1953 in country music

Last updated

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1953.

Contents

Events

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1Spec. Note
January 10 Midnight Red Foley 1
January 24 I'll Go On Alone Marty Robbins 2 [A], [2]
January 24 I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys 1
  • The first of four posthumous Number Ones recorded by Hank Williams.
January 31No Help Wanted The Carlisles 4 [B]
January 31 Eddy's Song Eddy Arnold 3
February 7 I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes Goldie Hill 3 [B]
  • With this song, Goldie Hill became the second solo female artist to have a Number One country single.
February 21 Kaw-Liga Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys13 [1]
April 11 Your Cheatin' Heart Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys6 [2]
May 9 Mexican Joe Jim Reeves 9 [A], [2]
June 6 Take These Chains from My Heart Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys4 [2]
July 11It's Been So Long Webb Pierce 8 [2]
August 1Rub-a-Dub-Dub Hank Thompson and His Brazo Valley Boys 3 [2]
August 22 Hey Joe Carl Smith 8 [2]
August 29 A Dear John Letter Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard 6 [B] – Jean Shepard
[2]
October 17 I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know The Davis Sisters 8 [B], [2]
  • The first Billboard Number One by a female country act, a record that would remain until The Judds with "Mama He's Crazy" in 1984.
  • This song became a posthumous Number One hit after the death of member Betty Jack Davis in a car accident in August.
November 21 There Stands the Glass Webb Pierce12 [2]
December 12Caribbean Mitchell Torok 2 [B]
December 19 Let Me Be the One Hank Locklin 3 [A], [2]
Notes
  • 1 ^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard .
  • 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 in Juke Boxes," "Most Played by Jockeys" and "National Best Sellers" charts.

Other major hits

USSingleArtist
5 Bumming Around Jimmy Dean
5Bumming Around T. Texas Tyler
4 Crying in the Chapel Rex Allen
4 Crying in the Chapel Darrell Glenn
7Dear Joan Jack Cardwell
3Death of Hank WilliamsJack Cardwell
9Divorce Granted Ernest Tubb
6Do I Like It? Carl Smith
8 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Red Foley
9Don't Throw Your Life Away Webb Pierce
3 Fool Such as I Hank Snow
10For Now and AlwaysHank Snow
4 Forgive Me, John Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky
4Free Home Demonstration Eddy Arnold
4The Gal Who Invented Kissin'Hank Snow
6Gambler's Guitar Rusty Draper
2Goin' Steady Faron Young
8 Hey Joe Kitty Wells
8Hey, Mr. Cotton Picker Tennessee Ernie Ford
7(Honey, Baby, Hurry!) Bring Your Sweet Self Back to Me Lefty Frizzell
9Honeymoon on a Rocket ShipHank Snow
6Hot ToddyRed Foley
2 (How Much Is) That Hound Dog in the Window? Homer and Jethro
4How's the World Treating YouEddy Arnold
5I Can't Wait (For the Sun to Go Down)Faron Young
5 I Couldn't Keep from Crying Marty Robbins
10I Found Out More Than You Ever Knew Betty Cody
5I Haven't Got the HeartWebb Pierce
10(I Just Had a Date) A Lover's Quarrel George Morgan
4I Won't Be Home No More Hank Williams
4 I'll Go On Alone Webb Pierce
3I'm an Old, Old ManLefty Frizzell
2Is Zat You, Myrtle The Carlisles
7Just Wait 'Til I Get You AloneCarl Smith
3 Keep It a Secret Slim Whitman
3KnotholeThe Carlisles
4The Last WaltzWebb Pierce
4Mama, Come Get Your Baby BoyEddy Arnold
10Marriage of Mexican Joe Carolyn Bradshaw
9No Help Wanted Hank Thompson
7No Help Wanted #2Ernest Tubb
8North WindSlim Whitman
3Older and BolderEddy Arnold
4Orchids Mean GoodbyeCarl Smith
6Paying for That Back Street AffairKitty Wells
7Satisfaction GuaranteedCarl Smith
7 Seven Lonely Days Bonnie Lou
6 Shake a Hand Red Foley
8Slaves of a Hopeless Love AffairRed Foley
3Spanish Fire BallHank Snow
6 Tennessee Wig Walk Bonnie Lou
4That's All Right Autry Inman
4That's Me Without YouWebb Pierce
9That's Me Without You Sonny James
9That's the Kind of Love I'm Looking ForCarl Smith
7 Till I Waltz Again with You Tommy Sosebee
4Too Young to Tango Sunrise Ruby
2TrademarkCarl Smith
7 Weary Blues from Waitin' Hank Williams
6When Mexican Joe Met Jole BlonHank Snow
8Yesterday's Girl Hank Thompson

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Births

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Further reading