{"id":15814,"date":"2019-06-09T23:00:10","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T05:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/?p=1806311"},"modified":"2019-06-09T23:00:10","modified_gmt":"2019-06-10T05:00:10","slug":"clint-black-racked-up-his-first-no-1-song-30-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/music-news\/clint-black-racked-up-his-first-no-1-song-30-years-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"Clint Black Racked Up His First No. 1 Song 30 Years Ago"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"byline\">by <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/author\/morrise\/\" title=\"Posts by Edward Morris\" rel=\"author\">Edward Morris<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"date\">10m ago<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<div class=\"deferred_content\">Embedded from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uv_x4DWiS_s?feature=oembed\">www.youtube.com<\/a>. <noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;iframe&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uv_x4DWiS_s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">[embedded content]<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>When 27-year-old <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/artists\/clint-black\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Clint Black<\/a> scored his first No. 1 single, \u201cA Better Man,\u201d 30 years ago \u2014 on June 10, 1989 \u2014 he immediately asserted himself as the brightest star among a rollout of trend-setting new talent that\u2019s now commonly referred to as the Class of \u201989.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It would be months before his fellow classmates, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt were able to challenge him for prominence, and none of them would be able to boast, as Black could, that they had rocketed to the top on their first release.<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"2730fcf9\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635944481-1557362482.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"Clint Black in Black\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image portrait p3x4\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Lynn Goldsmith\/Corbis\/VCG via Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Powered by both the promotional muscle of RCA Records, then the dominant country label, and the management savvy of Bill Ham, who was also the helmsman for ZZ Top, Black seemed an unstoppable force. It didn\u2019t hurt that he wrote his own songs, had the quick wit of a standup comic and sported the clean-cut good looks of a movie star.<\/p>\n<p>In quick succession, \u201cA Better Man\u201d was followed by three more No. 1 songs \u2014 \u201cKillin\u2019 Time,\u201d \u201cNobody\u2019s Home\u201d and \u201cWalkin\u2019 Away.\u201d The Country Music Assn. saluted Black with its Horizon Award in 1989 and its male vocalist trophy the year following.<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"5037cc6f\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-635945851-1557362441.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"Clint Black and Lisa Hartman\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image portrait\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Lynn Goldsmith\/Corbis\/VCG via Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Brooks went No. 1 in 1989 with his second single, \u201cIf Tomorrow Never Comes,\u201d but Tritt didn\u2019t make it to the top until 1990, when his second effort, \u201cHelp Me Hold On,\u201d vaulted him there. Jackson took even longer to gain critical mass, releasing four singles before \u201cI\u2019d Love You All Over Again\u201d reached the summit in 1991.<\/p>\n<p>By the time the Academy of Country Music Awards were presented on April 25, 1990, it was clear that Black was on a roll. In taking trophies in four categories \u2014 single and album of the year and male vocalist and new male vocalist \u2014 he won more honors than any other newcomer had done up to that time. He beat out Brooks, who was vying with him for the single and new male vocalist honors.<\/p>\n<p>However, Brooks would eclipse Black at the ACMs in 1991, winning an astonishing six awards, including entertainer of the year. That year, Jackson surfaced as best new male vocalist.<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"be39ad43\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/GettyImages-81143891-1557362488.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"The 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards - Arrivals\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Frederick M. Brown\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It was nip and tuck between Black and Brooks throughout 1990 and into well into 1991. Black\u2019s <em>Killlin\u2019 Time<\/em> album sold platinum (a million copies) between its release in May 1989 and January 1990. <em>Put Yourself in My Shoes<\/em>, his second collection, did the same between November 1990 and January 1991 and then went on to hit two million by October 1991.<\/p>\n<p>But Brooks was slowly pulling ahead. His self-titled album sold its first million between April 1989 and October 1990 and its second by May 1991. His follow-up, <em>No Fences<\/em>, really exploded, selling five million copies between August 1990 and October 1991. <em>Ropin\u2019 the Wind<\/em> did even better, attaining the five million mark in just three months. Brooks was also dominating the media and the concert ticket sales.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Black\u2019s albums routinely reached or topped the million mark throughout the \u201890s, and his singles continued to go No. 1, although not as regularly as they initially did. After his opening barrage of four No. 1s, he charted nine more between 1991and 1999. He also racked up a career total of 14 Top 5s.<\/p>\n<p>Black\u2019s prominence and personality have netted him numerous movies and TV appearances, among them a run on <em>The Celebrity Apprentice<\/em>. His most recent album, <em>On Purpose<\/em>, was released in 2015.<\/p>\n<div class=\"author\">\n<div class=\"description\">Edward Morris is a veteran of country music journalism. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a frequent contributor to CMT.com.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/1806311\/clint-black-racked-up-his-first-no-1-song-30-years-ago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: CMT News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Edward Morris 10m ago Embedded from www.youtube.com. [embedded content] When 27-year-old Clint Black scored his first No. 1 single, \u201cA Better Man,\u201d 30 years ago \u2014 on June 10, 1989 \u2014 he immediately asserted himself as the brightest star among a rollout of trend-setting new talent that\u2019s now commonly referred to as the Class [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-15814","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-music-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-12 03:47:39","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KRKY Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15814\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/krky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}