1939 in country music

none This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1939. 1939 1939 country music Events No dates sales recovered to approximately 2/3 of 1929 levels Billboard magazine begins publishing its first country music chart. Known as "Hillbilly Hits," the chart appears on a semi-regular (usually, monthly) basis, and will be published until early 1942. It is the predecessor for Billboard'''s later "Most Played Juke Box Folk Records," which would be published weekly and eventually evolve into today's Hot Country Songs chart. Top Hillbilly (Country) Recordings The following songs achieved the highest positions in Billboard magazine's 'Hillbilly Hits' chart, supplemented by 'Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954' and record sales reported on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website,Whitburn Joel Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 Record Research 1986 and other sources as specified, during 1939. Numerical rankings are approximate, they are only used as a frame of reference. Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart Positions 1 Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers "It Makes No Difference Now"Decca matrix 64504. It makes no difference now / Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000292617/64504-It_makes_no_difference_now 2022-01-04 adp.library.ucsb.eduApril 29, 1939 The Billboard pg 84 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1939/Billboard-1939-04-29-IDX-60.pdf live 2022-01-06 worldradiohistory.com https://web.archive.org/web/20220106204745/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1939/Billboard-1939-04-29-IDX-60.pdf 2022-01-06 Decca 5604 1938 9 13 1938 9 30 US Billboard 1938 #308, US JW #16 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1939 #1, US Hillbilly #1 for 11 weeks, 56 total weeks 2 Haywire Mac "Big Rock Candy Mountains"Decca matrix DLA 1660. The Big Rock Candy Mountains / Haywire Mac - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000268083/DLA_1660-The_Big_Rock_Candy_Mountains 2022-01-04 adp.library.ucsb.eduJune 24, 1939 The Billboard June 24, 1939 pg 127 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1939/Billboard-1939-06-24-IDX-60.pdf live 2022-01-06 worldradiohistory.com https://web.archive.org/web/20220106205855/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1939/Billboard-1939-06-24-IDX-60.pdf 2022-01-06 Decca 5689 1938 12 14 1939 4 US Hillbilly 1939 #2, US Hillbilly #1 for 7 weeks, 27 total weeks 3 Light Crust Doughboys "Pussy Pussy Pussy"Vocalion (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 4500 - 4999 https://www.78discography.com/VOC4500.htm 2022-01-06 www.78discography.com Vocalion 04560 1938 11 30 1939 1 US Hillbilly 1939 #3, US Hillbilly #1 for 4 weeks, 15 total weeks 4 Shelton Brothers ""On The Owl-Hoot Trail"Decca matrix 64536. On the owl-hoot trail / The Shelton Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000292649/64536-On_the_owl-hoot_trail 2022-01-06 adp.library.ucsb.edu Decca 5630 1938 9 18 1938 12 27 US Hillbilly 1939 #4, US Hillbilly #1 for 3 weeks, 17 total weeks 5 Gene Autry "Paradise in the Moonlight"May 27, 1939 The Billboard May 27, 1939 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1939/Billboard-1939-05-27-IDX-60.pdf live worldradiohistory.com https://web.archive.org/web/20220106205512/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1939/Billboard-1939-05-27-IDX-60.pdf 2022-01-06 Vocalion 04810 1939 4 13 1939 5 US Hillbilly 1939 #5, US Hillbilly #1 for 3 weeks, 12 total weeks 6 Roy Acuff and the Crazy Tennesseans "Wabash Cannon Ball"Vocalion 78rpm numerical listing discography: 4000 - 4500 https://www.78discography.com/VOC4000.htm 2022-01-06 www.78discography.com Vocalion 4466 1939 11 7 1939 2 US Billboard 1938 #223, US JW #12 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1939 #6, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 38 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales 7 Shelton Brothers "Knot Hole Blues"Decca matrix 64538. Knot hole blues / The Shelton Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000292651/64538-Knot_hole_blues 2022-04-09 adp.library.ucsb.edu Decca 5653 1938 9 18 1939 2 US Hillbilly 1939 #7, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 20 total weeks 8 Gene Autry "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)"Vocalion (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 5000 - 5499 https://www.78discography.com/VOC5000.htm 2022-01-06 www.78discography.com Vocalion 5122 1939 9 11 1939 10 US Billboard 1939 #190, US JW #12 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1939 #8, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales 9 Cliff Bruner "Truck Driver Blues"Decca matrix 66303. Truck driver's blues / Cliff Bruner and his Boys - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000294416/66303-Truck_drivers_blues 2022-01-04 adp.library.ucsb.edu Decca 5725 1939 8 26 1939 9 5 US Hillbilly 1939 #9, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 20 total weeks, sold more than 100,000 copies. 10 Gene Autry "Back In The Saddle Again" Vocalion 5080 1939 4 17 1939 9 US Hillbilly 1939 #10, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 1,000,000 salesTSHA Autry, Orvon Gene https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/autry-orvon-gene 2022-04-26 www.tshaonline.org 11 Light Crust Doughboys "She Gave Me the Bird" Vocalion 5039 1939 6 14 1939 9 US Hillbilly 1939 #11, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks 12 Shelton Brothers "My Sweet Darling Wife"Decca matrix 64544. My own sweet darling wife / The Shelton Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000292657/64544-My_own_sweet_darling_wife 2022-04-09 adp.library.ucsb.edu Decca 5723 1939 9 19 1939 10 US Hillbilly 1939 #12, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks 13 Roy Newman And His Boys "I Ought To Break Your Neck (For Breakin' My Heart)" Vocalion 5175 1939 6 20 1939 10 US Hillbilly 1939 #13, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks 14 Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys "San Antonio Rose" Vocalion 4755 1938 11 28 1939 4 US Billboard 1939 #267, US JW #15 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1939 #14, US Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 36 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales 15 Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers "When You're Smiling"Decca matrix 64510. When you're smiling / Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000292623/64510-When_youre_smiling 2022-04-09 adp.library.ucsb.edu Decca 5660 1938 9 14 1939 2 US Hillbilly 1939 #15, US Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 25 total weeks 16 Gene Autry "Little Sir Echo" Vocalion 4809 1939 4 14 1939 5 US Hillbilly 1939 #16, US Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 13 total weeks 17 Jimmie Davis "The Last Trip Of The Old Ship" Decca 5737 1939 9 2 1939 10 US Hillbilly 1939 #17, US Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks 18 Jimmie Davis with Rudy Sooter's Ranchmen "It Makes No Difference Now"Decca matrix DLA 1551. It makes no difference now / Jimmie Davis - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000267974/DLA_1551-It_makes_no_difference_now 2022-04-09 adp.library.ucsb.edu Decca 5620 1938 11 6 1938 11 30 US Hillbilly 1939 #18, US Hillbilly #2 for 3 weeks, 32 total weeks 19 Buddy Jones "Ease My Troubled Mind"Decca matrix 65124. Ease my troubled mind / Buddy Jones - Discography of American Historical Recordings https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000293237/65124-Ease_my_troubled_mind 2022-04-09 adp.library.ucsb.edu Decca 5673 1939 3 3 1939 4 10 US Hillbilly 1939 #19, US Hillbilly #2 for 3 week, 22 total weeks 20 Hoosier Hot Shots "Annabelle" Vocalion 4697 1939 2 8 1939 3 US Hillbilly 1939 #20, US Hillbilly #2 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks Births January 12 – William Lee Golden, baritone (and long-bearded) member of the Oak Ridge Boys. January 19 – Phil Everly, of The Everly Brothers (died 2014). January 24 – Ray Stevens, country-pop singer releasing a long string of novelty-themed songs. February 14 – Razzy Bailey, blues-styled country vocalist of the 1980s. March 19 – Bob Kingsley, radio personality and longtime host of American Country Countdown and Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40'' (died 2019)."Bob Kingsley Dies At Age 80," All Access Music Group, October 17, 2019. Accessed 10-17-19. April 20 – Johnny Tillotson, 1960s country singer ("It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin'"). May 27 – Don Williams, baritone-voiced "Gentle Giant", one of country's biggest stars of the 1970s and 1980s (died 2017). June 11 – Wilma Burgess, 1960s country singer (died 2003). June 13 – Billy "Crash" Craddock, "Mr. Country Rock," gaining fame in the 1970s. August 8 – Phil Balsley, baritone-voiced member of the Statler Brothers. August 21 – Harold Reid, bass singer, member of the Statler Brothers (died 2020). September 6 – David Allan Coe, singer-songwriter and key member of the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. October 27 – Dallas Frazier, songwriter best known for "Elvira". October 27 – Ruby Wright, daughter of Johnnie Wright and Kitty Wells and member of their touring show (died 2009). December 29 – Ed Bruce, singer-songwriter, best known for writing "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." (died 2021) See also Western music (North America) Further reading Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (0-8118-3572-3) Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (0-06-273244-7) Whitburn, Joel. "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005. References Country Category:Country music by year