Dec 21, 1949

Gregory Peck stars as the World War II-themed picture "Twelve O'Clock High" premieres in Los Angeles. Its title is inserted into the lyrics of The Statler Brothers' 1977 country hit "The Movies"

Dec 30, 1949

Tennessee Ernie Ford records "The Cry Of The Wild Goose" in Los Angeles at the Capitol Studios on Melrose Avenue

Dec 30, 1949

Johnny Bond records "Love Song In 32 Bars" at Hollywood's Radio Recorders

Jan 3, 1950

Two months after Red Foley recorded the hit country version, Bing Crosby records a pop rendition of "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" in a morning session in Hollywood

Jan 6, 1950

Tennessee Ernie Ford and his wife, Betty, welcome a son, Jeffrey Buckner Ford, in San Gabriel, California

Jan 10, 1950

Steel guitarist Speedy West records his first instrumental, "Steel Strike," during a Cliffie Stone session in Los Angeles

Jan 12, 1950

Frank Sinatra records a pop version of the Red Foley hit "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" in Hollywood

Jan 26, 1950

Art Lund records a hit pop version of "Mona Lisa" at Los Angeles' Radio Recorders. The song appears on the country charts in renditions by Moon Mullican and Jimmy Wakely

Jan 28, 1950

Barbara Klein is born in Sacramento, California. Under the name Barbi Benton, she gains fame first as a 1970s Playboy cover girl, then for a 1975 country hit, "Brass Buckles." She also joins the cast of "Hee Haw"

Feb 6, 1950

R&B act Natalie Cole is born to Nat "King" Cole in Los Angeles. She grabs a Country Music Association nomination in 1994 when a duet with Reba McEntire, "Since I Fell For You," appears on "Rhythm Country & Blues," a finalist for Album of the Year