Vince Gill Born, Hank Williams Honored With Pulitzer Prize-Today In Country History

The Music and Memories of April 12

2010-  The Pulitzer Prize Board awarded a posthumous special award to Hank Williams, who died in 1953 at 29, for his lifetime achievement as a musician, praising the country legend for "his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life."

2008-  Gretchen Wilson, the 'Redneck Woman', takes her final exam at a high school in Wilson County, Tennessee. She passes the test, qualifying to receive her GED.

1972- The first Fan Fair is held at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium.  The event is now known as the CMA Music Festival.

Birthdays

Easton Corbin, 1982.  In 2009, he breaks through with 'A Little More Country Than That.'  Then, continues his run as a hot new country star in 2010 with 'Roll With It' and 'I Can't Love You Back.'

Vince Gill, 1957.  After singing on Pure Prarie League hits like 'Let Me Love You Tonight,' he goes country in the '80s.  Vince begins on RCA with very little chart success, but manages to break through the top 10 with 85's 'Oklahoma Borderline' and 87's 'Cinderella.'  Finally, in 1990 he soars to the top with his debut single for MCA, 'When I Call Your Name.'  The song grabs him the first of many Grammy awards.  On his way to an early induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, he racks up 5 CMA awards for Male Vocalist of the Year.