Country Singer. From his West Texas home of Ralls this country crooner went on to become one of Country music's most successful recording stars during the 1960s. He overcame tremendous childhood difficulties when after his mother's death, the four year old and two of his brothers were forced to leave their five siblings to be placed in a Waco, Texas children's home, because of family financial difficulties. He left the orphanage at the age of twelve, got a job plucking turkeys and made enough money to buy his first guitar. After two years of practice he began publicly performing, by hitchhiking eighty miles one way to sing and play for free at a New Mexico radio station. In 1949 he landed a spot on the "Big D Jamboree" in Dallas Texas and soon was awarded his first recording contract. Three years later he was a regular on the "Louisiana Jamboree" and was instrumental in bringing Elvis Presley to the stage there. He had moderate success in the 1950's but his career took off when he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and in 1962 recorded his first number one hit "Charlie's Shoes." Other number one hits included, "Cross the Brazos at Waco," "Word Games" and "When a Man Loves a Woman." He had over thirty top ten hits and was recognized by Billboard Magazine as one of the "Top Twenty" most played artists during a recent twenty year span. Known as "The Traveling Texan: The Masked Singer of Country Sings," the singing legend was killed, along with his wife and two band members, on an Alabama highway when their vehicle wrecked while returning from a concert.
Country Singer. From his West Texas home of Ralls this country crooner went on to become one of Country music's most successful recording stars during the 1960s. He overcame tremendous childhood difficulties when after his mother's death, the four year old and two of his brothers were forced to leave their five siblings to be placed in a Waco, Texas children's home, because of family financial difficulties. He left the orphanage at the age of twelve, got a job plucking turkeys and made enough money to buy his first guitar. After two years of practice he began publicly performing, by hitchhiking eighty miles one way to sing and play for free at a New Mexico radio station. In 1949 he landed a spot on the "Big D Jamboree" in Dallas Texas and soon was awarded his first recording contract. Three years later he was a regular on the "Louisiana Jamboree" and was instrumental in bringing Elvis Presley to the stage there. He had moderate success in the 1950's but his career took off when he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and in 1962 recorded his first number one hit "Charlie's Shoes." Other number one hits included, "Cross the Brazos at Waco," "Word Games" and "When a Man Loves a Woman." He had over thirty top ten hits and was recognized by Billboard Magazine as one of the "Top Twenty" most played artists during a recent twenty year span. Known as "The Traveling Texan: The Masked Singer of Country Sings," the singing legend was killed, along with his wife and two band members, on an Alabama highway when their vehicle wrecked while returning from a concert.
Bio by: Bigwoo
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