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Born on This Day in 1928, the Country Star Who Overcame a Stutter to Notch a String of Hits and Wrote an International No. 1 for Ray Charles
On this day (April 2) in 1928, Don Gibson was born in Shelby, North Carolina. He started his career as a recording artist. However, Gibson didn’t find chart success until he started writing his own songs. His songwriting and husky voice helped him notch a long line of hits in the 1960s and ’70s. He also wrote songs that became hits for several other artists. Notably, penned “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” which became an international smash for Ray Charles in 1962.
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While incredibly talented and successful, Gibson was an odd fit for fame. According to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, he had a stutter as a child that added to the natural shyness that never really went away. That didn’t stop him from dreaming of following in the footsteps of his musical heroes, Red Foley and Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Gibson purchased his first guitar when he was 14. Not long after picking up the instrument, he and a few Shelby natives formed the Sons of the Soil. They landed a regular gig on a local radio station, which led to a deal with Mercury Records. They didn’t see any success and eventually disbanded in 1949. Gibson then went solo, recording for Mercury and Columbia with no more success than before.
“Sweet Dreams” Opens the Door for Don Gibson
By 1955, Don Gibson had been honing his songwriting craft for years. According to LiveAbout, he played his song “Sweet Dreams” for his friend Mel Foree, who was impressed. Foree also worked for one of the most consequential publishing companies in Nashville, Acuff-Rose. He arranged an audition for Gibson, and he was offered a publishing deal. He ensured that the contract included an opportunity to record.
Gibson released “Sweet Dreams” as his debut single in 1955. It peaked at No. 9. Faron Young released his cover of the song around the same time, and it reached No. 2 on the country chart. It was Young’s version of the song that opened the door for Gibson.
Chet Atkins played guitar on Young’s 1955 hit. Two years later, he became the head of RCA Nashville and immediately signed Gibson. The next year, he released “Oh Lonesome Me,” his first single for RCA, and it went to No. 1. He followed that with “I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” a top 10 hit. “Blue Blue Day” gave him his second No. 1 of the year.
Gibson’s Recording Career
He kept that momentum through most of the decade and sent several songs to the top 40 in the 1960s. However, his songs started charting lower as the decade progressed and his substance abuse issues grew. He turned things around in the early 1970s, getting clean and returning to the top of the charts.
His 1971 single “Country Green” saw him return to the top five for the first time since 1962. The next year, “Woman (Sensuous Woman)” gave him his first No. 1 since “Blue Blue Day.” It was his final chart-topper. He had his final top 10 in 1975 with “Bring Back Your Love to Me.”
Gibson continued to record into the early 1980s.
Don Gibson Wrote Massive Hits
Don Gibson’s recording career is only half of the story. He also wrote songs that became hits for a long line of country artists. His biggest song, though, was “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” It has been covered by more than 700 artists. Notably, Ray Charles recorded it for his 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts in the United States. It also reached No. 1 in Sweden, New Zealand, Finland, and Australia.
Here are a few more highlights from Gibson’s catalog.
- “I’d Be a Legend in My Time”–Ronnie Milsap (No. 1)
- “I Can’t Stop Loving You”–Conway Twitty (No. 1)
- “Just One Time”–Connie Smith (No. 2)
- “Sweet Dreams”–Patsy Cline (No. 5)
- “Sweet Dreams”–Emmylou Harris (No. 1)
- “Give Myself a Party”–Jeannie C. Riley (No. 12)
Featured Image by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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