These famous country singers got their starts in other kinds of music

If there is one certainly about country music it is that every few years a controversy will pop up about some artist on the country charts not being "real country."

Of course, anyone who watched the recent Ken Burns' documentary knows that many influences go into the making of country music, everything from gospel to jazz and even rock.

In the mid-1970s, Conway Twitty was upset that Olivia Newton-John and Charlie Rich been nominated for Country Music Association awards. They weren't "real country."

As someone who was a big fan, then and now, '50s and '60s rock, I was amused by Twitty's remarks since he launched his career with a string of rock hits, including "It's Only Make Believe" and "Lonely Blue Boy."







I am not going to get into any argument over who is country and who is not, but I thought it would be fun to recall a few songs from famous country artists who had their beginnings recording songs in the pop and rock genre.

Some of them older readers will remember, but I am betting there may be a couple here that will surprise you.

Lonely Blue Boy- Conway Twitty 1959

Conway Twitty broke onto the rockabilly scene in a big way in 1959, reaching the Top 10 twice, with his signature song "It's Only Make Believe" and this one.



Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition was In)- Kenny Rogers and the First Edition 1967

Kenny Rogers made the jump from this song, a remnant of the psychedelic rock era. Rogers was no newcomer to music when this song was released. He had minor hits dating back into the 1950s, but this one put him on the map and on the charts and led to a string of hits including "But You Know I Love You" and the more country-oriented "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" and "Reuben James."



Not Too Long Ago- The Uniques 1965

I loved this song when it came out, and they played it all on the time on WHB in Kansas City, but sadly, it was never more than a regional hit.

It did introduce the world to the Uniques' lead singer- the talented Joe Stampley, though.

Stampley had a string of top 10 country songs in the '70s, including two number ones, "Roll On, Big Mama" in 1974 and "All These Things," in 1975, which was actually a remake of a regional hit he had with the Uniques.

Stampley also teamed with Moe Bandy for some novelty hits, including the number one hit, "Just Good Ole Boys" in 1979.



Lonely Weekends- Charlie Rich 1960

During the 1950s and 1960s, Charlie Rich was a much-admired performer who had a pair of decent hits in "Lonely Weekends" and "Mohair Sam," but never reached the stardom his talent indicated he would have.

Rich finally broke through in 1973 with "Behind Closed Doors" and followed with a string of hits that lasted through the decade.

Once he hit the big time on the country charts (despite Conway Twitty's disapproval), with "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl," Rich was also able to have hits with some of the songs he had originally released a decade earlier, including "There Won't Be Anymore."



Wanda Jackson- Let's Have a Party 1960

When Wanda Jackson's legendary career started, she was a rockabilly singer who had a string of minor hits, then broke into the top 40 with this one.

When rock music dried up, Jackson moved into country, recording the classic "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache," both in 1961 and continued having hits through the '60s.

When she stopped making the country charts, Jackson remade herself many times over the next several decades, first as a gospel singer, then returning to her rockabilly routes in the '90s. She was elected to the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and finally "retired" at age 82 last year.

Even in her retirement from performing she is continuing to record, however.

She has lasted the whole rock 'n roll era, from dating a pre-stardom Elvis Presley in 1955 to making a rock album with Joan Jett today. (The video was removed from YouTube.)

Say- Mel Tillis 1960

Mel Tillis had far more success as a songwriters during the '60s penning such hits as "Detroit City" for Bobby Bare, "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, and "Emotions" for Brenda Lee.

This one from 1960 is less like his country hits of the 1970s, including "Coca Cola Cowboy" and "Send Me Down to Tucson" both in 1978, and more like the songs released by artists like Steve Lawrence and Bobby Rydell.

If you have never heard this one, you are in for a treat. (The video was removed from YouTube.)