June 3: SFA alum Rodney Crowell rises to top of country music with ‘Diamonds and Dirt’ in 1989

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, June 3, 2020

On this date in 1989, “Diamonds and Dirt” by Rodney Crowell, who attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, was riding high on the Billboard Country Albums chart and marked his peak of popularity.

 The album produced five No. 1 singles including “After all this Time,” which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

He was born in Houston and attended SFA for moving to Nashville and pursing a career in country music.

In the Spotlight

— 2016: David Sullivan, who grew up in Longview, stars in “No Light and No Land Anywhere.”

— 2016: Longview native Forest Whitaker has a role in a new version of “Roots.”

— 2015: Kay Epperson, of Rusk, has a small role in “Manglehorn.”

— 2014: Lindale native Miranda Lambert releases her album “Platinum” and appears on “Entertainment Tonight.” 

— 2013: David Sullivan, who grew up in Longview, has a guest role on “The Fosters.”

— 2011: Abby Rike, of Mabank, and once a contestant on “The Biggest Loser,” is a guest on the TV show “Praise.”

— 2005: Shea Whigham, who attended Tyler Junior College, appears in “Lords of Dogtown.”

— 2001: Donna Bullock, who attended Tyler Junior College, performs on the Tony Awards.

— 2000: Marshall native George Foreman is a guest on “Electric Playground,” a TV series about video games.

— 1990: At the Tony Awards, Tommy Tune, who attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, wins Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography for “Grand Hotel.”

— 1989: “I’ve Just Started Living” by The Cathedrals featuring Royse City native Glen Payne as lead singer peaks at No. 24 on the Top Christian Albums chart. 

— 1987: Richard Bradford, who was born in Tyler, plays a police chief in “The Untouchables.”

— 1979: At the Tony Awards, Tommy Tune,who attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, is nominee for Best Direction of a Musical (“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”).  

— 1978: Palestine native Gene Watson’s “Cowboys Get Lucky All the Time” peaks at No. 11 on the country music chart. 

— 1978: Deniece Williams and Gilmer native Johnny Mathis score a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late.”

— 1972: Wood County native Ray Price’s “The Lonesomest Lonesome/That’s What Leaving’s About” hits No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. 

— 1971: Anjanette Comer, a native of Navarro County, stars with Chad Everett in “The Firechasers.”

— 1967: As a member of The Temptations, Texarkana native Otis Williams’ “All I Need” peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.

— 1958: DeKalb native Dan Blocker has a guest role on “Cheyenne.”

— 1944: Whitewright native Guy Wilkerson stars in “Spook Town.”

— 1942: “By Jupiter,” a musical staged by Texarkana native Joshua Logan, opens for a short run on Broadway.