Sept. 1: Today is Conway Twitty's birthday...

... he died in June, 1993 from an abdominal aortic aneurysm at the age of 60.

Born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, Twitty was a highly successful country music artist who also enjoyed success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 on the Billboard country chart until George Strait broke the record in 2006.

Believing that his given name wasn't marketable for a singer, supposedly, while "Harold" Looked at a road map, he spotted Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas and though that would make a great stage name. Early in his career, it was rumored that Conway Twitty was really Elvis Presley recording under a different name. One song that lent credence to the rumor was Twitty's recording of "It's Only Make Believe."

From 1971–76, Twitty, A former member of the Grand Ole Opry, received a string of Country Music Association awards for duets with Loretta Lynn.


Conway is a member of both the Country Music and the Rockabilly Halls of Fame.

-- "Its Only Make Believe"
-- "Hello Darling"
-- "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (With Loretta Lynn) 

Sept. 1: Archie Bell of Archie Bell and the Drells is 66 today.

Archie Bell was born in Henderson, Texas and moved to Houston when he was a young boy. He formed the R&B vocal group The Drells 1966 with his friends James Wise, Willie Parnell and Billy Butler.


The band's hits include "Tighten Up", "I Can't Stop Dancing" (both 1968), "Girl You're Too Young" (1969), "Here I Go Again," "Soul City Walk" (1976), "Everybody Have A Good Time" (1977) and "Don't Let Love Get You Down" (1986).


Archie is the older brother of world karate champion Jerry Bell, and former NFL player Ricky Bell (1955–1984.)


-- "Tighten Up"
-- "Here I Go Again"
-- "Let's Groove"