This Day in Country History: October 17
Oct. 17 saw a key moment in country history when Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two signed their first recording contract with Sun Records in 1954. Four years later, this…
Oct. 17 saw a key moment in country history when Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two signed their first recording contract with Sun Records in 1954. Four years later, this day witnessed the birth of Alan Jackson. Also on this day, Tennessee Ernie Ford passed away, Eric Church headlined Madison Square Garden, and Merle Haggard performed a surprise set at the Grand Ole Opry.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Some major names in country music enjoyed big days on Oct. 17, including:
- 2017: "Young Love & Saturday Nights" singer Chris Young was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. The legendary Vince Gill invited Young to become a member in August 2017, and Brad Paisley led the formal induction on Oct. 17.
- 2017: Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion, Kane Brown, and Elle King performed at the 42nd annual New York Honors Gala at Guastavino's in New York City. The concert benefited the T.J. Martell Foundation, which raises money and awareness for cancer research in hopes of finding a cure for the disease.
Cultural Milestones
On this day, Johnny Cash signed his first record contract, and an icon was born:
- 1954: Johnny Cash, the legendary Man in Black, and his band, the Tennessee Two, signed their first record deal with Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Sun Records founder Sam Phillips also worked with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, helping launch rockabilly into the mainstream.
- 1958: Alan Jackson was born in Newnan, Georgia. A hugely successful country musician, especially in the 1990s, Jackson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1991.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Memorable performances on this day included:
- 2014: Eric Church headlined the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of his Outsiders tour. The last time Church played at this venue, opening for Rascal Flatts, he was fired for overplaying his allotted time.
- 2015: Merle Haggard surprised the audience at the Grand Ole Opry with an impromptu appearance. In Nashville for the Grand Ole Opry's 90th anniversary celebration, Haggard took to the stage for a set that included "Silver Wings" and "The Fightin' Side of Me."
Industry Changes and Challenges
From a death to a significant retirement announcement, these were big industry changes on Oct. 17:
- 1990: Naomi Judd announced that she was retiring from performing with her daughter Wynonna, citing her failing health. Naomi later reunited with Wynonna, and the two toured together until Naomi died in 2022.
- 1991: The legendary Tennessee Ernie Ford died at the age of 72. Fans knew Ford from songs such as "Sixteen Tons" and his TV variety show, "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show," which ran from 1956 to 1965.
The industry was taken aback when Naomi Judd announced her retirement and saddened by the death of Tennessee Ernie Ford, but Oct. 17 has had its brighter moments, with Chris Young's induction into the Grand Ole Opry and country stars performing for a good cause.
