How Many 50s Country Music Legends Can You Name?

By: Elizabeth Wilson
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Country music has been a staple of American culture for centuries and, similar to other genres of music, it has seen a lot of evolution during the past few decades. In the eyes of many, the best decade for country music took place in the 1950s. With smooth sounds, relatable lyrics, and powerful ballads, these songs are sure to bring back some memories.

During the 1950s, country music entered its second decade on the charts. While Billboard started to rank songs in country music during the 1940s, this list was limited to what was on the jukebox. When the 1950s began, country music started to appear more regularly on the radio and television. This led to country music album sales growing by leaps and bounds. For the first time, country music could be heard all over the country. This gave rise to some of the biggest stars in country music.

Perhaps you saw some of your favorite country music stars on TV such as Tennessee Ernie Ford and Patsy Cline. Maybe you got to hear some of your favorite country music artists from the bar room such as Hank Thompson and Hank Williams. Then, there were a few major names that made their first appearance in country music during the 1950s. This includes legendary names such as Johnny Cash and George Jones.

No matter where you were during the 1950s, you were sure to hear some of these major names. Whether you were listening to songs such as “Mule Train,” “Sixteen Tons,” Singing the Blues,” or “Heartbreak Hotel,” you were probably impacted by country music during the 1950s. These artists were experts at leveraging new technology in the 1950s to communicate their soulful messages with the rest of the country. When this was combined with their performing power at live concerts, it is easy to see why so many people were touched by country music during the 1950s. Many of these songs are still played to this day.

So, what do you think about country music during the 1950s? Do you think that this was one of the best decades in country music? If you would like to put your memory and your country music knowledge to the test, then take our quiz and see how much you remember! How many of these major country music legend of the 1950s can you name?