1975 in country music

"See also:"
1974 in country music,
1975 in music,
other events of 1975,
1976 in country music, and the List of years in Country Music

Events

*March 13 - The rocky marriage of George Jones and Tammy Wynette ends in divorce.
*July 17 — A Russian language version of Conway Twitty's 1970 hit, "Hello Darlin'" is played and broadcast to a worldwide audience as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The song, which in Russian was called "Privet Radost," is a "gesture of goodwill" from the Apollo crew to the Soviet Union's Soyuz crew. Twitty worked with a language professor from the University of Oklahoma to record the phonetic Russian version of the song. [Oermann, Robert K. "The Conway Twitty Collection," liner notes (booklet included with "The Conway Twitty Collection" 4-disc set). MCA Special Products, 1994).]

*August 8 — While mountain climbing at Ajax Mountain, Montana, Hank Williams Jr. is involved in a catastrophic accident. He tumbles nearly 500 feet and is critically injured, suffering numerous facial and head injuries. His recovery takes nearly two years, during which time he undergoes a major cosmetic — and musical — overhaul.
*October – The defining moment in the recent debate over what defines country music – and each side's vision of the genre – comes at the Country Music Association awards. Charlie Rich, the 1974 CMA Entertainer of the Year, was selected to name the new Entertainer of the Year. When he opened the envelope, he took out his cigarette lighter, lighted the piece of paper with the winner's name on fire, and disgustedly announced the winner: "My good friend John Denver!" Denver, who was not present, was humbled at his award (but didn't know until later about Rich's actions).

No dates

* The deaths of three country music legends — Bob Wills, George Morgan and Lefty Frizzell — leave a huge void among fans.
* Six songs that reach No. 1 on the "Billboard magazine" Hot Country Singles chart also reach the top of the Hot 100 chart: "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas; "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender; "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry," both by John Denver; "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell; and "Convoy" by C.W. McCall.: In addition, several other songs that reach the top on one of the charts does very well on the other, including "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "Please Mr. Please" by Olivia Newton-John; "I'm Not Lisa" by Jessi Colter; Fender's "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"; and "When Will I Be Loved" by Linda Ronstadt.

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

"(As certified by Billboard magazine)"
*January 4 - "The Door" - George Jones
*January 11 - "Ruby Baby" - Billy "Crash" Craddock
*January 18 - "Kentucky Gambler" - Merle Haggard and the Strangers
*January 25 - "(I'd Be) A Legend in My Time" - Ronnie Milsap
*February 1 - "City Lights" - Mickey Gilley
*February 8 - "Then Who Am I" - Charley Pride
*February 15 - "Devil in the Bottle" - T.G. Sheppard
*February 22 - "Sneaky Snake"/"I Care" - Tom T. Hall
*March 1 - "It's Time to Pay the Fiddler" - Cal Smith
*March 8 - "Linda on My Mind" - Conway Twitty
*March 15 - "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" - Freddy Fender
*March 29 - "The Bargain Store" - Dolly Parton
*April 5 - "I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind" - Johnny Rodriguez
*April 12 - "Always Wanting You" - Merle Haggard and the Strangers
*April 26 - "Blanket on the Ground" - Billie Jo Spears
*May 3 - "Roll On Big Mama" - Joe Stampley
*May 10 - "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)" - Gary Stewart
*May 17 - "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" - B.J. Thomas
*May 24 - "I'm Not Lisa" - Jessi Colter
*May 31 - "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" - John Denver
*June 7 - "Window Up Above" - Mickey Gilley
*June 14 - "When Will I Be Loved" - Linda Ronstadt
*June 21 - "You're My Best Friend" - Don Williams
*June 28 - "Tryin' to Beat the Morning Home" - T.G. Sheppard
*July 5 - "Lizzie and the Rainman" - Tanya Tucker
*July 12 - "Movin' On (Theme from the TV Series)" - Merle Haggard and the Strangers
*July 19 - "Touch the Hand" - Conway Twitty
*August 2 - "Just Get Up and Close the Door" - Johnny Rodriguez
*August 9 - "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" - Freddy Fender
*August 23 - "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Glen Campbell
*September 6 - "Feelings" - Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn: "("Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell returns to No. 1 September 13)"
*September 20 - "Daydreams About Night Things" - Ronnie Milsap
*October 4 - "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" - Willie Nelson
*October 18 - "Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You)" - Charley Pride
*October 25 - "San Antonio Stroll" - Tanya Tucker
*November 1 - "(Turn Out the Light and) Love Me Tonight" - Don Williams
*November 8 - "I'm Sorry" - John Denver
*November 15 - "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" - Waylon Jennings
*November 22 - "Rocky" - Dickey Lee
*November 29 - "It's All in the Movies" - Merle Haggard and the Strangers
*December 6 - "Secret Love" - Freddy Fender
*December 13 - "Love Put a Song in My Heart" - Johnny Rodriguez
*December 20 - "Convoy" - C.W. McCall

Other major hits

*"All Over Me" - Charlie Rich
*"Bandy the Rodeo Clown" - Moe Bandy
*"The Best Way I Know How" - Mel Tillis and the Statesiders
*"Bob Wills is Still the King" - Waylon Jennings
*"Brass Buckles" — Barbi Benton
*"Classified" — C.W. McCall
*"Country Boy (You've Got Your Feet in LA)" - Glen Campbell
*"Deal" - Tom T. Hall
*"Dear Woman" - Joe Stampley
*"Don't Cry Joni" - Conway Twitty (featuring Joni Lee Twitty)
*"Don't Let the Good Times Fool You" - Melba Montgomery
*"Dreaming My Dreams With You" - Waylon Jennings
*"Easy as Pie" — Billy "Crash" Craddock
*"Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)" - Charlie Rich
*"The First Time" – Freddie Hart
*"For a Minute There" - Johnny Paycheck
*"Forgive and Forget" - Eddie Rabbitt
*"From Barrooms to Bedrooms" - David Wills
*"Great Expectations" - Buck Owens
*"Have You Never Been Mellow" - Olivia Newton-John
*"He Took Me For a Ride" - LaCosta Tucker
*"He Turns It Into Love Again" - Lynn Anderson
*"He's My Rock" - Brenda Lee
*"Heat Wave" - Linda Ronstadt
*"Home" - Loretta Lynn
*"Hoppy, Gene and Me" - Roy Rogers
*"I Ain't All Bad" - Charley Pride
*"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)" - Linda Ronstadt
*"I Got My Baby on My Mind" - Connie Smith
*"I Like Beer" - Tom T. Hall
*"I Love the Blues and the Boogie-Woogie" — Billy "Crash" Craddock
*"I Never Loved Anyone More" - Lynn Anderson
*"I Should Have Married You" - Eddie Rabbitt
*"I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonight" - Stella Parton
*"I'd Like to Sleep 'Til I Get Over You" - Freddie Hart
*"I'll Go to My Grave Loving You" - Statler Brothers
*"I'm a Believer" - Tommy Overstreet
*"If I Could Only Win Your Love" - Emmylou Harris
*"It Do Feel Good" - Donna Fargo
*"It Was Always So Easy to Find an Unhappy Woman" — Moe Bandy
*"It's Midnight" - Elvis Presley
*"Jason's Farm" - Cal Smith
*"The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" – Asleep at the Wheel
*"Like Old Times Again" - Ray Price
*"Little Band of Gold" - Sonny James
*"A Little Bit South of Saskatoon" - Sonny James
*"Long Haired Country Boy" - Charlie Daniels Band
*"Love in the Hot Afternoon" - Gene Watson
*"Love is a Rose" - Linda Ronstadt
*"Loving You Will Never Grow Old" - Lois Johnson
*"Lyin' Eyes" - The Eagles
*"Misty" – Ray Stevens
*"My Boy" - Elvis Presley
*"My Elusive Dreams" - Charlie Rich
*"My Woman's Man" -- Freddie Hart
*"Out of Hand" - Gary Stewart
*"Overnight Sensation" — Mickey Gilley
*"Penny" - Joe Stampley
*"The Pill" - Loretta Lynn
*"Please Mr. Please" - Olivia Newton-John
*"Rainy Day Woman" - Waylon Jennings
*"Reconsider Me" - Narvel Felts
*"Rock On Baby" - Brenda Lee
*"Roses and Love Songs" - Ray Price
*"Say Forever You'll Be Mine" - Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
*"The Seeker" - Dolly Parton
*"She Talked a Lot About Texas" - Cal Smith
*"Singin' in the Kitchen" — Bobby Bare with the Family
*"Smoky Mountain Memories" - Mel Street
*"Still Thinkin' 'Bout You" — Billy "Crash" Craddock
*"Storms Never Last" - Dottsy
*"Sweet Surrender" — John Denver
*"That's Where My Woman Begins" - Tommy Overstreet
*"There I Said It" - Margo Smith
*"There's a Song on the Jukebox" – David Wills
*"These Days (I Barely Get By)" - George Jones
*"Third Rate Romance" - Amazing Rhythm Aces
*"The Ties That Bind" - Don Williams
*"Today I Started Loving You Again" - Sammi Smith
*"Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry" - Ronnie Milsap
*"T-R-O-U-B-L-E" - Elvis Presley
*"U.S. of A" — Donna Fargo
*"Warm Side of You" - Freddie Hart
*"We Used To" - Dolly Parton
*"What in the World's Come Over You" - Sonny James
*"What's Happened to Blue Eyes" - Jessi Colter
*"Whatcha Gonna Do With a Dog Like That" - Susan Raye
*"Where Love Begins" - Gene Watson
*"Why Don't You Love Me" - Connie Smith
*"Wolf Creek Pass" — C.W. McCall
*"Woman in the Back of My Mind" - Mel Tillis and the Statesiders
*"Word Games" - Billy Walker
*"Wrong Road Again" - Crystal Gayle
*"You Make Me Want to Be a Mother" - Tammy Wynette
*"You Never Even Called Me By My Name" - David Allan Coe
*"You're No Good" - Linda Ronstadt

Top new album releases

* "The Bargain Store" — Dolly Parton (RCA)
* "Dreaming My Dreams" — Waylon Jennings (RCA)
* "Have You Never Been Mellow" - Olivia Newton-John (MCA)
* "I'm Jessi Colter" — Jessi Colter (Capitol)
* "Pieces of the Sky" — Emmylou Harris (Reprise)
* "Prisoner in Disguise" — Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)
* "Red Headed Stranger" — Willie Nelson (Columbia)
* "Rhinestone Cowboy" — Glen Campbell (Capitol)
* "" - Dolly Parton (RCA)
* "Somebody Loves You" — Crystal Gayle (United Artists)
* "Tanya Tucker" — Tanya Tucker (MCA)

Other new album releases

*"Before the Next Teardrop Falls" - Freddy Fender (ABC/Dot)
*"Dreaming My Dreams" - Waylon Jennings (RCA)
*"Hank Williams Jr. and Friends" - Hank Williams Jr. (MGM)
*"High Priest of Country Music" – Conway Twitty (MCA)
*"Legend in My Time" – Ronnie Milsap (RCA)
*"Night Things" – Ronnie Milsap (RCA)
*"Old No. 1" - Guy Clark (RCA)
*"Pieces of the Sky" - Emmylou Harris (Reprise)
*"Vocal Group of the Decade" - Tompall Glaser and the Glaser Brothers (MGM)

Births

* August 11 — Chris Cummings, Canadian country singer of 1990s and 2000s.
* November 20 — Dierks Bentley, new traditionalist-styled singer of the 2000s.
* November 30 — Mindy McCready, popular country singer from the late 90's.

Deaths

*February 4 - Louis Jordan, 66, jazz and rhythm & blues pioneer who became the first African-American performer to have a No. 1 hit on the "Billboard magazine" country charts (1944's "Ration Blues") (heart attack).
*February 17 – A.C. "Eck" Robertson, 88, pioneering American fiddle player, widely considered the first fiddler and country musician to record commercially.
*May 13 - Bob Wills, 70, leader of the Texas Playboys (complications from a stroke)
*July 7 - George Morgan, 51, country crooner of the late 1940s and early 1950s, Grand Ole Opry favorite and father of Lorrie Morgan (heart attack).
*July 19 - Lefty Frizzell, 47, honky-tonk pioneer of the 1950s (stroke).
*November 3 - Audrey Williams, 52, mother of Hank Williams Jr. (and ex-wife of Hank Williams Sr.)

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

*Minnie Pearl (1912-1996)

Major Awards

Grammy awards

*Best Country Vocal Performance, Female -- "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" - Linda Ronstadt
*Best Country Vocal Performance, Male -- "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" - Willie Nelson
*Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group -- "Lover Please" - Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge
*Best Country Instrumental Performance -- "The Entertainer" - Chet Atkins
*Best Country Song -- "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" - Chips Moman and Larry Butler

Academy of Country Music

*Entertainer Of The Year -- Loretta Lynn
*Song Of The Year -- "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Glen Campbell - Larry Weiss
*Single Of The Year -- "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Glen Campbell
*Album Of The Year -- Feelings - Loretta Lynn Conway Twitty
*Top Male Vocalist -- Conway Twitty
*Top Female Vocalist -- Loretta Lynn
*Top Vocal Duo -- Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
*Top New Male Vocalist -- Freddy Fender
*Top New Female Vocalist -- Crystal Gayle

Country Music Association

*Entertainer of the Year -- John Denver
*Male Vocalist of the Year -- Waylon Jennings
*Female Vocalist of the Year -- Dolly Parton
*Instrumental Group of the Year –- Roy Clark and Buck Trent
*Vocal Group of the Year -- Statler Brothers
*Vocal Duo of the Year -- Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
*Single of the Year -- "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" - Freddy Fender
*Song of the Year -- "Back Home Again," John Denver
*Album of the Year -- "A Legend in My Time", Ronnie Milsap
*Instrumentalist of the Year -- Johnny Gimble

ources

References

Further reading

*Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
*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.

Other links

*Country Music Association
*Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame

External links

* [http://www.cmaawards.com/2004/hof/default.asp Country Music Hall of Fame]