Today in Country Music, June 27

On this day in 2011, Dolly Parton released better day… from the beginning of her career until now, Parton has released almost 80 albums.

Today in 1996, Tracy Lawrence had the number one hit with "Time Marches On"… Lawrence just completed production on his first movie as an actor. The movie is called "L.A. Dirt."

Brooks & Dunn's debut album Brand New Man, featuring hits like "Neon Moon"and "Boot Scootin' Boogie" was certified platinum today in 1995.

And on this day way back in 1949, Gene Autry recorded the #1 single and Christmas classic "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer."

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was written by Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer published by the Montgomery Ward Company.

In 1939 Marks' brother-in-law, Robert L. May, created Rudolph as an assignment for Montgomery Ward and Marks decided to adapt the story of Rudolph into a song. Marks (1909–1985), was a radio producer who also wrote several other popular Christmas songs.

The song was sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York City radio in early November 1949, before Gene Autry's recording hit #1 in the U.S. charts the week of Christmas 1949. Autry's version of the song also holds the distinction of being the only number one hit to fall completely off the chart after hitting #1. The official date of its #1 status was for the week ending January 7, 1950, making it the first #1 song of the 1950s. Autry's recording sold 2.5 million copies the first year, eventually selling a total of 25 million, and it remained the second best-selling record of all time until the 1980s.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a fictional reindeer with a glowing red nose. He is popularly known as "Santa's 9th Reindeer" and, when depicted, is the lead reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. The luminosity of his nose is so great that it illuminates the team's path through inclement winter weather.

Rudolph first appeared in a 1939 booklet written by Robert L. May and published by Montgomery Ward.

The story is owned by The Rudolph Company, L.P. and has been adapted in numerous forms including a popular song, a television special and sequels, and a feature film and sequel. Character Arts, LLC manages the licensing for the Rudolph Company, L.P. In many countries, Rudolph has become a figure of Christmas folklore.