This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1946.
Events
Top hits of the year
Number one hits
''(As certified by
Billboard magazine)''
Top Hillbilly (Country) Recordings 1946
Billboard Most-Played Folk Records of 1946 is a year-end list compiled by
The Billboard, printed in the January 4, 1947 issue. It includes rankings for the calendar year only, handicapping records at the beginning and end of the year such as "The Old Lamp-Lighter", which lost more than half of its points. For all year-end charts on these pages, records that enter the chart in December of the previous year, or remain on the chart after December of the current year, receive points for their full chart runs. Each week, a score of 15 points is assigned for the no. 1 record, 9 points for no. 2, 8 points for no. 3, and so on, and the total of all weeks determined the final rank. Additional information can also be found at
List of Most Played Juke Box Folk Records number ones of 1946.
Top new album releases
Births
* January 11 —
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd (born Diana Ellen Judd; January 11, 1946 – April 30, 2022) was an American singer and actress. In 1980, she and her daughter Wynonna (born Christina Claire) formed the duo known as The Judds, which became a very successful country ...
, mother half of
The Judds (died
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...
).
* January 19 —
Dolly Parton, major multi-faceted country star since the 1960s.
* March 20 —
Ranger Doug
Douglas Bruce Green (born March 20, 1946), better known by his stage name Ranger Doug, is an American musician, arranger, award-winning Western music songwriter, and Grand Ole Opry member best known for his work with Western music and the group ...
, "The Idol of American Youth", member of
Riders in the Sky.
* July 15 —
Linda Ronstadt, singer-songwriter with strong influences in both country and rock music.
* August 11 —
John Conlee
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
, former mortician and disc jockey who became one of the most consistent performers of the late 1970s and 1980s.
* October 2 —
Jo-El Sonnier
Jo-El Sonnier (; born Joel Sonnier; October 2, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter and accordionist who performs country music and Cajun music. Originally signed to Mercury Nashville Records, Sonnier charted several minor singles on the ''Bi ...
, Singer-songwriter and accordionist who perform country music and Cajun music.
* November 2 — Howard Bellamy, of
The Bellamy Brothers.
* November 5 —
Gram Parsons, influential country rock and alt-country singer-songwriter-guitarist who was a member of such bands as
The Byrds and
The Flying Burrito Brothers, as well as a solo act (died
1973
Events January
* January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union.
* January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, U.S. ...
).
* December 11 —
Tony Brown, record producer.
* December 25 —
Jimmy Buffett
James William Buffett (born December 25, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffet ...
, singer best known for his "island escapism"-styled music.
Deaths
* July 13 –
Riley Puckett, 52, vocalist with the
Skillet Lickers
The Skillet Lickers were an old-time band from Georgia, United States.
When Gid Tanner teamed up with blind guitarist Riley Puckett and signed to Columbia in 1924, they created the label's earliest so-called "hillbilly" recording. Gid Tanner f ...
(blood poisoning).
Further reading
* Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 ()
* Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 ()
* Whitburn, Joel. "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.
References
{{Reflist
Country
Country music by year