1952 in country music
Encyclopedia
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1952.
)
^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard
.
Events
- July 14 — The Eddy Arnold ShowThe Eddy Arnold ShowThe Eddy Arnold Show is the name of three similar American network television summer variety programs during the 1950s hosted by Eddy Arnold and featuring popular music stars of the day...
, a brief summer replacement series, debuts on CBS-TVCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. - August 23 — Kitty WellsKitty WellsEllen Muriel Deason , known professionally as Kitty Wells, is an American country music singer. Her 1952 hit recording, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts, and turned her into the first female country star...
becomes the first female solo artist to score a No. 1 hit on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk AngelsIt Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" is a 1952 country song written by J. D. "Jay" Miller, and originally recorded by Kitty Wells. It was an answer song to the Hank Thompson hit "The Wild Side of Life."...
." The song, an answer to Hank ThompsonHank Thompson (music)Henry William Thompson , known professionally as Hank Thompson, was an American country music entertainer whose career spanned seven decades...
's "The Wild Side of LifeThe Wild Side of Life"The Wild Side of Life" is a song made famous by country music singer Hank Thompson. Originally released in 1952, the song became one of the most popular recordings in the genre's history, spending 15 weeks at No...
," spends two weeks atop the chart and forever changes how women were seen, both in song and professionally. - November 22 — Nashville's first Disc Jockey Convention takes place.
No dates
- The life of Hank Williams continues its downward spiral. Even though he enjoys several major hits, his drug and alcohol problems ruin his marriage to Audrey (the divorce was finalized on May 29), and in October, he is fired from the Grand Ole OpryGrand Ole OpryThe Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
. Williams marries Billie Jean Jones Eshliman in October in New Orleans, Louisiana, and rejoins Louisiana HayrideLouisiana HayrideLouisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
about that same time. Also during the year, he makes what turn out to be his final recordings.
United States
(as certified by BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
)
| Date | Single Name | Artist | Wks. No.1 | Spec. Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2 | Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses) | Lefty Frizzell Lefty Frizzell Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty... |
3 | [2] |
| March 1 | Wondering | Webb Pierce Webb Pierce Webb Michael Pierce was one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade. His biggest hit was "In The Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one... |
4 | [A] |
| March 29 | (When You Feel Like You're in Love) Don't Just Stand There (When You Feel Like You're in Love) Don't Just Stand There " Don't Just Stand There" is a song written by Tacoma, Washington country/western artist Cherokee Jack Henley, as revised by Ernest Tubb. The best known recording is the 1952 single by Carl Smith... |
Carl Smith Carl Smith (country musician) Carl Milton Smith was an American country music singer. Known as "Mister Country," Smith was the husband of June Carter and Goldie Hill, the drinking companion of Johnny Cash, and the father of Carlene Carter... |
8 | [2] |
| May 3 | Easy on the Eyes Easy on the Eyes "Easy on the Eyes" is a 1952 single by Eddy Arnold, written by Arnold and songwriter Cy Coben. "Easy on the Eyes" was Eddy Arnold's forty-sixth entry on the Country & Western chart... |
Eddy Arnold Eddy Arnold Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more... |
1 | |
| May 10 | The Wild Side of Life The Wild Side of Life "The Wild Side of Life" is a song made famous by country music singer Hank Thompson. Originally released in 1952, the song became one of the most popular recordings in the genre's history, spending 15 weeks at No... |
Hank Thompson and His Brazo Valley Boys | 15 | [1] |
| July 12 | That Heart Belongs to Me | Webb Pierce | 3 | [2] |
| July 19 | Are You Teasing Me | Carl Smith | 1 | |
| August 16 | A Full-Time Job | Eddy Arnold | 4 | |
| August 23 | It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" is a 1952 country song written by J. D. "Jay" Miller, and originally recorded by Kitty Wells. It was an answer song to the Hank Thompson hit "The Wild Side of Life."... |
Kitty Wells Kitty Wells Ellen Muriel Deason , known professionally as Kitty Wells, is an American country music singer. Her 1952 hit recording, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts, and turned her into the first female country star... |
6 | [A]
|
| September 6 | Jambalaya (On the Bayou) Jambalaya (On the Bayou) "Jambalaya " is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in July 1952... |
Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys | 14 | [2] |
| December 6 | Back Street Affair Back Street Affair "Back Street Affair" is a song written by country singer Billy Wallace and Nashville songwriter Jimmy Rule. The 1952 version by Webb Pierce was his third release on the country charts and his third number one in a row on the C&W Best Seller charts, where it stayed at number one for two weeks.* In... |
Webb Pierce | 4 | [2] |
| December 6 | Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" is an off meter ballad concerning a man away from home worried that his paramour may unwittingly stray from their relationship. The song was recorded in many different styles by many artists. It was written by Winston L. Moore and was published in 1952... |
Slim Willet Slim Willet Slim Willet was an American disc jockey, musician, and songwriter.... |
1 | [B]
Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr... , who made the song a Number One hit on the Billboard Pop Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... chart. |
| December 27 | Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes | Skeets McDonald Skeets McDonald Enos William McDonald , better known as Skeets McDonald, was an American country and rockabilly musician popular during the 1950s and 60s... |
3 | [B] |
^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
.
- 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
- A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
- B^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
- Note: Several songs were simultaneous No. 1 hits on the separate "Most Played Juke Box Folk (later Country & Western) Records," "Best Selling Retail Folk (later Country & Western) Records) and - starting December 10 - "Country & Western Records Most Played by Folk Disk Jockeys" charts.
Other major hits
| US | Single | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Almost | George Morgan George Morgan (singer) George Thomas Morgan was a mid-20th century American country music singer. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and a former member of the Grand Ole Opry.-Biography:... |
| 4 | Baby, We're Really in Love | Hank Williams |
| 6 | Blackberry Boogie | Tennessee Ernie Ford Tennessee Ernie Ford Ernest Jennings Ford , better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres... |
| 5 | Blue Christmas Blue Christmas "Blue Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson. The heart-broken tale of unrequited love during the holidays had long been considered a Christmas staple of country music, having been recorded first by Doye O'Dell in 1948 and popularised by Ernest Tubb the next year... |
Ernest Tubb Ernest Tubb Ernest Dale Tubb , nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" , marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music... |
| 4 | Bundle of Southern Sunshine | Eddy Arnold Eddy Arnold Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more... |
| 8 | Busybody | Pee Wee King Pee Wee King Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski , known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz".... |
| 9 | Call Her Your Sweetheart | Eddy Arnold |
| 4 | Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" is an off meter ballad concerning a man away from home worried that his paramour may unwittingly stray from their relationship. The song was recorded in many different styles by many artists. It was written by Winston L. Moore and was published in 1952... |
Ray Price Ray Price (musician) Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music... |
| 2 | Don't Stay Away (Till Love Grows Cold) | Lefty Frizzell Lefty Frizzell Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty... |
| 6 | Forever (And Always) | Lefty Frizzell |
| 5 | Fortunes in Memories | Ernest Tubb |
| 2 | The Gold Rush Is Over | Hank Snow Hank Snow Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980... |
| 2 | Half as Much Half as Much "Half as Much" is an American pop standard written by Curley Williams in 1951. It was first recorded by country music singer Hank Williams in 1952 and reached #2 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. The same year, Rosemary Clooney recorded a hit version for Top 40 markets and Alma Cogan in the... |
Hank Williams |
| 2 | Honky Tonk Blues Honky Tonk Blues "Honky Tonk Blues" was a hit country and western song written and performed by Hank Williams. The original 1952 recording was a major hit, and it later became a hit for later-day superstar Charley Pride.-Song history:... |
Hank Williams |
| 7 | How Long Will It Take (To Stop Loving You) | Lefty Frizzell |
| 7 | I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is an American Christmas song with music and lyrics by Tommie Connor.The original recording by Jimmy Boyd on 15 July 1952 when he was 13 reached #1 on the Billboard charts in December 1952, and on the Cash Box chart at the beginning of the following year... |
Jimmy Boyd Jimmy Boyd Jimmy Boyd was an American singer, musician, and actor. He was best known for his recording of the novelty song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".-Early years:... |
| 3 | I Went to Your Wedding I Went to Your Wedding "I Went to Your Wedding" is a popular song written by Jessie Mae Robinson and published in 1952.The song is a report of a wedding, attended by the ex-lover of one of the parties being married, who obviously is still in love with the person it is addressed to... |
Hank Snow |
| 9 | I'd Trade All of My Tomorrows (For Just One Yesterday) | Eddy Arnold |
| 2 | Indian Love Call Indian Love Call "Indian Love Call" is a song from Rose-Marie, a 1924 operetta-style Broadway musical with music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart, and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II... |
Slim Whitman Slim Whitman Ottis Dewey Whitman, Jr. , known professionally as Slim Whitman, is an American country music singer and songwriter, known for his yodelling abilities. He has sold in excess of 120 million albums in unit sales and has had numerous successful recordings... |
| 5 | It's a Lovely, Lovely World | Carl Smith Carl Smith (country musician) Carl Milton Smith was an American country music singer. Known as "Mister Country," Smith was the husband of June Carter and Goldie Hill, the drinking companion of Johnny Cash, and the father of Carlene Carter... |
| 2 | Lady's Man | Hank Snow |
| 2 | Let's Live a Little | Carl Smith |
| 10 | Love Song of the Waterfall | Slim Whitman |
| 8 | Married by the Bible, Divorced by the Law | Hank Snow |
| 8 | Milk Bucket Boogie | Red Foley Red Foley Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II.... |
| 3 | Missing in Action | Ernest Tubb |
| 4 | Music Makin' Mama from Memphis | Hank Snow |
| 10 | My Heart Is Broken in Three | Slim Whitman |
| 10 | The New Wears Off Too Fast | Hank Thompson |
| 6 | Our Honeymoon | Carl Smith |
| 8 | Salty Dog Rag | Red Foley |
| 2 | Settin' the Woods On Fire | Hank Williams |
| 5 | Silver and Gold | Pee Wee King |
| 7 | Slow Poke Slow Poke "Slow Poke" is a popular song. It is credited to three writers: Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart, and Chilton Price. Actually Price wrote the song in 1951, as she thought the song described her friend, King, very well. King recorded the song and Stewart did the vocal... |
Hawkshaw Hawkins Hawkshaw Hawkins Harold Franklin Hawkins , better known as Hawkshaw Hawkins, was an American country music singer popular from the 1950s into the early 60s known for his rich, smooth vocals and music drawn from blues, boogie and honky tonk... |
| 9 | Somebody's Stolen My Honey | Ernest Tubb |
| 3 | Talk to Your Heart | Ray Price |
| 7 | Three Ways of Knowing | Johnnie & Jack Johnnie & Jack Johnnie & Jack was an American country music duo composed of Johnnie Wright and Jack Anglin . Between 1951 and 1962, the duo released several singles on the RCA Victor Records label, including their version of "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" which peaked at number four on the Best Seller charts,... |
| 10 | Till the End of the World | Bing Crosby Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation.... and Grady Martin Grady Martin Thomas Grady Martin was one of the most renowned, inventive and historically significant American session musicians in country music and rockabilly.... |
| 8 | 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered | Cowboy Copas Cowboy Copas Lloyd Estel Copas , known by his stage name Cowboy Copas, was an American country music singer popular from the 1940s until his death in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry.-Biography:Copas was born in 1913 in... |
| 9 | 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered | Flatt & Scruggs Foggy Mountain Boys The Foggy Mountain Boys were an influential bluegrass band founded by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in 1948, shortly after leaving Bill Monroe’s band. They recorded and performed together up until 1969.-Biography:... |
| 5 | Too Old to Cut the Mustard | Ernest Tubb and Red Foley |
| 6 | Too Old to Cut the Mustard | The Carlisles |
| 3 | Waiting in the Lobby of Your Heart | Hank Thompson |
| 6 | The Wild Side of Life The Wild Side of Life "The Wild Side of Life" is a song made famous by country music singer Hank Thompson. Originally released in 1952, the song became one of the most popular recordings in the genre's history, spending 15 weeks at No... |
Burl Ives Burl Ives Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice ..... and Grady Martin |
| 10 | You Win Again You Win Again (Hank Williams song) "You Win Again" is a 1952 song by Hank Williams. In style, the song is a blues ballad and deals with the singer's dispair with his partner. "You Win Again" would peak at number ten on the Most Played in C&W Juke Boxes chart, where it remained for a single week .-Cover versions:* Late in 1957,... |
Hank Williams |
Births
- January 12 — Ricky Van SheltonRicky Van SheltonRicky Van Shelton is a currently retired American country music artist. Active between 1986 and 2006, he has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
, honky tonk-styled vocalist of the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s. - January 22 — Teddy Gentry, member of AlabamaAlabama (band)Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
. - February 18 — Juice NewtonJuice NewtonJudith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
, pop-styled country vocalist of the 1980s. - May 18 — George StraitGeorge StraitGeorge Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
, country giant since the early 1980s, who helped revitalize the genre. - October 11 — Paulette CarlsonPaulette CarlsonPaulette Tenae Carlson is a country singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1980s as the founder and lead vocalist for the country band Highway 101...
, female lead vocalist with the band Highway 101Highway 101 (band)Highway 101 is an American country music band founded by Paulette Carlson , Jack Daniels , Curtis Stone and Scott "Cactus" Moser . With Carlson as lead vocalist, the band recorded three albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville and charted ten consecutive Top Ten hits on the Hot Country Songs...
during the peak of its success in the 1980s.
Deaths
- March 22 — Uncle Dave MaconUncle Dave MaconUncle Dave Macon , born David Harrison Macon—also known as "The Dixie Dewdrop"—was an American banjo player, singer, songwriter, and comedian...
, 81, country music pioneer; comedian and banjo player; the first major star of the Grand Ole OpryGrand Ole OpryThe Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
. - May 4 - J.L. "Joe" Frank, 52, music executive.
- December 4 - Rabon DelmoreThe Delmore BrothersAlton Delmore and Rabon Delmore , billed as The Delmore Brothers, were country music pioneers and stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s...
, 36, one half of the old-time harmony duo Delmore Brothers.
Further reading
- Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947-1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
- Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
- Whitburn, Joel. "Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition." 2005.