3 Songs Written by Don Gibson That Became Incredible Hits for Other Artists

Don Gibson wrote several songs that became major hits in other artists’ hands, helping his work reach audiences beyond his own country recordings. Three examples show how different singers and bands made the songs their own, with Ray Charles’s version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You” becoming the most commercially prominent.

Gibson’s “Just One Time” reached the country Top 5 in 1960, while Connie Smith’s 1971 cover became especially memorable. His 1958 recording of “Oh, Lonesome Me” was his first No. 1, and the Kentucky Headhunters later took their cover into the Top 10. Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You” was a Top 10 hit for him in 1957; Charles’s 1962 version topped the charts for five weeks and won a Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording.