Jan 1, 1967

Charlie Monroe's wife, Betty, dies of cancer

Jan 1, 1967

Elvis Presley's new contract with manager Colonel Tom Parker takes effect. Parker receives a 50% commission on any income above guarantees

Jan 1, 1967

Buck Owens rides the Monterey Park float in the Parade of Roses in Pasadena, California, replacing Sonny & Cher, who were bounced after taking part in a public demonstration. The pop duo appears instead on a Farmers Insurance Group float

Jan 1, 1967

The Four Guys move from West Virginia to Nashville. Three months later, they join the Grand Ole Opry

Jan 1, 1967

Moon Mullican dies from a heart attack at his home in Beaumont, Texas. The Grand Ole Opry member and King of the Hillbilly Piano Players mixed boogie numbers and ballads for hits from 1947-1951, including "Mona Lisa" and "Cherokee Boogie"

Jan 1, 1966

Decca Records becomes a division of MCA. The label's roster includes Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Ernest Tubb and Jack Greene

Jan 1, 1965

Roy Acuff concludes a 10-day USO tour of Germany, in which he gave 19 performances for American soldiers

Jan 1, 1964

Ole Miss quarterback Jim Weatherly, a future country songwriter, is intercepted on the final play of the Sugar Bowl at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans as the Alabama Crimson Tide defeats the Rebels, 12-7

Jan 1, 1964

Eleven years after Hank Williams' death, Audrey Williams starts a promotional concert tour for Hank Williams Jr.'s first record, "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," in Canton, Ohio, the city in which Hank Senior was scheduled to play the day he died

Jan 1, 1964

Bill Anderson meets Connie Smith for the second time when he performs in Canton, Ohio, and encourages her to move to Nashville