This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1956.

List of years in country music (table)
+...

Events

edit

No dates

edit

Top hits of the year

edit

Number one hits

edit

United States

edit

(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 Spec. Note
February 11 Why Baby Why Red Sovine and Webb Pierce 4 [2]
February 25 I Forgot to Remember to Forget Elvis Presley 5 [A]
March 17 Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley 17
March 17 I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby The Louvin Brothers 2 [B]
April 7 Blue Suede Shoes Carl Perkins 3 [B]
June 23 Crazy Arms Ray Price 20 [1], [2], [A]
July 14 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You Elvis Presley 2
  • Also reached Number One on the Billboard Pop chart.
July 21 I Walk the Line Johnny Cash 6 [2], [A]
September 15 Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog Elvis Presley 10
  • Also reached Number One on the Billboard Pop and R&B chart.
November 10 Singing the Blues Marty Robbins 13
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 C&W in Juke Boxes," "Most Played C&W by Jockeys" and "C&W Best Sellers in Stores" charts.

Other major hits

edit
US Single Artist
4 According to My Heart Jim Reeves
7 Any Old Time Webb Pierce
5 Be-Bop-A-Lula Gene Vincent
6 Before I Met You Carl Smith
4 The Blackboard of My Heart Hank Thompson
7 Boppin' the Blues Carl Perkins
15 Casey Jones (The Brave Engineer) Eddy Arnold
7 Cash on the Barrelhead The Louvin Brothers
12 The Cat Came Back Sonny James
3 'Cause I Love You Webb Pierce
14 Cheated Too Wilma Lee Cooper and Stoney Cooper
13 Come Back to Me Jimmy C. Newman
4 Conscience I'm Guilty Hank Snow
10 Dixie Fried Carl Perkins
6 Doorstep to Heaven Carl Smith
3 Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry) Porter Wagoner
4 Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash
14 The Fool Sanford Clark
6 Go Away with Me The Wilburn Brothers
9 God Was So Good Jimmy C. Newman
5 Hold Everything (Till I Get Home) Red Sovine
9 Honky-Tonk Man Johnny Horton
7 Hoping That You're Hoping The Louvin Brothers
11 How Far Is Heaven Kitty Wells
5 Hula Rock Hank Snow
7 I Feel Like Cryin' Carl Smith
15 I Gotta Know Wanda Jackson
2 I Take the Chance The Browns
13 I Want to Be Loved Johnnie & Jack
8 I Was the One Elvis Presley
13 I'd Rather Stay Home Kitty Wells
7 I'm a One-Woman Man Johnny Horton
11 I'm Moving In Hank Snow
14 I'm Not Mad, Just Hurt Hank Thompson
10 I'm So in Love with You The Wilburn Brothers
11 I've Changed Carl Smith
2 I've Got a New Heartache Ray Price
4 I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night Faron Young
5 It's a Great Life (If You Don't Weaken) Faron Young
11 Just as Long as You Love Me The Browns
3 Just One More George Jones
5 Little Rosa Red Sovine and Webb Pierce
7 The Lonely Side of Town Kitty Wells
10 Love Me Elvis Presley
3 Love Me Tender Elvis Presley
13 My Baby Left Me Elvis Presley
8 My Lips Are Sealed Jim Reeves
11 Mystery Train Elvis Presley
9 Only You, Only You Charlie Walker
2 Poor Man's Riches Benny Barnes
5 Run Boy Ray Price
3 Searching (For Someone Like You) Kitty Wells
9 Seasons of My Heart Jimmy C. Newman
4 So Doggone Lonesome Johnny Cash
2 Sweet Dreams Faron Young
9 Sweet Dreams Don Gibson
10 Teenage Boogie Webb Pierce
12 That's All Tennessee Ernie Ford
5 These Hands Hank Snow
7 Trouble in Mind Eddy Arnold
11 Tryin' to Forget the Blues Porter Wagoner
9 Turn Her Down Faron Young
11 Twenty Feet of Muddy Water Sonny James
14 Uncle Pen Porter Wagoner
14 Waltz of the Angels Wynn Stewart
4 Wasted Words Ray Price
7 What Am I Worth George Jones
8 What Would You Do (If Jesus Came to Your House) Porter Wagoner
15 What Would You Do (If Jesus Came to Your House) Red Sovine
9 Why Baby Why Hank Locklin
9 Wicked Lies Carl Smith
10 Without Your Love Bobby Lord
2 Yes I Know Why Webb Pierce
3 You and Me Kitty Wells and Red Foley
4 You Are the One Carl Smith
10 You Don't Know Me Eddy Arnold
7 You Gotta Be My Baby George Jones
6 You're Free to Go Carl Smith
13 You're Not Play Love The Wilburn Brothers
7 You're Running Wild The Louvin Brothers
3 You're Still Mine Faron Young

Top new album releases

edit
Single Artist Record Label
Songs of a Love Affair Jean Shepard Capitol
Grand Ole Opry's New Star George Jones Starday (debut album)

Births

edit

Deaths

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Rolling Stone Rock Almanac: The Chronicles of Rock & Roll," Collier Books, MacMillan Publishing Co., New York and London, 1983, p. 20. ISBN 0-02-081320-1
  2. ^ Rolling Stone Rock Almanac, p. 21.
  3. ^ Rolling Stone Rock Almanac, p. 21.
  4. ^ Rolling Stone Rock Almanac, p. 25.

Further reading

edit
  • 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.
edit