Top-10 Male Country Singers of 1970 – 1975
The 1970s was a decade when country music made a major impact on the pop charts. Its crossover appeal aided by charismatic performers and slick productions that paired country singers with string sections and pop melodies. This was an era when twin fiddles and pedal steel guitars were being replaced with strings and other pop fashioned instruments. However, country music in the 1970s also brings to mind songs from legendary male artists like Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Charlie Pride, George Jones, Ray Price, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens and many more who retained a more traditional sound. I've combed through several resources to compile this top-10 list of artists who were continually charting at the top during the 1970 -- 1975 time frame.
1. Merle Haggard: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Merle racked up 14 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. He received Entertainer of the Year (1970) and Male Vocalist of the Year (1970) awards from the Country Music Association (CMA).
2. Charley Pride: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Pride racked up 13 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. Charlie received Entertainer of the Year (1971) and Male Vocalist of the Year (1971, 1972) awards from the Country Music Association.
3. Conway Twitty: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Conway racked up 12 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. Conway received Vocal Duo of the Year (1972, 1973, 1974 &1975) (with Loretta Lynn) awards from the Country Music Association.
4. Sonny James: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Sonny racked up 10 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. Sonny scored 16 consecutive No. 1 singles between 1967 and 1971.
5. Charlie Rich: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Rich racked up 7 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. Rich received Entertainer of the Year (1974) and Male Vocalist of the Year (1973) awards from the CMA. His singles, Behind Closed Doors and The Most Beautiful Girl were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
6. Freddie Hart: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Freddie racked up 5 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. Hart's single, Easy Loving was a certified gold single by RIAA in 1971and he scored the biggest song in country music (My Hang Up Is You) in 1972.
7. Tom T. Hall: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Tom T. Hall racked up 5 Billboard No. 1 chart singles.
8. Ray Price: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Ray racked up 4 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. For The Good Times was selected as Album of the Year and Single of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. I Won't Mention It Again was selected as Album of the Year by CMA in 1971.
9. Waylon Jennings: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Waylon racked up 3 Billboard No. 1 chart singles. Waylon received Male Vocalist of the Year award from the CMA in 1975.
10. Jerry Lee Lewis: Between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1975, Lewis racked up 3 Billboard No. 1 chart singles.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Country Music Highlights 1970 - 1975
1970: Conway Twitty released his signature songs, Hello Darlin'
1971: Charlie Pride charted the biggest song in country music, Kiss An Angel Good Morning
1972: Freddie Hart charted his biggest career song, My Hang Up Is You
1973: Merle Haggard scored the biggest song in country music, If We Make It Through December
1974: Charlie Rich charted the biggest song in country music, A Very Special Love Song
1975: Ray Price charted his 43rd top-10 sing with Roses and Love Songs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Jun. 16, 2009
