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62 Years Ago Today, Connie Smith Recorded the Record-Breaking Debut Single That Went Untouched for Nearly 50 Years
On 16 July 1964, a then-unknown 22-year-old singer named Connie Smith recorded her debut single, "Once a Day", at Nashville's Studio B, kicking off a record-setting country music career. Written by Bill Anderson, who had discovered Smith after judging a talent contest in Ohio the previous year, the song went on to top the US Hot Country Songs chart for eight consecutive weeks from late November 1964, a feat no female solo country artist would match for nearly 50 years.
Smith's win at the Frontier Ranch talent contest earned her Anderson's mentorship and, eventually, a recording contract with RCA under producer Chet Atkins. "Once a Day" earned her Grammy nominations and made her the sole female country artist to send a debut single to number one until Trisha Yearwood matched the feat in 1991, while Taylor Swift finally surpassed her chart-topping run in December 2012. Smith, now 84, went on to score 19 further top 10 singles and released her most recent album in April 2024.
In short
- Connie Smith recorded debut single "Once a Day" on 16 July 1964
- Song topped country charts for 8 weeks, a record for decades
- Taylor Swift finally broke that record in December 2012
Explained simply
Connie Smith was an unknown 22-year-old when she recorded her debut single "Once a Day" in Nashville in 1964. The song was written by country music figure Bill Anderson, who discovered her at a talent contest and helped launch her recording career.
"Once a Day" became a major success in the US, topping the country music chart for eight consecutive weeks. This achievement was particularly significant because no other female solo country artist would match such a chart run for nearly 50 years, making it a historic milestone in country music.
Smith's breakthrough success established her as a major force in country music and paved the way for future female artists in the genre. Though later artists including Trisha Yearwood and Taylor Swift eventually surpassed her chart records, Smith's 1964 debut remains an important moment in country music history.