Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Don Gibson – born in Shelby, North Carolina on April 3, 1928 – was a singer-songwriter best-known for writing country standards such as “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “Sweet Dreams.” Nicknamed ‘The Sad Poet’ due to his lyrics that touched on the sadder side of relationships, Don Gibson was a member of Sons of the Soul and began his recording career in 1949. After recording some solo singles throughout the first half of the 1950s, the most successful of which was “Sweet Dreams,” which landed in the Top 10. The song was covered by several other country artists including Patsy Cline, whose version was released after her death in 1963. “Sweet Dreams” went on to be one of her most beloved songs. Meanwhile, Don Gibson ended up in Nashville, Tennessee with producer / guitarist Chet Atkins and released several singles on RCA Victor. The first of those singles, 1958’s “Oh Lonesome Me,” hit number 1 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart and number 7 on the Hot 100. Don Gibson’s next single, “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (1958), was a number 7 hit on the country chart, but only reached number 81 on the Hot 100. The song became another oft covered hit for other artists including the most well-known being Ray Charles’ fiery version. Don Gibson scored one more chart topper in 1958 with “Blue Blue Day.” While he continued to have a number of Top 10 country hits – including “Give Myself a Party” (number 5 in 1958), “Who Cares” (number 3 in 1959), “Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles” (number 5 in 1959), “Just One Time” (number 2 in 1960), a re-recording of “Sweet Dreams” (number 6 in 1960), “Sea of Heartbreak” and “Lonesome Number One” (both number 2 in 1960) and many others – he didn’t score another number 1 until 1972 with “Woman (Sensuous Woman).” While releasing his own solo singles and albums, Don Gibson also recorded collaborations with Dottie West and Sue Thompson. Many of his albums – including Too Much Hurt (1965), Great Country Songs (1966), All My Love (1968) and Woman (Sensuous Woman) (1972) – made the Top 20 although he seemed to have more success as a singles artist. Don Gibson was inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010. He died on November 17, 2003, at the age of 75.
