ROOTS of Country Music

Billboard Tabulation Charts

In 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade. The first Music Popularity Chart was calculated in July 1940. A variety of song charts followed, which were eventually consolidated into the Hot 100 by mid-1958. Billboard did not begin charting country music until 1944.

The Hot 100 currently combines single sales, radio airplay and digital downloads. The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine and on their web site. The primary chart is the Hot 100 (top 100 singles), which factors in airplay, as well as music sales in all relevant formats.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Artist Who Didn't Chart a Billboard No. 1 Song (1944 - 1993)

There are several country music artists who never earned a Billboard No. 1 hit, but who are typically regarded as a major recording artist. The following is a partial list of major country music recording artists who never achieved a Billboard No. 1 hit.

In order to make this list, artists must have at least one Top-20 song and must not be a crossover artist. The Song listed next to the artists name is their highest charted song on Billboard.

1. Asleep at the Wheel ~ "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read," No. 10
2. Bill Monroe ~ "Kentucky Waltz," No. 3
3. Bill Phillips ~ "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," No. 6
4. Bob Luman ~ "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers," No. 4
5. Bobby Borchers ~ "Cheap Perfume and Candlelight," No. 7
6. Bonnie Guitar ~ "A Woman In Love," No. 4
7. Brenda Lee ~ "Big Four Poster Bed," No. 4
8. Carl Belew ~ "Hello Out There," No. 8
9. Charlie Louvin ~  "I Don't Love You Anymore," No. 4
10. Charlie Walker ~ "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down," No. 2
11. Claude Gray ~ "My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About)," No. 3
12. Con Hunley ~ "What's new With You," No. 11
13. Darrell McCall ~ "A Stranger Was Here," No. 17
14. David Allan Coe ~ "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile," No. 2
15. David Wills ~ "From Barrooms to Bedrooms," No. 10
16. Dick Curless ~ "A Tombstone Every Mile," No. 5
17. Dottsy ~ "After Sweet Memories) Play Born to Lose Again," No. 10
18. Elton Britt ~ "Someday," No. 2*
19. Gail Davies ~ "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)," No. 4
20. Grandpa Jones ~ "T for Texas," No. 5
21. Jan Howard ~ "Evil on Your Mind," No. 5
22. Jeannie Seely ~ "Don't Touch Me," No.2
23. Jim Ed Brown ~ "Pop a Top," No. 3
24. Jim & Jesse ~ "Diesel on My Tail," No. 18
25. Jimmie Skinner ~ "I Found My Girl In the USA," No. 5
26. Jimmy Newman ~  "A Fallen Star," No. 2
27. John Wesley Ryles ~ "Once In a Lifetime Thing," No. 5
28. Johnny Bond ~ "Ten Little Bottles," No. 2
29. Johnny Russell ~ "Red Necks, White Sox and Blue Ribbon Beer," No. 4
30. Johnny Bush ~ "You Gave Me a Mountain," No. 7
31. Justin Tubb ~ "Looking Back to See," No. 4
32. Kenny Dale ~ "Only Love Can Break a Heart," No. 7
33. Kenny Price ~ "Walking On New Grass," No. 7
34. La Costa ~ "Get On My Love Train," No. 3
35. Lacy J Dalton ~ "Takin' It Easy," No. 2
36. Little David Wilkins ~ "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show," No. 11
37. Mac Wiseman ~ "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy," No. 5
38. Margie Singleton ~ "Keeping Up With the Joneses," 5
39. Mel Street ~ "Lovin' On Back Streets," No. 5
40. Narvel Felts ~ "Reconsider Me," No. 2
41. Nat Stuickey ~ "Sweet Thang," No. 4
42. Ned Miller ~ "From a Jack to a King," No. 2
43. Norma Jean ~ "The Game of Triangles," No. 5
44. Osborne Brothers ~ "Once More," No. 13
45. Ray Pillow ~ "I'll Take the Dog," No. 9
46. Ray Stevens ~ "Misty," No. 3
47. Red Simpson ~ "I'm a Truck," No. 4
48. Red Steagall ~ "Lonestar Beer and Bob Wills Music," No. 11
49. Rex Allen ~ "Crying in the Chapel," No. 4
50. Rex Allen Jr. ~ "Two Less Lonely People," No. 8
51. Rose Maddox ~ "Sing a Little Song of Heartache," No.3
52. Roy Acuff ~ "I'll Forgive You But I Can't Forget," No. 3
53. Roy Rogers ~ "My Chickashay Gal," No. 4
54. Skeeter Davis ~ "The End of the World," No. 2
55. Slim Whitman ~ "Indian Love Call," No. 2
56. Sons of the Pioneers ~ "Stars and Stripes on Imo Jima," No. 4
57. Stuart Hamblen ~ "(Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You," No. 2
58. Susan Raye ~ "(I've Got a) Happy Heart," No. 3
59. Tommy Collins ~ "You Better Not Do That," No. 2
60. Tommy Overstreet ~ "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')," No. 2
61. Tony Booth ~ "The Key's In the Mailbox," No. 15
62. T Texas Tyler ~ "Deck of Cards," No. 2
63. Wanda Jackson ~ "In the Middle of a Heartache," No. 6
64. Wayne Kemp ~ "Honky Tonk Wine," No. 17
65. Willis Brothers ~ "Give Me Forty Acres (To Turn This Rig Around)," No. 9
66. Wilburn Brothers ~ "Hurt Her Once For Me," No.3

Note: Elton Britt is best remembered for his 1942 recording, "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere." This song wasn't ranked as Billboard did not begin charting country music until 1944. This song was by far the most popular patriotic song of the time and was one of the biggest selling country records of that time. No doubt it would have topped out at number one.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Country Music Historian, Oct. 30, 2010.