Apr 5, 1985

More than 5,000 radio stations simultaneously play "We Are The World." The record features 46 mostly pop artists, although the country contingent includes Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson

Aug 14, 1985

Gene Autry's Golden West Broadcasters buys Los Angeles radio station KUTE-FM for an undisclosed price

Feb 15, 1986

John Richbourg dies in Nashville. Better known as disc jockey John R., he was a pioneering figure in rhythm & blues music on WLAC in Nashville, and was cited in the Don Williams single "Good Ole Boys Like Me"

Dec 19, 1987

A St. Louis judge throws out a suit filed by an inmate who claims his rights are being violated because a security officer won't let him listen to a country station

Aug 1, 1988

And now the end is near: Cincinnati radio station WCVG drops its country programming and goes to an all-Elvis format

Dec 19, 1988

David Cobb dies following heart surgery at Park View Medical Center in Nashville. A longtime announcer for the Grand Ole Opry, he was the first to refer to the Tennessee capitol as "Music City U.S.A."

Mar 1, 1989

Country radio station WXCY launches in Havre de Grace, Maryland, by playing Deborah Allen's "Baby I Lied"

Jun 12, 1989

Thirty-five years after Memphis' WHBQ became the first radio station to play an Elvis Presley record, the station pulls all of the King's music from its airwaves, citing complaints from listeners

Jun 27, 1990

KRVN in Lexington, Nebraska, becomes the first radio station to ban k.d. lang's music from the airwaves after she shot an ad that proclaims "Meat Stinks" for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Jun 6, 1991

The Unistar Radio Network unveils a poll of radio programmers citing Elvis Presley's Top 40 all-time hits. The Top 5: "Jailhouse Rock," "Suspicious Minds," "Can't Help Falling In Love," "Love Me Tender" and "Heartbreak Hotel"