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76 Years Ago Today, Hank Snow Was Riding a Historic No. 1 Streak With a Song Later Covered by Ray Charles, the Rolling Stones, and Emmylou Harris
On 13 November 1950, Hank Snow was midway through a record-breaking run at No. 1 on the US country chart with “I’m Moving On”. The song launched the Canadian singer’s American success and began a run of seven country chart-toppers, helping establish a recurring theme of travel in his music.
Snow wrote the song himself, drawing on a life that included a difficult childhood in Nova Scotia and a move to Nashville, where Ernest Tubb helped him gain an invitation to the Grand Ole Opry in 1950. Released on 5 May 1950, “I’m Moving On” became the year’s longest-running No. 1 country song across three Billboard charts, then returned to the top for three weeks in 1951. Ray Charles, the Rolling Stones and Emmylou Harris later recorded versions; Harris’s reached No. 5 on the country chart.
In short
- Hank Snow’s “I’m Moving On” became a landmark country hit.
- It led his run of seven No. 1 country songs.
- Ray Charles, the Rolling Stones and Emmylou Harris later covered it.
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