1943 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1943.

Events

• September — Decca Records is the first label to come to terms with the American Federation of Musicians, which has been on strike since August 1942 over music royalties. The first song released is "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

No dates

• Mother Maybelle Carter reforms the Carter Family. This time, she is joined by daughters Anita, June and Helen.

Top hits of the year

• "Columbus Stockade Blues" - Jimmie Davis
• "That Same Old Story" - Ernest Tubb
• "Home in San Antone" - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
• "Low and Lonely" - Roy Acuff
• "Miss Molly" - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
• "My Confession" - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
• "Night Train to Memphis" - Roy Acuff
• "No Letter Today" - Ted Daffan's Texans
• "Pistol Packin' Mama" - Al Dexter
• "Song Of The Sierras" - Jimmy Wakely
• "That Old Grey Mare Is Back Where She Used to Be" - Carson Robison
• "There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" - Jimmy Wakely
• "Think of Me" - Roy Rogers
• "You Are My Sunshine" - Jimmie Davis
• "You Nearly Lose Your Mind" - Ernest Tubb
• "The Kind Of Love I Can't Forget" - Bob Wills
• "Tweedle O'Twill" - Gene Autry
• "Don't Make Me Go To Bed And I'll Be Good - Roy Acuff
• "There's Nothing More To Say" - Ernest Tubb

Births

• April 23 — Richard Sterban, member of the country-gospel group The Oak Ridge Boys (he's the bass).
• April 29 — Duane Allen, member of the country-gospel group The Oak Ridge Boys (he's the second tenor).
• October 11 — Gene Watson, honky tonk-styled vocalist of the 1970s and 1980s.

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).