i think that would be the carter family,
altho they may not have been first

Carter Family took an older folk song of this title and came up with "Can the Circle Be Unbroken". The Carters' version later came to be called by the original title.

#18 Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain

Oh,that would be Willie!
JoanMN

Oh, that sure would be! LOL

#6 El Paso

The first thing I ever heard
Willie sing.
We were driving back to Virginia through Tennessee and that song came on... we listened and then looked at each other and said "Who was THAT?" Fell in love with Willie instantly.

Marty Robbins. I loved that man!

And after Marty recorded it, my father did it with his band.

Yes, it was the late, great Marty Robbins.

#9 Sixteen Tons (by one of my Grandma's favorite voices in the world!)

Tennessee Ernie Ford

Wanda, what is your Dad's name? Did you meet many of the Country/Western recording artists when you were growing up? This has been an interesting and informative thread! Bettye

My father's name was "Rusty". He came to Washington, D.C. (from Dallas) during World War II, and played the "gin mill" circuit. He had a country music show on radio in Washington, D.C., Dallas and Michigan (different times) during the 1940s. It was during the 40s that he became friends with Jimmy Dean and Billy Grammer (they are still in contact now), and he later became friends with Roy Clark (though he hasn't talked to Roy in years).

He retired from the business in the early 50s (at my mother's insistence), but continued to play "gigs" into the 60s.

I never met many of the artists because my parents wanted me shielded from that element (too much booze)...although I did meet Jimmy Dean and Patsy Cline (shortly before her death).

Here's a picture of my father's band (this was taken in the late 50s). My father is upper right (with acoustic guitar).

wow, Wanda, that is so cool. Nice photo.
JoanMN

Well, how neat, Wanda! I know that you treasure that photo.

Yes, you were right. It was Tennessee Ernie Ford. I loved his "This Old House". I used to hear it on the radio when I stayed with my Grandma.

#4 Crazy

That's so cool Wanda.
#4 Crazy.....This one's easy.
Patsy Cline.

Linda

Yes, it was, Linda.

How about #5 I Fall to Pieces (LOL)

Gee, It's right on the tip of my tongue, er, fingers.....Here it is!!!! Patsy Cline!!!!! What a fantastic talent she was...

Yes, she sure was.

#47 Rocky Top

Tennessee Mountain Boys?
That's just a stab in the dark at the original artist(s).
'Rocky Top' has been recorded many times since.
Lynn Anderson did the song and Ricky Skaggs.

Just a guess...

Lori

I don't know who sings Rocky Top, but I hate hate hate it. I don't know why I hate it, but I do and for their amusement, two of my closest friends used to sing it to me a lot............

Smokey Mountain Brothers?
Ack!
It's a group with a fine tenor lead singer....

I can hear the song but I can't identify the singer!
Frustrating as all get out!

Lori

Thanks for sharing, Wanda! Your parents were wise to shield you from all the "rough stuff" that seemed to go along with the country music scene. However, there were some that I would have loved to have had the pleasure of knowing. Roger Miller was a friend of my BIL and the stories he told were hilarious. I met several of the Grand Old Opry Stars but only a couple that I could actually call good friends. So glad you shared that priceless photo! Bettye

Rocky Top was made a hit by the Bluegrass duo "The Osborne Brothers, Sonny and Bobby. If you are into Bluegrass music, you know who they are and that they are among the most respected of Bluegrass groups.

Yes, Gazania, it WAS the Osborne Brothers. I didn't know that UT uses it for a fight song. (Sounds like Linda might think the same thing! LOL)

#70 Green, Green Grass of Home

Porter Wagoner did The Green Green Grass of Home, as did several others, but in the 'Country' circles, Porters is the one I think of first. The best recording of it, I think at least, was done by Joan Baez.

You're right on all acounts, Gazania!

#21 It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels

Oh, Kitty Wells. One of my favorite songs!
JoanMN

And it was an answer to another song. Anyone know who sang it and the title?

Tom Jones also did Green Green Grass, I love his version.

The singer was Hank Thompson...but the title doesn't come clear to me. I will think of it eventually, but right now I have to go fix dinner.

Yes, Joan. It was Kitty Wells. I wouldn't have remembered the song that this one was an answer to, but I read it in the article so I'm exempt from answering! LOL

What song "prompted" It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels and who sung it?

#66 Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?

George Strait.

Yep!

#98 Act Naturally

Yep!

#98 Act Naturally

Hmmm...wonder how that happened!? I must have hiccupped! LOL

Buck Owens

Buck Owens it was.

#96 Good Ol' Boys

Willie and Waylon??

Partly right! LOL (Think the theme song to The Dukes of Hazzard. (Now THAT was a classic! LOL)

Moe and Joe! (Bandy and Stampley)
JoanMN

Oh, I have the wrong Good Ole Boys, I think.
Sorry.
I'm thinking of Good old boys, we're all the same,
ain't no way we'll ever change...etc.

Don't know if that's any of the words or not, but the Stampley and Bandy didn't do the version they listed.

Well, if it's from the Dukes of Hazzard, I'm pretty sure it's by Waylon.
JoanMN

Yep - Waylon only - no Willie! LOL
(Hey! You KNOW what I meant! LOL)

#64 Blue Yodel

Well, I am NOT going to google it until after I guess, so, since she yodeled on "I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart", I'm guessing Patsy Montana.
JoanMN

Hank Williams? He is the only yodeler I can hear in my head!

Well, I see I couldn't have been more wrong!

LOL It was Jimmie Rodgers in 1928. Trust me, I wouldn't have known, either! LOL

#67 Wichita Lineman

Glen Campbell!!

Well, that was quick! LOL Yes, it was, bigack.

#65 Cool Water

Jimmie Rodgers....when I saw the date of that, I googled him because the Jimmie Rodgers I knew and loved ("Honeycomb", "Oh, Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again", etc.) wasn't even born in 1928. "My" Jimmie is listed as a pop singer, whereas the Jimmie Rodgers who did "Blue Yodel" was a country singer who died in 1933. FYI, the two are not related. Just a little Monday-morning trivia.

True, Wanda. I should have stated that. Thanks for the trivia. My brain is FULL of it. (Think that's why I can't find my truck at WalMart? LOL)