This '60s Country Star Never Saw His Final Song Become a No. 1 Hit

On May 27, 1963, Harold Franklin "Hawkshaw" Hawkins was sitting at No. 1 on the U.S. country chart with "Lonesome 7-7203." The milestone was a big win, but it was also heartbreaking.

Tragically, the song written by Justin Tubb became the final single release of Hawkins' career.

Just three days after the song was released, Hawkins was killed in the devastating plane crash that also claimed the lives of fellow country stars Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. The tragedy remains one of the darkest moments in country music history.

Born Harold Franklin Hawkins in Huntington, West Virginia, he earned the nickname "Hawkshaw" after the detective character Hawkshaw the Detective and built a loyal fanbase throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.

At the time of his death, Hawkins was already a respected star in country music thanks to his smooth voice, colorful stage presence and years of radio and Grand Ole Opry success.

That's because "Lonesome 7-7203" became his signature hit.

The song tells the story of a heartbroken man begging listeners to call him if they have lost the love of their life, even giving out the memorable telephone number from the title. Its clever hook and emotional delivery connected deeply with country audiences, helping the song soar up the charts in the weeks following Hawkins' death.

Two weeks after the fatal crash, "Lonesome 7-7203" officially reached No. 1 on the country chart, where it remained for four consecutive weeks. Tragically, Hawkins never got the chance to see the song become the biggest hit of his career.

The March 5, 1963 plane crash that killed Hawkins, Cline and Copas occurred near Camden, Tennessee, as the performers traveled home from a benefit concert in Kansas City. The loss of all three artists stunned Nashville and forever changed the country music world.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 9:00 PM.