Country Music History December 31

December 31, 1985, Rick Nelson died in a plane crash near DeKalb, Texas.  You'll remember Rick from "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" television show, co-starring with his parents and brother, David.  He also had a huge pop/country hit "Poor Little Fool", among others.

You've heard Tim McGraw's hit "Last Dollar (Fly Away)", but do you know how it originated?  Well, in 2002, Big Kenny of Big and Rich, was deep in debt.  To make matters worse, he lost his last bucks playing blackjack in Vegas, and after giving the dealer a $20.00 tip, he was left with just one dollar.  He sat down and wrote McGraw's hit tune.

On a happier note, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were married in 1947 at their Flying L Ranch in Oklahoma.

Singer John Denver was born in New Mexico in 1943.