources: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, The Country Music Foundation, Billboard Magazine, CMT, The Country Music Association, and The Academy of Country Music

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