Mr. Tippin, known for such American-pride songs as You've Got to Stand for Something, Working Man's Ph.D. and Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly, was born in Pensacola, Fla., and grew up near Travelers Rest, S.C.

During a recent visit to Augusta, he said that his birthday sometimes benefited from the Independence Day holiday. "Sometimes it got held over a little extra day because of the Fourth," he said. "My dad was a corporate pilot who flew for several textile companies in Greenville. He got home on weekends, and that's when we celebrated family birthdays.

"The only trouble is we lived on a working farm, and on weekends is when we ran the farm. So, the best I got was an extra 30 minutes at lunch to eat some birthday cake."

GRAND OLE OPRY STAR RAY PILLOW, meanwhile, marked his 65th birthday on July 4. Mr. Pillow, who joined the Opry in 1966, was born in Lynchburg, Va.

NAME THAT TUNE: Does anyone know the answer to this question from Martha Smith? She wrote, "Back in 1963 there was a country song I liked but I can't remember the name of it or the person who sang it. All I can remember are three words: 'blue, blue waters.'

Country singer Aaron Tippin was born on July 3, 1958. SPECIAL

"For the life of me, no other words will come to mind. This is driving me nuts, and I would like to find out the name of the song so that maybe I could get a recording of it."

OK, folks. If you have a clue, let me know and I'll try and pursue it.

FARON'S BIOGRAPHER: Recently, I received an e-mail from Diane J. Diekman of Valencia, Calif., who is working on a biography of the late country superstar Faron Young. She had been told about columns I had written about Mr. Young and wanted copies. Here is part of what she had to say:

"I've been working on his biography for two years and have my publication goal as his 75th birthday (Feb. 25, 2007). I've found all the living Deputies (Mr. Young's former band members), put together Faron's discography, gotten acquainted with his family and done a bunch of interviews.

"I'm in the Navy, so this is a spare-time effort for me. I have radio/TV interviews, but he had to clean up his language for those. Most people who quote him won't repeat the things he actually said. I'm trying to get a better idea of the kinds of outrageous things he said."

She has interviewed several Grand Ole Opry stars who knew Mr. Young and seems to be making good progress on the book.

DOTTIE RAMBO TRIBUTE: Gospel music legend Dottie Rambo will be the subject of a tribute on cable television's PAX network, More Than the Music Live: An All Star Tribute to Dottie Rambo. The show is to be taped July 31 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., with Barbara Mandrell as host. Miss Rambo wrote great gospel songs including He Looked Beyond My Fault (And Saw My Need) and Tears Will Never Stain the Streets of That City.

One time in Augusta she told me, "My special style is black soul gospel, but I think soulful writing is the hardest I do. Still, you can paint a lot more pictures with soulful singing if you get in the middle and grab out all you can."

Don Rhodes has written about country music for 31 years. He can be reached at (706) 823-3214 or at ramblin@morris.com.