'Distant Drums' is a song which provided US singer Jim Reeves (August 20, 1923 – July 31, 1964) with his only UK No. 1 hit – albeit posthumously – in the United Kingdom in 1966, some two years after his death in a plane crash on 31 July 1964. The song remained in the UK Singles Chart for 25 weeks. The single also topped the US country chart for four weeks, becoming his most successful posthumous single.

James Travis Reeves was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950's to the 1980's, he became well known as a practitioner of the Nashville sound. Known as 'Gentleman Jim', his songs continued to chart for years after his death. He is a member of both the Country Music and Texas Country Music Halls of Fame.

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