ROOTS of Country Music

40 No. 1 Chart Songs and No Solo Award

Conway Twitty scored his first hit with a teen ballad, It's Only Make Believe, on MGM Records in 1958, making him a teen idol of the day. Seven years later, Twitty began his country career with Decca/MCA Records and by the early '70s, he had scored four straight No. 1 hits including Hello Darlin' and Fifteen Years Ago (1970), How Much More Can She Stand (1971) and (Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date (1972).

By the end of his tenure at MCA Records in 1981, he had accumulated 32 No. 1 hits. Another 15 had reached the top 5.

At the end of his chart career in 1993, Conway Twitty had accumulated a record breaking 40 No. 1 chart singles. This is a milestone that only Alabama and George Strait have surpassed. It isn't likely that his record will be broken again.

Listen to Don't Call Him a Cowboy

Astonishlingly, Conway Twitty never won a solo Country Music Association award.

In 1971, Twitty released his first hit duet with Loretta Lynn, After the Fire Is Gone, followed by Lead Me On in 1971, Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man in 1973 and As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone in 1974.

Together, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn won four consecutive Country Music Association (CMA) awards for Vocal Duo of the Year (1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975).

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Feb. 15, 2012.