October 11, 1975

Memorial Coliseum

Over his decorated 35-year career, Charlie Rich cranked out a number running from rockabilly ("Lonely Weekends") to “countrypolitan” numbers like "Behind Closed Doors" and crossover smash, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.” The man known as “the silver fox” in Nashville music circles was a country music star when he played Tuscaloosa’s Memorial Coliseum on a Tuesday night in the fall of 1975. Throughout his career, Rich gathered 11 number-one hits on the country charts, and for the concert, the Grammy Award-winning Rich (who played a grand piano flawlessly) and his band ran through them all. Louisiana swamp singer-songwriter Tony Joe White opened the show and performed from his well-known catalog, including 1969’s “Polk Salad Annie,” and “Rainy Night in Georgia,” a massive hit for soul singer Brook Benton. White and his laid-back style set a perfect tone for the evening. On October 13, two days after his Tuscaloosa concert, was set to announce that year's winner of the CMA’s biggest award. Rich, the prior year’s Best Male Vocalist, opened the envelope, read the name John Denver, and then proceeded to set the envelope on fire with a cigarette lighter. The gesture shocked the audience. Denver was on a live satellite feed with no idea what had just happened in the hall, graciously accepting the award. Blaming his odd behavior on prescription drugs and alcohol, for his efforts, Rich was blacklisted from the CMA awards show for the rest of his career.