Introduction
The Blues Get a Country Twang: The History of Marty Robbins’ “Singing the Blues”
While the title “Singing the Blues” might conjure images of smoky jazz clubs and soulful crooners, Marty Robbins’ 1956 hit brought the blues to the world of country music. But this story isn’t just about a genre-bending song. It’s about a rising star, a catchy tune, and the unexpected crossover success that helped solidify Robbins’ place in country music history.
The song itself wasn’t written by Robbins. The credit goes to Melvin Endsley, who penned the tune in 1956. Interestingly, though Robbins’ version became the most popular, it wasn’t the first. Guy Mitchell actually released his version slightly earlier, but it was Robbins’s soulful delivery and signature twang that resonated with country audiences.
Released in 1956, “Singing the Blues” became a runaway hit. It spent a whopping 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard C&W Best Sellers chart, solidifying Robbins’s status as a rising star. The song’s success wasn’t limited to the country charts either. It managed to crack the Billboard pop chart, peaking at number seventeen, showcasing Robbins’s ability to bridge the gap between genres.
This crossover appeal wasn’t a one-time thing. “Singing the Blues” helped pave the way for Robbins’s future collaborations with the Ray Conniff Singers, further blurring the lines between country and pop. But even as he explored different sounds, “Singing the Blues” remained a staple of Robbins’s repertoire, a testament to the song’s enduring popularity.
So, when you hear the opening twang of Marty Robbins’s “Singing the Blues,” you’re not just listening to a catchy tune. You’re experiencing a piece of country music history, a song that helped a young artist become a star and redefine the boundaries of the genre itself. Now, put on your boots, grab your hat, and get ready for a dose of the blues, country style.