Sixty years ago today, Jim Reeves was at No. 1 on the country chart with a song that would later keep the Beatles out of the top spot.

Reeves released his debut single, “What Were You Doing (Last Night),” in 1953. His next release, “Mexican Joe,” was his first No. 1. The next year, he scored another No. 1 with “Bimbo.” The first half ...

Nearly 60 years later, the song remains one of the clearest examples of how powerful his voice and music continued to be, ...