1923 in country music

Events

• Country music's earliest recordings are recorded and released to the public. These include Eck Robertson's "Sally Gooden" (issued in April) and Fiddlin' John Carson's two-sided recording "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane"/"The Old Hen Cackled and the Rooster's Going to Crow" in September.
• In addition to Fiddlin' John Carson, Henry Whitter also produces his first recordings.
• The first radio barn dance is heard on WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas.

Top Hillbilly (Country) Recordings

The following songs were extracted from records included in Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954, record sales reported on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, and other sources as specified. Numerical rankings are approximate, they are only used as a frame of reference.

Births

• January 5 – Sam Phillips, recording executive and Sun Records founder, who was instrumental in fusion of country music and the newly emerging rock and roll music in the 1950s (died 2003).
• January 20 – Slim Whitman, country artist best known for his high-octave falsetto and yodeling abilities, and songs such as "Indian Love Call" and "Rose Marie" (died 2013).
• February 5 – Claude King, singer/songwriter best known for his million-selling 1962 hit "Wolverton Mountain" (died 2013).
• March 25 – Bonnie Guitar, musician (died 2019).
• May 27 – Redd Stewart, lead vocalist for Pee Wee King's band, co-writer of "The Tennessee Waltz" (died 2003).
• July 9 – Molly O'Day, female singer-banjo player of the 1940s, best known for "The Tramp on the Street." (died 1987).
• August 20 – Jim Reeves, velvet-voiced "Gentleman" singer whose pop-styled songs helped define the Nashville Sound (died 1964).
• September 17 – Hank Williams, singer-songwriter and honky-tonk music pioneer (died 1953).
• December 3 – Hubert Long, music executive (died 1972).

References

References

1. Whitburn, Joel. (1986). "Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954". Record Research.
2. "Victor matrix B-26664. Sallie Gooden / Eck Robertson - Discography of American Historical Recordings".
3. "OKeh matrix 8374. The little old log cabin in the lane / Fiddlin' John Carson - Discography of American Historical Recordings".
4. "Victor matrix B-26660. Arkansaw traveler / Henry Gilliland ; Eck Robertson - Discography of American Historical Recordings".
5. "Victor matrix B-26663. Turkey in the straw / Henry Gilliland ; Eck Robertson - Discography of American Historical Recordings".
6. "OKeh matrix 8375. The old hen cackled and the rooster's going to crow / Fiddlin' John Carson - Discography of American Historical Recordings".