98 Country Classic Bonus – 5 Country Classic Hits from 1959 [VIDEOS]

Welcome to the 98 Country Classic Show on this autumn Sunday morning, October 12^th. We’re on air at 98.1 FM, online at 98country.com and on your mobile device. Each Sunday we journey back in time and offer an online bonus to enjoy after the radio show. It’s an extra dose of country classics with videos. Today we feature top ten country classic hits from 1959.

Making the news in 1959:

Cuban President Batista resigns and flees, Fidel Castro assumes power;
Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev tours the United States meeting with President Eisenhower at Camp David;
Alaska and Hawaii become states;
Top Box office attractions “Ben-Hur,” “Some Like it Hot” and “Anatomy of a Murder;”
Lou Costello, Cecil B De Milie and Frank Lloyd Wright pass away.

Country music radio was playing Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, George Jones, Stonewall Jackson and Webb Pierce.

Johnny Cash – “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”

Johnny Cash wrote and performed “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,” a single released in '59. The song tells a story of a young cowboy who ignores his mother’s advice, gets into a gunfight at a saloon and is killed. This single became Cash’s fifth release to reach number one on the country charts, where it stayed for six weeks.

A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on a farm, a boy filled with wanderlust who really meant no harm.

Johnny Horton – “The Battle of New Orleans”

A song written by Jimmy Driftwood, it describes the 1815 battle of New Orleans from the perspective of an American soldier. Johnny Horton’s version scored number one on the Billboard Country Hot 100 chart.

George Jones – “White Lightning”

“White Lightning” was written by J.P. Richardson who performed under the stage name "The Big Bopper." George Jones recorded the song and was released as a single in February 1959. Jones’ version became the first number one single of his long career.

Well in North Carolina way back in the hills me and my old Pappy and he had him a still.

Stonewall Jackson – “Waterloo”

John D. Loudermilk and Marijohn Wilkin wrote “Waterloo.” The song tells of three famous people who because of their actions met their “Waterloo.” The single was the most successful of Stonewall Jackson’s career, spending five weeks at number one on the country music chart.

Waterloo, Waterloo, where will you meet your Waterloo?

Webb Pierce – “I Ain’t Never”

Webb Pierce and Mel Tillis wrote “I Ain’t Never.” Pierce had the first hit recording of “I Ain’t Never.” His version was released in 1959 and spent nine weeks at number two on Billboard's Hot Country Chart. Mel Tillis recorded the song in 1972. It was Tillis’ first number one hit.