1942 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1942.

Events

• August 1 — The American Federation of Musicians authorizes a ban on recording by bands following a dispute over musicians' royalties; many country and popular music singers opt to continue recording without musical backing. The strike - which came to be known as the Petrillo ban - lingers into 1943.
• October 3 — Acuff-Rose Music is formed. Fred Rose is the chief of creative activities, while Mildred Acuff takes care of business matters.

Top hits of the year

• "1942 Turkey in the Straw" - Carson Robison
• "Cherokee Maiden"- Bob Wills
• "Deep in the Heart of Texas"- Gene Autry
• "Deep in the Heart of Texas" - Bing Crosby
• "Fireball Mail" - Roy Acuff
• "Goodbye Mama I'm Off To Yokohama" - Teddy Powell
• "The Honey Song" - Louise Massey and the Westerners
• "I Ain't Honky Tonkin Anymore"- Ernest Tubb
• "I'm A Prisoner Of War"- Johnny Bond
• "Jingle Jangle Jingle" - Gene Autry
• "I'll Always Be Glad To Take You Back" - Ernest Tubb
• "My Life's Been a Pleasure" - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
• "Mussolini's Letter to Hitler" - Carson Robison
• "Please Don't Leave Me" - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
• "Remember Pearl Harbor"- Carson Robinson
• "Ten Years" - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
• "There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" - Elton Britt
• "We're Gonna Slap The Dirty Little Jap"- Carson Robinson
• "Wreck on the Highway" - Roy Acuff
• "Dusty Skies" - Bob Wills
• "Live And Let Live" - Jimmie Davis
• "When The World Has Turned You Down" - Ernest Tubb
• "First Year Blues" - Ernest Tubb
• "Pins And Needles" - Bob Atcher
• "You Brought Sorrow To My Heart" - Johnny Bond
• "Modern Cannonball" - Denver Darling
• "Sorrow On My Mind" - Bob Atcher
• "Don't Make Me Go To Bed And I'll Be Good"- Bob Atcher and Bonnie Blue Eyes
• "I Dreamed Of An Old Love Affair" - Jimmie Davis
• "I Know What It's Like To Be Lonely" - Ernest Tubb
• "Tweedle-O-Twill" - Gene Autry
• "You Nearly Lose Your Mind" - Ernest Tubb
• "Rainbow On The Rio Colorado" - Gene Autry
• "Jingle Jangle Jingle" - Tex Ritter
• "End Of The World" - Jimmie Davis
• "Fort Worth Jail" - Jimmy Wakely
• "Modern Cannonball" - Denver Darling
• "When my Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again" - Zeke Manners
• "She Gave Her Heart To A Soldier Boy" - Roy Rogers
• "Meet Me Down In Honky Tonk Town" - Al Dexter
• "I Hung My Head And Cried" - Elton Britt
• "She's A Dum Dum Dinger" - Buddy Jones
• "I Hang My Head And Cry" - Gene Autry

Births

• January 21 — Mac Davis, singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1970s.
• March 15 — Wayland Holyfield, songwriter whose compositions were popular during the 1970s and 1980s.
• March 26 – Larry Butler, producer best known for his association with Kenny Rogers (died 2012).
• May 5 — Tammy Wynette, "The First Lady of Country Music" (died 1998).
• May 8 - Jack Blanchard, singer-songwriter who, with wife Misty Morgan, had a string of animal-themed hit recordings in the 1970s.
• May 15 — K. T. Oslin, singer who rose to fame during the 1980s, after she had reached her mid-40s.
• August 7 — B.J. Thomas, pop-styled vocalist of the 1970s and 1980s.
• September 6 — Mel McDaniel, honky tonk-styled singer of the 1980s (died 2011).
• October 27 — Lee Greenwood, singer-songwriter of the 1980s, best known for the patriotic anthem "God Bless the USA."

Further reading

• Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947-1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
• Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
• Whitburn, Joel. "Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music," Record Research Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 1986 (ISBN 0-89820-083-0).