September 12, 1959 –
That’s why we call it Bonanza…Bonanza…Bonanza…

Bonanza, the first US television series to be broadcast in color, premiered on NBC-TV on this date.
Most viewers have only heard the famous theme song by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans played as an instrumental. The theme song actually had lyrics and there is footage of the lead actors singing those lyrics. Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon sang a lyric version of this famous instrumental theme for the pilot, but it never aired.
Johnny Cash recorded his own version of the theme song.
