Forgotten Country Music Stars of the 1950s That Deserve to Be Rediscovered

The 1950s was a pivotal time for country music. Some of the genre’s biggest artists got their start in the decade and are still loved by fans across the nation and beyond today. For instance, George Jones, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash all made their debuts in the ‘50s. However, they are just the tip of the iceberg.

Dozens of country music’s foundational artists either got their start or found their stride in the 1950s. Unfortunately, though, many of those artists have been largely forgotten by many younger listeners. While all of these artists still have fans today, they deserve much more recognition than they get.

Marty Robbins—A 1950s Country Music Star Who Became a 21st Century Meme

In recent years, the Marty Robbins hit “Big Iron” became a meme. This introduced some younger listeners to the song. Others dug deeper and found his iconic 1959 album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.

While Gunfighter Ballads might be one of the best country and western albums ever recorded, Robbins’ catalog has much more to offer. He had crossover hits with early songs like “Knee Deep in the Blues,” “She Was Only Seventeen,” and “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation.” Later in his career, he leaned hard into the country and western style exhibited on Gunfighter Ballads.

Robbins remained active until his death in 1982. He died in December of that year after a heart attack led to a quadruple bypass surgery from which he did not recover. He was 57.

Johnny Horton—An Early Honky Tonk Star and Expert Storyteller

Johnny Horton was a master of several styles of music including country and rockabilly in the 1950s. Many of those who know his music today know him for his historical story songs like “The Battle of New Orleans,” “Sink the Bismark,” and “North to Alaska.” However, his catalog is much deeper than that.

Songs like “Honky-Tonk Man,” “Honky Tonk Hardwood Floors,” “I’m Ready If You’re Willing,” and many more help to show how much more he had to offer than historically-influenced songs.

While his material would go on to be released in several formats over the years, Horton had a short career. He released his debut single “The Rest of Your Life” in 1952. His self-titled debut album came seven years later. Then, in 1960, the year after releasing that LP, Horton died after a car accident in Texas.

Webb Pierce—One of Country Music’s Biggest Stars of the 1950s

Webb Pierce was the biggest country music star of the 1950s by the numbers. He launched more No. 1 hits than any country singer during the decade. He had 13 chart-topping singles between 1951 and 1959, three of which came from his first three releases. Of the nearly 50 singles he released during the decade, only four missed the top 10.

More importantly, Peirce wrote and recorded timeless songs. Tracks like “Slowly,” “Love, Love, Love,” “There Stands the Glass,” and “Wondering” are just as good today as they were more than five decades ago. His influence on the next generation of country singers was immeasurable.

Pierce remained active and relevant until the early eighties. He died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer in 1991 at the age of 69. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Faron Young—The Hillbilly Heartthrob

Faron Young was among the most popular country music artists in the 1950s. After a handful of songs that failed to chart, he found his first hit with “Goin’ Steady” in 1952. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard country chart of the day.

Much more than a pretty face, the “Hillbilly Heartthrob” was a versatile artist. Songs like “If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)” and “Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young” marked him as a honky tonk star. Later in his career, he proved himself to be just as comfortable singing silky-smooth crossover hits like the Willie Nelson-penned “Hello Walls.”

Young had a long career. He released his debut album, Sweethearts or Strangers in 1957, six years after releasing his first single. His final studio album, Memories That Last, a collaboration with Ray Price dropped in 1990. His final release, Live in Branson, came three years later. After dealing with several health issues, Young died by suicide in 1996 at the age of 64. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

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