The 1970s were a heady time for music, and especially country music. Some exceptional talents came along during that decade. Sadly, many of them have been relegated to the margins and forgotten about. We want to change that and give them their rightful due. They entertained us with their amazing music for years, so they definitely merit revisiting. So in case you need to be reminded of them, here are the abundantly gifted (and underappreciated 1970s country artists) Crystal Gayle, Anne Murray, Lynn Anderson, and Sammi Smith.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Crystal Gayle
It's not easy to be the sister of a huge legend like Loretta Lynn. (There was a 19-year age difference between them.) It's even tougher to escape such a towering presence in the exact same field you want to conquer. But it's safe to say that Crystal Gayle did it handily. With monster hits like 1977's "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," she exploded on the scene. Awards celebrating her achievements followed. Gayle helped pave the way for successful country-pop female singers of today like Carrie Underwood and Shania Twain. Another characteristic that Gayle was famous for was her Rapunzel-length dark hair that grazed the floor.
Anne Murray
Murray was "[a]force in Canadian country music throughout the decade," per cowboysindians.com. She became a big star in this country with her number one single, "Snowbird," in 1970. It eventually went gold. Another of Murray's songs, "You Needed Me," "hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100." She earned four Grammy Awards. Murray also landed three CMA Awards and an equal number of American Music Awards.
Lynn Anderson
Remember the tune "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden"? That unforgettable 1970 song propelled Anderson to significant fame and success, earning her ACM, Grammy, and CMA recognition. Anderson's album Rose Garden was certified platinum. She had quite a fascinating life of various accomplishments. Anderson loved being an equestrian, performing on TV on The Lawrence Welk Show in the late 1960s, and also guesting on popular shows like The Midnight Special and The Brady Bunch Hour.
Sammi Smith
Per allmusic.com, "In the tradition of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, singer/songwriter Sammi Smith was considered an outlaw...." Smith had a gigantic hit with the Kris Kristofferson-written song, "Help Me Make It Through the Night" in 1970. It ranked high on both the pop and country charts. She had other hits during the 1970s such as "Today I Started Loving You Again," "Then You Walk In," "Norma Jean," and "Days That End In 'Y.'"
