Dec 4, 1945

Singer/songwriter Gary P. Nunn is born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. A key figure in the rise of Texas country, he writes the Willie Nelson hit "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" and Rosanne Cash's "Couldn't Do Nothin' Right"

Dec 4, 1944

Chris Hillman is born in Los Angeles. A founder of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, he also starts The Desert Rose Band. Lacing breezy harmonies and driving tempos, the group builds a string of hits from 1987-1990 but disbands in 1994

Dec 4, 1944

Eddy Arnold holds his first recording session at the WSM radio studios in Nashville. He records his first hit, "Each Minute Seems A Million Years," and his first version of "The Cattle Call"

Dec 4, 1944

Spade Cooley records "Shame On You," "I've Taken All I'm Gonna Take From You" and "A Pair Of Broken Hearts" at the CBS Studios in Hollywood

Dec 4, 1940

Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy and Tex Ritter are among a number of Hollywood cowboys who team up for a live radio broadcast to raise money for British children victimized by Nazi bombing raids

Dec 4, 1938

Songwriter Gene Thomas is born in Palestine, Texas. Thomas' "Rings Of Gold" becomes a 1969 hit for Don Gibson & Dottie West

Dec 4, 1933

Game show figure Wink Martindale is born in Jackson, Tennessee. He briefly earns country fame in 1959 with his remake of "T" Texas Tyler's "Deck Of Cards"

Dec 4, 1931

Victor releases Jimmie Rodgers' "Why Should I Be Lonely" and "What's It?"

Dec 4, 1929

Blind Alfred Reed records "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live" in New York. The track will be ranked among country's 500 greatest singles in the 2003 Country Music Foundation book "Heartaches By The Number"

Dec 4, 1927

The male singing trio The Vagabonds makes its first appearance on Chicago's WBBM. The group--featuring Dean Upson, Paul Upson and Robert Dugan--goes on to membership in the Grand Ole Opry