A few years later, he would meet honky tonk vocalist Webb Pierce, and the two went touring all through the South, singing as a duo in several nightclubs and country bars for a short time. In 1953, Young recorded his solo debut single, “Goin’ Steady,” which climbed to No. 2 on the country charts. Soon enough, Young started turning out singles at a very rapid pace.
He has a string of hits that lasted well into the 1970s, amassing nearly 90 country chart entries – with five of them reaching the No. 1 spot. In addition to that, his singing career produced crossed-over hits to the pop charts. This includes Willie Nelson’s classic song “Hello Walls.”
Aside from his thriving music career, Young was also a successful businessman. He founded a country music fan magazine called Music City News. He would also occasionally work as a movie actor, appearing in films like Raiders of Old California and Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar.