Happy 41st birthday today to singer/songwriter Dallas Smith! Born in Langley, B.C., he counted The Beatles, Reba McEntire and The Judds among his early influences. The former rock singer with the group Default has enjoyed remarkable success as a country artist. All three of his full-length albums have been certified gold in Canada (he’s also released three more EP’s). Every country single he’s released has been a Top 10 hit on the Canadian country music charts, six of them having reached #1. Since Billboard began compiling a weekly country music chart in Canada since 2013, Dallas is the current record holder as the Canadian artist with the most #1 hits: six. Dallas can also lay claim to six gold singles and two platinum singles. His new song, “Rhinestone World,” marks his 20th country single! Awards include the 2015 Juno for Country Album of the Year (“Lifted”), two Canadian Country Music Association awards for Album of the Year, Top Selling Canadian Album, Single of the Year, Video of the Year and, this year, Male Artist. The first time I saw Dallas perform was back in 2011 when he made his CCMA debut at one of the Songwriter’s Sessions. With one of the most powerful vocals I’ve ever heard, you knew he was going to be one to watch. Happy birthday, Dallas!

Also Celebrating Birthdays Today: Katie Rox, of the all-female group Nice Horse, marks another year around the sun; singer Lila McCann turns 38 (she scored a Top 3 country hit in 1997 with “I Wanna Fall in Love”); Diamond Rio drummer Brian Prout turns 63; actor Jeff Bridges, who has recorded country music (including the soundtrack to the film “Crazy Heart”), turns 69; singer and bassist Chris Hillman, a founding member of The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Desert Rose Band, turns 74; and former TV game show host Wink Martindale turns 85 (in 1959, his version of “Deck of Cards” peaked at #11 on the country music charts).

Also Born on This Date: singer Amie Comeaux in 1976 (she died in 1997 car crash).

Passages: songwriter and producer Bob Montgomery, who wrote hits for artists from Buddy Holly to Eddy Arnold, in 2014 from Parkinson’s disease at the age of 77; singer, songwriter, guitarist and fiddle player Rabon Delmore, of The Delmore Brothers, in 1952 of lung cancer at the age of 42;

Recovering: one year ago today, singer and former school teacher Donna Fargo suffered a stroke. It’s been months since there’s been an update on her, but the last word was she continues with her recovery.

Final Concerts: on this date in 1991, The Judds performed their final concert together in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Roy Orbison performed his last concert in Akron, Ohio (he died two days later).

The Million Dollar Quartet: on this date in 1956, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis made a series of impromptu recordings at Sun Records in Memphis. They were released 25 years later. That same day, Carl recorded his hit “Matchbox” with Jerry Lee on piano. Exactly one year earlier, Perkins was inspired to write his classic song “Blue Suede Shoes” when he watched a teenage boy warn his date about stepping on his shoes at a high school dance in Jackson, Tenn.

Spade’s Only #1: on this date in 1944, Spade Cooley recorded “Shame on You” in Hollywood. Cooley’s only #1 hit (it peaked the next year), he didn’t even sing on it! Tex Williams actually did the vocals.

A Nashville First: and 74 years ago, Eddy Arnold made his first recordings in Nashville, having recently signed with RCA Victor. It was one of the earliest recording sessions in Nashville.