Today In Country History — First Couple Of Country, Garth Gives Back

The Music and Memories of February 16

The Headlines:

1997- Garth Brooks celebrates his 2 millionth concert goer!  He greets Melinda and Ricky Huffman at the Charleston Coliseum, in West Virginia, with a bunch of gifts including a Chevy Tahoe and a Caribbean vacation

1986- One year after the Highwaymen becomes a Number One Collaboration, super group members Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson star in the NBC-TV movie "The Last Days Of Frank & Jesse James."  Ed Bruce, David Allan Coe and June Carter Cash are also in the television movie.

1969- George Jones marries Tammy Wynette in Georgia, six months after they announced the marriage.  The marriage would end in 1975.

The #1 Hits:

1985- Make My Life With You- The Oak Ridge Boys

1980- Love Me Over Again- Don Williams

1974- That's The Way Love Goes- Johnny Rodriguez

Birthdays:

Jimmy Wakely, 1914.  Jimmy is one of our first generation Billboard Country stars.  When Billboard begins in 1944, he scores a #2 hit called "I'm Sending You Red Roses."  Then, in addition to starring in several western movies, he becomes a star with "One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)," "I Love You So Much It Hurts" and a smash crossover duet with Margaret Whiting on "Slipping Around."  The song stays at Number One for 17 weeks in 1949, making it the biggest hit of his career.   Jimmy dies in 1982 at the age of 68.