Don Gibson

Singer/songwriter Don Gibson was one of the most popular and influential forces in '50s and '60s country, scoring numerous hit singles as a performer and a songwriter. Gibson's music touched on both traditional country and highly produced country-pop, which is part of the reason he had such a broad audience. For nearly a decade after his first hit single, "Sweet Dreams," in 1956, he was a reliable hitmaker and his songs have become country classics -- they have been covered by a wide range of artists, including Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, Kitty Wells, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, and Ronnie Milsap. After being signed to MGM (as part of a songwriting deal), he recorded the Top Ten hit "Sweet Dreams" in 1956. One year later, Chet Atkins signed Gibson to RCA and became his producer for the next seven years, resulting in the blockbuster hit "Oh Lonesome Me" (eight weeks at the top of the country charts and a pop Top Ten as well) plus ten other country Top Ten hits between 1958 and 1961. His career took a dive during much of the '60s (partially due to alcoholism and drug addiction), but he cleaned up and hit number one again with 1973's "Woman (Sensuous Woman)." After two Top Ten hits in 1974, he settled into a string of minor hits and continued to tour and perform at the Grand Ole Opry during the '80s and '90s. Gibson died in Nashville, on November 17, 2003.