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Coonskin caps, 'Ballad of Davy Crockett' hit it big 60 years ago

Fess Parker as Davy Crockett
Fess Parker, in his Davy Crockett costume, gave a lesson on using a ramrod as he visited Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-Texas), in Washington, March 31, 1955. At right are Rep. Paul J. Kilday (D-Texas), and Rep. Jere Cooper (D-Tenn.).
Bill Allen | AP 1955

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Today's Morning Edition music is from "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" by Bill Hayes, which was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 60 years ago Tuesday.

It was one of three versions of the song to be a top 10 hit during the Crockett craze of 1955.

Coonskin caps were everywhere that year as a result of the popular Disney miniseries about the American folk hero.

The real Crockett represented Tennessee in Congress but lost that seat in part because of his opposition to the Indian Removal Act, which was championed by President Andrew Jackson. Crockett was killed at the Battle of the Alamo.