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Nashville 1960s overview
From 1958 through 1962 some of the biggest international hits were made by country singers recording in Nashville, Tennessee, including the Everly Brothers, Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Leroy Van Dyke, Jimmy Dean, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Horton. Nevertheless, the market for “pure” country was shrinking fast, and by 1961 only about 80 radio stations programmed country music. The newly formed Country Music Association (CMA) recommended the criteria for the kind of music that could be played on country radio, inviting producers to make a choice between making country or pop records. With the notable exceptions of Roger Miller ...(100 of 342 words)