1941 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1941.

1941 in music By location

* United Kingdom
* Norway

By genre

* country
* jazz

By topic

* List of albums released

Overview of the events of 1941 in country music

List of years in country music

(table)

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## Events

[edit]

* January 1 – Radio programmers begin a 10-month ban on the ASCAP catalog when they fail to reach an agreement. Instead, disc jockeys begin to rely on BMI and its catalog of "hillbilly" music.
* October – The Grand Ole Opry organizes a "Camel Country" tour in a show of support for American servicemen, many of whom would be off to war two months later.

## Top Hillbilly (Country) Recordings

[edit]

The following songs achieved the highest positions in Billboard magazine's 'Best Sellers in Stores' chart, monthly 'Hillbilly Hits' chart, supplemented by 'Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954' and record sales reported on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website,[1] and other sources as specified, during 1941. Numerical rankings are approximate.

Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart Positions

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1 | Gene Autry | "You Are My Sunshine"[2] | Okeh 6274 | June 18, 1941 (1941-06-18) | July 10, 1941 (1941-07-10) | US Billboard 1941 #131, US Pop #23 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #1, Hillbilly #1 for 20 weeks, 50 total weeks, 403 points, 1,000,000 sales[3]
2 | Ernest Tubb | "Walking the Floor Over You"[4] | Decca 5958 | April 26, 1941 (1941-04-26) | May 28, 1941 (1941-05-28) | US Billboard 1941 #154, US Pop #18 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #2, Hillbilly #1 for 10 weeks, 72 total weeks, 292 points, 1,000,000 sales[1] (see 1942, 8 more weeks at #1), Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, presented gold record 1964.
3 | Gene Autry | "Be Honest with Me"[5] | Okeh 5980 | August 20, 1940 (1940-08-20) | January 17, 1941 (1941-01-17) | US Billboard 1941 #147, US Pop #23 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #3, Hillbilly #1 for 6 week, 58 total weeks, 262 points, 1941 Best Original Song Nominee
4 | Louise Massey and the Westerners | "My Adobe Hacienda"[2] | Okeh 6077 | January 27, 1941 (1941-01-27) | March 1941 (1941-03) | US Billboard 1941 #99, US Pop #13 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #4, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 21 total weeks, 107 points
5 | Curly Hicks And His Taproom Boys | "Frisky Fiddler Polka"[6] | Bluebird 8740 | October 8, 1940 (1940-10-08) | July 11, 1941 (1941-07-11) | US Hillbilly 1941 #5, Hillbilly #4 for 2 weeks, 34 total weeks, 101 points
6 | Gene Autry | "Tears On My Pillow"[2] | Okeh 6239 | August 22, 1940 (1940-08-22) | June 12, 1941 (1941-06-12) | US Hillbilly 1941 #6, Hillbilly #4 for 3 weeks, 41 total weeks, 100 points
7 | Gene Autry | "You Waited Too Long"[5] | Okeh 5781 | August 22, 1941 (1941-08-22) | September 5, 1941 (1941-09-05) | US Hillbilly 1941 #7, Hillbilly #2 for 6 weeks, 21 total weeks, 95 points
8 | Roy Rogers and his Saddle Pals | "New Worried Mind"[7] | Decca 5906 | November 29, 1940 (1940-11-29) | December 29, 1940 (1940-12-29) | US Hillbilly 1941 #8, Hillbilly #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 90 points
9 | Jimmie Davis | "I'm Sorry Now"[8] | Decca 5926 | February 21, 1941 (1941-02-21) | March 12, 1941 (1941-03-12) | US Hillbilly 1941 #9, Hillbilly #3 for 3 weeks, 27 total weeks, 84 points
10 | Tennessee Ramblers | "Come Swing With Me"[9] | Bluebird 8742 | October 12, 1940 (1940-10-12) | July 11, 1941 (1941-07-11) | US Hillbilly 1941 #10, Hillbilly #3 for 4 weeks, 21 total weeks, 81 points
11 | Rice Brothers' Gang | "My Carolina Sunshine Girl"[10] | Decca 5959 | March 11, 1941 (1941-03-11) | April 1941 (1941-04) | US Hillbilly 1941 #11, Hillbilly #3 for 5 weeks, 26 total weeks, 75 points
12 | Karl And Harty | "Let's All Have Another Beer"[2] | Okeh 6066 | January 24, 1941 (1941-01-24) | March 1941 (1941-03) | US Hillbilly 1941 #12, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks, 72 points
13 | Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys | "Take Me Back to Tulsa"[2] | Okeh 6101 | February 24, 1941 (1941-02-24) | March 1941 (1941-03) | US Hillbilly 1941 #13, Hillbilly #1 for 1 weeks, 19 total weeks, 72 points, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
14 | Delmore Brothers | "When It's Time For The Whip-Poor-Will To Sing"[11] | Decca 5925 | September 11, 1940 (1940-09-11) | February 28, 1941 (1941-02-28) | US Hillbilly 1941 #14, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 14 total weeks, 72 points
15 | Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys | "Maiden's Prayer"[2] | Okeh 6205 | February 24, 1941 (1941-02-24) | May 16, 1941 (1941-05-16) | US Hillbilly 1941 #15, Hillbilly #1 for 3 weeks, 14 total weeks, 69 points
16 | Roy Rogers and his Saddle Pals | "Time Changes Everything"[12] | Decca 5906 | November 29, 1940 (1940-11-29) | December 29, 1940 (1940-12-29) | US Hillbilly 1941 #16, Hillbilly #2 for 2 weeks, 21 total weeks, 69 points
17 | Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys | "New Worried Mind"[2] | Okeh 6101 | February 24, 1941 (1941-02-24) | March 1941 (1941-03) | US Billboard 1941 #108, US Pop #14 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #17, Hillbilly #2 for 3 weeks, 17 total weeks, 64 points
18 | Sons of the Pioneers | "Cool Water"[13] | Decca 5844 | March 27, 1941 (1941-03-27) | April 25, 1941 (1941-04-25) | US Billboard 1941 #142, US Pop #17 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #18, Hillbilly #1 for 1 weeks, 18 total weeks, 63 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1986
19 | Delmore Brothers | "She Won't Be My Little Darling"[14] | Decca 5907 | September 11, 1940 (1940-09-11) | February 28, 1941 (1941-02-28) | US Hillbilly 1941 #19, Hillbilly #2 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 60 points
20 | Texas Jim Robertson | "I'll Be Back In A Year (Little Darlin')"[15] | Bluebird 8606 | November 27, 1940 (1940-11-27) | February 1941 (1941-02) | US Billboard 1941 #204, US Pop #21 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #20, Hillbilly #1 for 1 weeks, 15 total weeks, 59 points
21 | Adolph Hofner And His San Antonians | "Alamo Rag"[2] | Okeh 6139 | February 28, 1941 (1941-02-28) | April 12, 1941 (1941-04-12) | US Hillbilly 1941 #21, Hillbilly #1 for 1 weeks, 18 total weeks, 57 points
22 | Louise Massey and the Westerners | "Beer and Skittles"[5] | Okeh 5916 | October 11, 1940 (1940-10-11) | December 1940 (1940-12) | US Billboard 1941 #129, US Pop #16 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #22, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 54 points
23 | Bill Boyd And His Cowboy Ramblers | "If You'll Come Back"[16] | Bluebird 8533 | February 12, 1940 (1940-02-12) | October 4, 1940 (1940-10-04) | US Hillbilly 1941 #23, Hillbilly #2 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 54 points
24 | Tiny Hill and His Orchestra | "Spin The Bottle"[2] | Okeh 6160 | March 11, 1941 (1941-03-11) | April 1941 (1941-04) | US Hillbilly 1941 #24, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 53 points
25 | Prairie Ramblers | "I'll Be Back In A Year (Little Darlin')"[2] | Okeh 6053 | January 22, 1941 (1941-01-22) | February 1941 (1941-02) | US Hillbilly 1941 #25, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 53 points
26 | Ted Daffan and his Texans | "Those Blue Eyes Don't Sparkle Anymore"[2] | Okeh 6160 | March 11, 1941 (1941-03-11) | April 1941 (1941-04) | US Hillbilly 1941 #7, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 52 points
28 | Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys | "Mule Skinner Blues"[17] | Bluebird 8568 | October 7, 1940 (1940-10-07) | November 10, 1940 (1940-11-10) | US Hillbilly 1941 #28, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 17 total weeks, 47 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2009
29 | Shelton Brothers | "What's The Matter With Deep Elm"[18] | Decca 5898 | April 7, 1940 (1940-04-07) | November 1940 (1940-11) | US Hillbilly 1941 #32, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 46 points
31 | The Jesters | "Repasz Band"[19] | Decca 3719 | April 2, 1941 (1941-04-02) | April 1941 (1941-04) | US Billboard 1941 #205, US Pop #21 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1941 #30, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks, 44 points
32 | Jimmie Davis and Jimmy Wakely | "Too Late"[20] | Decca 5940 | February 20, 1941 (1941-02-20) | April 18, 1941 (1941-04-18) | US Hillbilly 1941 #31, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 43 points

## Births

[edit]

* January 18 – Bobby Goldsboro, middle-of-the-road artist best known for 1968's "Honey."
* February 8 – Henson Cargill, best known for 1968's "Skip a Rope" (died 2007).
* March 28 – Charlie McCoy, harmonica specialist.
* April 2 – Sonny Throckmorton, songwriter.
* May 31 – Johnny Paycheck, outlaw country-styled singer best known for "Take This Job and Shove It" (died 2003).
* June 8 — Alf Robertson, Swedish country musician (died 2008).
* August 14 – Connie Smith, female vocalist who grew to fame in the 1960s; Grand Ole Opry mainstay.
* September 21 – Dickey Lee, pop-country singer-songwriter.
* September 26 – David Frizzell, brother of Lefty Frizzell who grew into a country star in his own right.
* October 17 – Earl Thomas Conley, singer-songwriter who became one of country's biggest stars of the 1980s (died 2019).
* November 6 – Guy Clark, alternative-outlaw country singer-songwriter (died 2016).
* November 27 – Eddie Rabbitt, singer-songwriter who crossed over to pop in the early 1980s with hits such as "I Love a Rainy Night" and "Drivin' My Life Away" (died 1998).
* November 29 – Jody Miller, female vocalist best known for "Queen of the House" (answer song to Roger Miller's "King of the Road") (died 2022).

## Deaths

[edit]

* November 7 – Henry Whitter, 49, early country musician.

## 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. "Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954: The History of American Popular Music," Record Research Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 1986 (ISBN 0-89820-083-0).

* v
* t
* e

List of years in country music

Years|

* Prior to 1920

* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939

* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
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* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

* 2000
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* 2006
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* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "OKeh (by CBS) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 6000 - 6500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
3. ^ "TSHA | Autry, Orvon Gene". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
4. ^ "Decca matrix 93673. Walking the floor over you / Ernest Tubb - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
5. ^ a b c "OKeh (by CBS) numerical listing discography: 5600 - 5999". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
6. ^ "Victor matrix BS-054534. Frisky fiddler / Curly Hicks ; Taproom Boys - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
7. ^ "Decca matrix DLA 2247. New worried mind / Roy Rogers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
8. ^ "Decca matrix 68724. I'm sorry now / Jimmie Davis - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
9. ^ "Victor matrix BS-056535. Come swing with me / Cecil Campbell ; Tennessee Ramblers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
10. ^ "Decca matrix 93696. My Carolina sunshine girl / Rice Brothers Gang - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
11. ^ "Decca matrix 68074. When it's time for the whip-poor-will to sing / Delmore Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
12. ^ "Decca matrix DLA 2247. New worried mind / Roy Rogers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
13. ^ "Decca matrix 93632. Cool water / Sons of the Pioneers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
14. ^ "Decca matrix 68077. She won't be my little darlin' / Delmore Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
15. ^ "Victor matrix BS-057797. I'll be back in a year, little darling / Texas Jim Robertson - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
16. ^ "Victor matrix BS-047667. If you'll come back / Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
17. ^ "Victor matrix BS-054518. Mule skinner blues / Blue Grass Boys ; Bill Monroe - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
18. ^ "Decca matrix 92037. What's the matter with deep Elem / The Shelton Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
19. ^ "Decca matrix 68729. Repasz band / The Jesters - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
20. ^ "Decca matrix DLA 2096. Too late / Rough Riders ; Jimmy Wakely - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.

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