1941 in country music

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

{{YYYY music|1941}}

{{Year nav topic5|1941|country music}}

Events

  • 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

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,{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 |publisher=Record Research |year=1986}} and other sources as specified, during 1941. Numerical rankings are approximate.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Rank

! Artist

! Title

! Label

! Recorded

! Released

! Chart Positions

1Gene Autry"You Are My Sunshine"{{Cite web|title=OKeh (by CBS) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 6000 - 6500|url=https://www.78discography.com/OK6000.htm|access-date=2022-01-06|website=www.78discography.com}}Okeh 6274{{Start date|1941|6|18}}{{Start date|1941|7|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{{Cite web |title=TSHA {{!}} Autry, Orvon Gene |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/autry-orvon-gene |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=www.tshaonline.org}}
2Ernest Tubb"Walking the Floor Over You"{{Cite web|title=Decca matrix 93673. Walking the floor over you / Ernest Tubb - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000285024/93673-Walking_the_floor_over_you|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5958{{Start date|1941|4|26}}{{Start date|1941|5|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 (see 1942, 8 more weeks at #1), Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, presented gold record 1964.
3Gene Autry"Be Honest with Me"{{Cite web|title=OKeh (by CBS) numerical listing discography: 5600 - 5999|url=https://www.78discography.com/OK5600.htm|access-date=2022-01-06|website=www.78discography.com}}Okeh 5980{{Start date|1940|8|20}}{{Start date|1941|1|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
4Louise Massey and the Westerners"My Adobe Hacienda"Okeh 6077{{Start date|1941|1|27}}{{Start date|1941|3}}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
5Curly Hicks And His Taproom Boys"Frisky Fiddler Polka"{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-054534. Frisky fiddler / Curly Hicks ; Taproom Boys - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200045831/BS-054534-Frisky_fiddler |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Bluebird 8740{{Start date|1940|10|8}}{{Start date|1941|7|11}}US Hillbilly 1941 #5, Hillbilly #4 for 2 weeks, 34 total weeks, 101 points
6Gene Autry"Tears On My Pillow"Okeh 6239{{Start date|1940|8|22}}{{Start date|1941|6|12}}US Hillbilly 1941 #6, Hillbilly #4 for 3 weeks, 41 total weeks, 100 points
7Gene Autry"You Waited Too Long"Okeh 5781{{Start date|1941|8|22}}{{Start date|1941|9|5}}US Hillbilly 1941 #7, Hillbilly #2 for 6 weeks, 21 total weeks, 95 points
8Roy Rogers and his Saddle Pals"New Worried Mind"{{Cite web|title=Decca matrix DLA 2247. New worried mind / Roy Rogers - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000268670/DLA_2247-New_worried_mind|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5906{{Start date|1940|11|29}}{{Start date|1940|12|29}}US Hillbilly 1941 #8, Hillbilly #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 90 points
9Jimmie Davis"I'm Sorry Now"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 68724. I'm sorry now / Jimmie Davis - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000296837/68724-Im_sorry_now |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5926{{Start date|1941|2|21}}{{Start date|1941|3|12}}US Hillbilly 1941 #9, Hillbilly #3 for 3 weeks, 27 total weeks, 84 points
10Tennessee Ramblers"Come Swing With Me"{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-056535. Come swing with me / Cecil Campbell ; Tennessee Ramblers - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200047009/BS-056535-Come_swing_with_me |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Bluebird 8742{{Start date|1940|10|12}}{{Start date|1941|7|11}}US Hillbilly 1941 #10, Hillbilly #3 for 4 weeks, 21 total weeks, 81 points
11Rice Brothers' Gang"My Carolina Sunshine Girl"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 93696. My Carolina sunshine girl / Rice Brothers Gang - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000285047/93696-My_Carolina_sunshine_girl |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5959{{Start date|1941|3|11}}{{Start date|1941|4}}US Hillbilly 1941 #11, Hillbilly #3 for 5 weeks, 26 total weeks, 75 points
12Karl And Harty"Let's All Have Another Beer"Okeh 6066{{Start date|1941|1|24}}{{Start date|1941|3}}US Hillbilly 1941 #12, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks, 72 points
13Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys"Take Me Back to Tulsa"Okeh 6101{{Start date|1941|2|24}}{{Start date|1941|3}}US Hillbilly 1941 #13, Hillbilly #1 for 1 weeks, 19 total weeks, 72 points, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
14Delmore Brothers"When It's Time For The Whip-Poor-Will To Sing"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 68074. When it's time for the whip-poor-will to sing / Delmore Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000296187/68074-When_its_time_for_the_whip-poor-will_to_sing |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5925{{Start date|1940|9|11}}{{Start date|1941|2|28}}US Hillbilly 1941 #14, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 14 total weeks, 72 points
15Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys"Maiden's Prayer"Okeh 6205{{Start date|1941|2|24}}{{Start date|1941|5|16}}US Hillbilly 1941 #15, Hillbilly #1 for 3 weeks, 14 total weeks, 69 points
16Roy Rogers and his Saddle Pals"Time Changes Everything"{{Cite web|title=Decca matrix DLA 2247. New worried mind / Roy Rogers - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000268670/DLA_2247-New_worried_mind|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5906{{Start date|1940|11|29}}{{Start date|1940|12|29}}US Hillbilly 1941 #16, Hillbilly #2 for 2 weeks, 21 total weeks, 69 points
17Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys"New Worried Mind"Okeh 6101{{Start date|1941|2|24}}{{Start date|1941|3}}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
18Sons of the Pioneers"Cool Water"{{Cite web|title=Decca matrix 93632. Cool water / Sons of the Pioneers - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000284983/93632-Cool_water|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5844{{Start date|1941|3|27}}{{Start date|1941|4|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
19Delmore Brothers"She Won't Be My Little Darling"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 68077. She won't be my little darlin' / Delmore Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000296190/68077-She_wont_be_my_little_darlin |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5907{{Start date|1940|9|11}}{{Start date|1941|2|28}}US Hillbilly 1941 #19, Hillbilly #2 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 60 points
20Texas Jim Robertson"I'll Be Back In A Year (Little Darlin')"{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-057797. I'll be back in a year, little darling / Texas Jim Robertson - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200047641/BS-057797-Ill_be_back_in_a_year_little_darling |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Bluebird 8606{{Start date|1940|11|27}}{{Start date|1941|2}}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
21Adolph Hofner And His San Antonians"Alamo Rag"Okeh 6139{{Start date|1941|2|28}}{{Start date|1941|4|12}}US Hillbilly 1941 #21, Hillbilly #1 for 1 weeks, 18 total weeks, 57 points
22Louise Massey and the Westerners"Beer and Skittles"Okeh 5916{{Start date|1940|10|11}}{{Start date|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
23Bill Boyd And His Cowboy Ramblers"If You'll Come Back"{{Cite web |title=Victor matrix BS-047667. If you'll come back / Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200042762/BS-047667-If_youll_come_back |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Bluebird 8533{{Start date|1940|2|12}}{{Start date|1940|10|4}}US Hillbilly 1941 #23, Hillbilly #2 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 54 points
24Tiny Hill and His Orchestra"Spin The Bottle"Okeh 6160{{Start date|1941|3|11}}{{Start date|1941|4}}US Hillbilly 1941 #24, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 53 points
25Prairie Ramblers"I'll Be Back In A Year (Little Darlin')"Okeh 6053{{Start date|1941|1|22}}{{Start date|1941|2}}US Hillbilly 1941 #25, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 53 points
26Ted Daffan and his Texans"Those Blue Eyes Don't Sparkle Anymore"Okeh 6160{{Start date|1941|3|11}}{{Start date|1941|4}}US Hillbilly 1941 #7, Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 52 points
28Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys"Mule Skinner Blues"{{Cite web|title=Victor matrix BS-054518. Mule skinner blues / Blue Grass Boys ; Bill Monroe - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200045815/BS-054518-Mule_skinner_blues|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Bluebird 8568{{Start date|1940|10|7}}{{Start date|1940|11|10}}US Hillbilly 1941 #28, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 17 total weeks, 47 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2009
29Shelton Brothers|"What's The Matter With Deep Elm"{{Cite web|title=Decca matrix 92037. What's the matter with deep Elem / The Shelton Brothers - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000283388/92037-Whats_the_matter_with_deep_Elem|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5898{{Start date|1940|4|7}}{{Start date|1940|11}}US Hillbilly 1941 #32, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 46 points
31The Jesters"Repasz Band"{{Cite web|title=Decca matrix 68729. Repasz band / The Jesters - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000296842/68729-Repasz_band|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 3719{{Start date|1941|4|2}}{{Start date|1941|4}}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
32Jimmie Davis and Jimmy Wakely"Too Late"{{Cite web|title=Decca matrix DLA 2096. Too late / Rough Riders ; Jimmy Wakely - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000268519/DLA_2096-Too_late|access-date=2022-01-06|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 5940{{Start date|1941|2|20}}{{Start date|1941|4|18}}US Hillbilly 1941 #31, Hillbilly #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 43 points

Births

Deaths

Further reading

  • 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}}).

{{List of years in country music}}

References