On 27 September 1950, Hank Snow’s “I’m Movin’ On” was at the top of the US country singles chart, matching the record with 21 weeks at number one. The self-written song established Snow in the American market and helped launch a career that made him one of Nashville’s best-known country singers.

Snow, who grew up in poverty in Nova Scotia, had released about 90 songs in Canada before RCA allowed him to record for the US market. After an initial single quickly left the charts, “I’m Movin’ On” became a breakthrough; Snow said he had wanted to record it earlier, but RCA recording director Stephen H. Sholes had rejected the idea. The song describes a man leaving a troubled relationship, and was later covered by artists including Johnny Cash, Ray Charles and the Rolling Stones.