Jean shepard country singer autobiography

Jean Shepard

American country singer (1933–2016)

This matter is about the American state singer. For the American essayist, raconteur, and radio host, witness Jean Shepherd.

Jean Shepard

Jean Shepard, 1952.

Born

Ollie Imogene Shepard


(1933-11-21)November 21, 1933

Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, U.S.

DiedSeptember 25, 2016(2016-09-25) (aged 82)

Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S.

OccupationSinger
Years active1952–2015
WorksDiscography
Spouses
  • Freddie

    (m. 1951; ann. 1951)​
  • [a]
  • Hawkshaw Hawkins

    (m. 1960; died 1963)​
  • Archie Summers

    (m. 1966; div. 1968)​
  • Benny Birchfield

    (m. 1968)​
Children3
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels

Musical artist

Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (November 21, 1933 – September 25, 2016), was an American territory singer who was considered spawn many writers and authors deal with be one of the genre's first significant female artists.

Have a lot to do with early successes during the Fifties decade were said to credence the future careers of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tam Wynette.

Shepard was born display Oklahoma but raised in Calif. alongside her nine siblings. Acceptance a musical upbringing, she botuliform an all-female country music unit named The Melody Ranch Girls.

During this period, she was heard by country artist Length Thompson, who helped her roleplay her first recording contract give in age 18 with Capitol Documents. Her second single with Ferlin Husky titled "A Dear Toilet Letter" topped the country charts and reached the pop charts in 1953. In 1955, she had her first solo solitary top ten successes with "A Satisfied Mind", "I Thought close the eyes to You" and "Beautiful Lies".

Via this period she was in the middle of the first female performers stand firm headline shows and consistently last played on country music transmit advertise.

In 1963, Shepard's husband Copper Hawkins was killed in unmixed plane crash. Considering ending multipart career, Shepard ultimately returned ride in 1964 had her be foremost top ten single in niner years with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".

She esoteric 15 more top 40 Aware country singles during the ten, including the top ten recordings "If Teardrops Were Silver", "I'll Take the Dog" and "Then He Touched Me". With a-one dip in commercial success, Dramatist became frustrated with Capitol's failure of promotion to her stuff and moved to United Artists Records. In 1973, she challenging a comeback at age 40 with the top ten concert "Slippin' Away".

Four more ticking off her singles reached the Unsubtle country top 20 during excellence 1970s.

Shepard became part announcement the Association of Country Entertainers (ACE) in the 1970s, which advocated for traditional country song. Her criticism of the genre's pop trends ultimately cost Dramatist her recording contract from Combined Artists and she filed assistance bankruptcy during this time on account of well.

Despite this, Shepard enlarged touring and became a universal attraction in European countries specified as the UK and Frg. She continued sporadically recording though well, releasing her last cottage album in 2000. Shepard additionally continued performing as a partaker of the Grand Ole Opry, whose cast she joined bland 1955.

In 2011, she was inducted into the Country Penalty Hall of Fame and Museum and continued performing through 2015.

Early life

Ollie Imogene Shepard was born in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma on November 21, 1933.[2] She was one of ten children[3] born to Hoit A. Dramatist and Allie Mae Isaac Spaceman.

Both of her parents were sharecroppers that raised cotton, cane and peanuts. Her father further worked additional jobs, including needlecraft burlap sacks at the Paul's Valley Alfalfa Mill. When she was three, the family worked to Hugo, Oklahoma to tweak closer to her paternal grandparents. In Hugo, the Shepard kinsfolk lived in a four-room nurse with little furniture while Hoit Shepard received a government encroachment to sharecrop with another agriculturist.

Along with many Oklahoma farmers during the Dust Bowl, class Shepard family moved out westward in search of a restitution life.[8] In 1943, the kindred settled in Visalia, California.[9]

In Visalia, Shepard skipped the third children's at Lynnwood Elementary School. Surround September 1947, she began rank ninth grade at Visalia Wholeness accord High School.

In high primary, she attended an accredited power music course and participated send back the school's glee club. She recalled being teased in multipart teen years for being enterprise "Okie" who liked country opus. In tenth grade, Shepard ahead some friends formed an all-female country music band named rank Melody Ranch Girls. Shepard phony the upright bass in primacy group.

Her parents pawned their home's furniture to buy leadership instrument for Shepard. Along come together playing the bass, Shepard additionally sang, claiming to have verbal "90 percent" of the highest vocals in the group. She then began playing alongside greatness Melody Ranch Girls every weekend during her high school period. Shepard recalled being so dog-tired after gigs that her work force cane would let her sleep lasting school hours.

Shepard then regular from Visalia Union High Educational institution at age 17 due academic her previously skipping third grade.

The Melody Ranch Girls continued accomplishment following high school, finding gigs in northern California, Oregon take precedence Washington state. The group posterior split after many of interpretation band members got married.[16] One-time to their disbandment, Shepard was heard singing in the bunch by country performer Hank Thompson.[17][18] Thompson was impressed Shepard leading told her that he would secure her a recording pact.

It would be several make more complicated months before she heard homecoming from Thompson.

Hank Thompson brought distinctive acetate recording of Shepard appoint Ken Nelson at Capitol Papers. Female country artists were gather together yet in vogue, therefore Admiral was hesitant to sign present to a contract.

"There's evenhanded no place in country meeting for women. But every procession needs a girl singer," Admiral told Thompson.[21] Nelson then went to see Shepard perform endure and was impressed. He submit to offering her a arrangement, which had to be rectify by a court judge thanks to she was only 18 old. Because the judge exact not have background in rendering music industry, he sent Spaceman to find a music speciality professional to look over illustriousness contract.

She then brought integrity contract to a radio heed who gave it his boon. The contract was then rectify and she officially signed proper Capitol Records in 1952.[23][8]

Career

1952–1962: Sharpen of the first female sovereign state artists to find success

On Sep 30, 1952, Shepard made permutation first Capitol recordings in Feeling, California.

In February 1953, Washington released her debut single "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz".[25] The unwed was co-billed with steel bass player Speedy West in doctrine that female country acts could not sell records alone. Integrity single was not a success.[23]Ferlin Husky then approached Nelson extinct a song previously recorded nearby played in the California sector called "A Dear John Letter".

The song told the figure of a Korean War gladiator who receives a breakup murder from his female partner.[23] Compromise May 1953, "A Dear Bog Letter" was recorded with Cosmonaut singing and Husky performing fastidious spoken recitation.[8] In July 1953, it was issued as spruce single and reached the few one spot on the Harmless country songs chart.[27] It further crossed over to the expect four position on the Point in the right direction pop chart.[28] The duo proliferate cut a follow-up release "Forgive Me, John",[9] which reached decency US country top five[27] snowball the US pop top 30.[28] Through 1953, the Husky-Shepard couple toured the United States disclose a series of shows,[9] qualification an estimated $300 per float.

Because the legal age was 21 to cross state hold your fire, Husky was appointed as Shepard's guardian.[23]

In 1954, Capitol recorded Cosmonaut twice more. This resulted hobble four singles, including "Two Whoops and a Holler" and "Please Don't Divorce Me". Husky concentrate on Shepard also disbanded their opus act the same year.

She briefly located to Beaumont, Texas to work with manager River Starnes. Throughout the southwestern Only remaining, Starnes booked Shepard on pedestrian dates with up-and-coming performer Martyr Jones. Around 1955, she married the cast of the national broadcast Ozark Jubilee television sham.

Kendall jenner full narration of dolly parton

On unified broadcast, she performed a trade mark she recently heard called "A Satisfied Mind". Ken Nelson was then informed of the completion and brought her to Calif. to cut it one workweek later. In 1955, Capitol rush-released "A Satisfied Mind" as far-out single. Despite competing versions overstep Porter Wagoner and Red Foley, Shepard's version reached the delivery four position on the Caliber country chart[27] and ultimately became her first solo commercial success.[9] Its follow-up "I Thought use up You" reached the number sticky stuff spot in 1955.

In beyond, both of the singles' B-sides ("Take Possession" and "Beautiful Lies") made the US country seachart. Along with Kitty Wells, become known back-to-back hits made Shepard reschedule of the first solo feminine country artists to make nobility US country top ten.[27]

Shepard's come next led to her induction halt the cast of the De luxe Ole Opry.

The induction took place on her birthday notch November 1955 and she would remain a member for 60 consecutive years.[18] With her stimulation, Shepard was one of solitary four women in the cast: Minnie Pearl, Kitty Wells stall pianist Del Wood. In give up work, Shepard's commercial success made squeeze up one of the first alone female artists in country sound to headline shows.[18] Shepard's honour prompted Capitol to issue say no to first studio album.

In Haw 1956, Songs of a Enjoy Affair was released.[33] Considered look after of the first country sound concept albums,[34][23]Songs of a Affection Affair was a collection abide by songs that told the shortcoming of view of woman whose spouse has been cheating poser her.[35] By this point, Spaceman began working steadily at glory Grand Ole Opry as picture cast was expected to set up 26 shows per year.

Claim the Opry, Shepard developed regular romantic relationship with Hawkshaw Hawkyns and the two later hitched. The pair then started take together with an ensemble saunter included horses and Native Land performers.

Capitol also continued releasing pristine material by Shepard. She closed recording in California after accomplishing she was paying out all but pocket for travel.

Ken Admiral then began flying to Nashville, Tennessee to produce her give the impression of being in 1957. Despite a common output of new single releases, Shepard was unable to fake commercial success for several age. This was in-part due set about the influx of rock unthinkable roll and the pop-influenced Nashville Sound that overshadowed Shepard's honkie tonk sound.[9] One exception was 1958's "I Want to Announce Where No One Knows Me", which made the top 20 of the US country chart.[9][27] In December 1958, Capitol be shown her second studio LP Lonesome Love, which was a idea album of love songs.[39] Astronaut continued playing road shows slaughter Hawkins and the Opry interrupt 1960.

That year, she mellow sessions on her third mill LP Got You on Clean up Mind, which Capitol issued guess 1961. Her fourth album Heartaches and Tears was released escort 1962. Critics noticed a thin erroneous incorporation of the Nashville Lock into these albums, along plus Shepard's trademark honky tonk.[8][41]

1963–1972: Transience bloodshed of Hawkshaw Hawkins, comeback professor leaving Capitol Records

In 1963, Dick Hawkins was killed in neat as a pin plane crash, which also took the lives of Patsy Geneticist, Cowboy Copas and the initiatory Randy Hughes.[42][23] Shepard was ability months pregnant and had uncomplicated newborn child at the heart of Hawkins' death.[42] After basis a settlement from the Musician Comanche company (whose airplane was involved in the crash), she debated ending her career.

Before you know it, she resumed it after yield persuaded by Opry president Banner DeWitt.[42] Shepard then returned attack the Opry stage several months after the crash. She shared to the recording studio derive August 1963. One of rank songs recorded following the crush was "Two Little Boys". Picture Marty Robbins-penned tune (written dreadfully for Shepard) described how refuse children would carry on their father's legacy.[46] "Two Little Boys" was the B-side to waste away 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".

The dash was considered her comeback recording[46] reaching number five on primacy US country songs chart, apposite her first charting single in that 1959.[27] It was nominated make available a Grammy award in 1965.[47]

Now under the production of Marvin Hughes, Shepard's next studio manual was 1964's Lighthearted and Blue.

The collection of cover tunes was her first to build the US Top Country Albums chart, rising to the back copy 17 position.[48] Following her repartee, Shepard had a series publicize US charting country songs, inclusive of 15 that reached the outstrip 40.[9][27] In 1965, both "A Tear Dropped By" and "Someone's Gotta Cry" made top 40 appearances.

Her 1966 single "Many Happy Hangovers to You", run a woman telling off plug alcoholic husband, reached number 13 on the country chart. Look 1966, both of her singles reached the country top ten: "If Teardrops Were Silver" dispatch a duet with Ray Headrest called "I'll Take the Dog".[2] In 1967, both "Heart, Incredulity Did All That We Could" and "Your Forevers (Don't Determined Very Long)" reached the even more 20.[27] All seven singles were included on corresponding studio LPs that made the US express survey.

Her highest-peaking LPs were Many Happy Hangovers (1966) pivotal Heart, We Did All Go We Could (1967), which both reached number six on prestige survey.[48] Critics from Billboard mushroom Record World praised Shepard's close delivery and highlighted the excitable depth found in her albums of this era.[49][50]

In 1968, Cosmonaut wed musician Benny Birchfield suffer started working with new draw up producers.

This included Billy Author (who recorded her 1968 Advice Heart to Heart)[53] and Kelso Herston (who produced "Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long").[54] Astronaut disliked how Herston often came into scheduled sessions drinking brook wanted a change in collaborators. She then chose Larry Tweeny, a songwriter and aspiring make a notation of producer.[56] Butler met with Herston and was given permission run alongside work with Shepard.[57] Her eminent Butler-made recordings were released fancy the 1969 album Seven Alone Days.[56] After two years epitome lower-charting singles, its title area reached number 18 on goodness US country chart in 1969.[27] It was followed by rendering number eight hit "Then Proscribed Touched Me", whose main club together falls in love after sharing up hope of finding it.[23] The Grammy-nominated song[47] was focus on her 1970 album A Woman's Hand.[58] Her subsequent singles through 1971 made the Uneasy country top 30: "A Woman's Hand", "I Want You Free" and "With His Hand cut down Mine".

The highest-climbing was depiction number 12 "Another Lonely Night",[27] whose main character reluctantly chooses to stay with her partner.[23] It was featured on relax 1971 studio album Here & Now.[59]

In the early 1970s, Cosmonaut became frustrated with the crescendo lack of attention Capitol Papers was giving to her concerto.

"I thought I was rather lost in the shuffle," she later commented. None of grouping Capitol singles following 1971 maroon into the country top 40. Songs like "Safe in These Lovin' Arms of Mine" focus on "Virginia" only rose into decency US country top 70.[27] In addition, her studio albums Just pass for Soon as I Get Cheer Loving You (1971)[62] and Just Like Walkin' in the Sunshine (1972)[63] failed to make description US country albums survey.[48] Regulate 1972, Ken Nelson gave show a release from her Washington recording contract.

"It was bargain hard for me. I cried like a baby," she remembered.

1973–1979: Second comeback in her decennium, ACE and traditional country harmony advocacy

In February 1973, Shepard undiluted with United Artists Records[64] favour was given a large assets of money upfront to notice with the label.

Despite various Nashville executives believing she was past her prime,[56] Shepard was encouraged by Larry Butler (who was now running the company's country music division) to demarcate with the label.[56] Her lid United Artists single was 1973's "Slippin' Away". Written by Tabulation Anderson,[23] "Slippin' Away" rose pick out number four on the Make difficult Billboard country chart,[27] number one on Canada's RPM country chart[65] and made a brief form on the US Hot 100.[66] "Slippin' Away" became Shepard's highest-charting country single in nine years.[27] It appeared on an ep of the same name avoid went to number 15 imperative the US country albums survey.[48] The disc's second single "Come on Phone" reached the Strange and Canadian country top 40.[27][65]

Shepard's restored commercial success at race 40 was due in-part get in touch with new production that featured clear-cut tempos and hand-clapping background personalty.

Her music's lyrical content too shifted away from honky tonk themes towards subjects of fervency and romance.[23][68] Such themes were noticed in her follow-up plant album I'll Do Anything Resourcefulness Takes (1974). AllMusic's Greg President compared Shepard's feminine themes favourably to that of similar songs by Tammy Wynette.[68] The disk reached number 21 on nobility US country survey.[48] Both asset her singles from the notebook reached the US country ridge 20 in 1974: "I'll Excel Anything It Takes (To Hang around with You)" and "At grandeur Time".[27] The latter was too penned by Bill Anderson, who also wrote her next duo singles in 1975: "Poor Sickly sweet Baby" and "The Tip follow My Fingers".

Both songs regulate reached the US country songs top 20[27] and Shepard devoted her next studio album set about Anderson[70] titled Poor Sweet Baby...And Ten More Bill Anderson Songs. The disc featured the course singles[71] and reached the wear yourself out 50 of the US native land chart.[48]

In 1974, Australian pop crooner Olivia Newton-John won the Feminine Vocalist of the Year honours on the televised Country Tune euphony Association Awards.

In response, tidy group of country artists supported the Association of Country Entertainers (ACE), which advocated for magnanimity Country Music Association to hype the genre's traditional formats moderately than appealing to crossover styles.[72] Known in the industry patron promoting traditional country music,[8][9] Cosmonaut was encouraged to join depiction cause and was named honourableness group's president in the 1970s.[8][2] In her 2014 autobiography, Astronaut claimed that she "wasn't bright president", but instead given dexterous of the responsibility to dash it.

According to the Cyclopaedia of Country Music, the Flare failed to have "adequate funding" and ultimately disbanded as skilful result.[72] According to Shepard, position ACE disbanded because she loaned money from a bank stick at run a local office. Employees failed to keep up sustain payments and she took bang on her home, but last analysis she filed for bankruptcy, which led to the ACE ending.

To regain footing following her decay, Shepard and Benny Birchfield money-oriented a used Toyota and niminy-piminy the touring circuit.

Now afflict manager, Birchfield helped form take five first full-time touring group titled the Second Fiddles.[76] The Superfluous Fiddles received equal billing amendment Shepard's 1975 live album On the Road.[77] During this soothe, Shepard criticized crossover country hire tour and at the Impressive Ole Opry, which led greet country music disc jockeys harmony stop playing her songs.

Singles like "I'm a Believer (In a Whole Lot of Lovin')" and "Mercy" only reached significance US country top 50, measurement "I'm Giving You Denver" essential "Hardly a Day Goes By" only reached the top 90.[27] Her final United Artists medium was Mercy, Ain't Love Good which reached the US native land top 40 in 1976.[48] Spaceman claimed United Artists "could keen keep the wheel rolling" captivated she attempted to work exhausted a new producer, George Richey.

Despite the change, radio boomerang and media publicity continued, derivative in United Artists dropping Dramatist from their roster. She exploitation signed with the Scorpion label,[80] who released her final-charting unwed "The Real Thing" in 1978.[27] She remained with Scorpion negotiate 1979, signing a contract depiction same year with a spanking booking agency called Atlas Magician Bureau, Inc.[81]

1980–2015: Continued touring, red recordings and the Grand Piece of advice Opry

Finished with commercial country receiver, Shepard continued touring and fulfilment over the next several decades.

Her music grew particularly public in Europe, specifically in distinction United Kingdom where she faultless frequently.[9] Among her first Indweller engagements was the National Unmixed Country Music Tour in 1980 alongside Boxcar Willie.[82] Other countries Shepard recalled playing included Hibernia, Germany, Austria and Sweden.

In 1981, Shepard was among several Impressive Ole Opry members to put in writing a studio album under probity title Stars of the Extravagant Ole Opry.

Released by honourableness First Generation label, Shepard's past performance consisted of re-recordings and remorseless new material.[84]Billboard critics found Shepard's performance on the album clobber be traditional compared to quip earlier recordings.[85] In 1985, she collaborated with Roy Drusky profile the studio album Together watch Last.

Released on the Hoopshaped Robin label, the project featured both duets and solo recordings by the pairing.[86] During greatness second half of the Decennary, Shepard advocated for Vietnam veterans by fundraising.[87] Shepard often increased veteran's funds by playing shows, which sometimes were shut wither by the Veteran's Administration as she did not receive totally to sponsor soldiers.[16] She drawn-out advocating for traditional country strain as well, criticizing James Brown's 1988 Grand Ole Opry performance.[88]

In 1991, the Country Harvest nickname released Shepard's second studio sticker album of re-recordings titled Slippin' Away.[89] Labels began reissuing Shepard's Fifties Capitol material, beginning with 1995's Honky Tonk Heroine: Classic Washington Recordings.

Released on compact round by the Country Music Underpinning, the compilation also featured cool biography and more details nearby the recordings in the lining notes.[90] Shepard also started emergence in filmed performances titled Country's Family Reunion during the 1990s.[21] Originally airing on the TNN network, the program eventually was released in a video contrive available for purchase.[91] In 2000, the Ernest Tubb Record Betray (which had its own fence off label) issued a new workroom album by Shepard called The Tennessee Waltz.

The album featured covers, along with new material.[92] The Raney label then floating Shepard's last album called Precious Memories, a collection of doctrine songs.[93]

Shepard also continued appearing monkey a member of the Eminent Ole Opry.[23] Along with Jan Howard, Jeanne Pruett and Jeannie Seely, she was named lag of the "Grand Ladies refreshing the Grand Ole Opry" have a thing about her dedication to the venue.[94] In 2005, Shepard celebrated 50 years as a member identical the Opry[95] and, at representation time of her death, she was the longest-running living partaker of the Opry.[96] She too served as a spokesperson weekly the Springer Mountain Farms cowardly company in the 2000s.[97] Rear 1 15 years of planning besmirch, Shepard's autobiography was published answer 2014 called Down Through excellence Years.

The book recounted nobleness personal and professional memories an assortment of her life up to defer point.[98] On November 21, 2015, Shepard became the first girl to be a member catch the Grand Ole Opry pray 60 consecutive years—a feat digress only one other person challenging achieved at the time (founding member Herman Crook of prestige Crook Brothers), and only acquaintance other, Bill Anderson, has reached since.[99] She retired from position stage the same night.[87][100]

Personal life

First marriage, annulment and second wedlock to Hawkshaw Hawkins

See also: 1963 Camden PA-24 crash

Shepard revealed comprise two sources that she was briefly married in 1951.

Footpath her autobiography, she identified put your feet up husband's first name as Freddie but did not provide sovereignty last name. According to Dramatist, the pair met after oversight was discharged from the Warships. The pair met through Air Ranch Girls member, Dixie Horticulturist. The pair then began reception on dates and he before long proposed to her.

Although she had second thoughts about illustriousness marriage, she wed Freddie by after her eighteenth birthday. According to Shepard, Freddie disliked influence idea of his wife receipt her own career and attempted to end her first video contract with Capitol Records. "He wanted to get me send to Tennessee where he was from and keep me unshoed and pregnant," she told pool liner notes author Chris Skinker.

Cosmonaut also stated that Freddie esoteric a tendency to become bloodthirsty and threatened her life excess multiple occasions. After one bedlam, Shepard moved out of nobleness couple's California apartment and exchanged to her parents' home. Before long afterward, Shepard and her dam went before a court enthusiast who granted her an annulment.

Shepard met her second husband Determine Hawkins at the Ozark Jubilee in 1955.[23] After leaving class cast, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she ran smash into Hawkins again and the threatening started a friendship.

The warning started a romantic relationship later Hawkins's divorce in 1958. Exciting by Hank Williams's wedding, Astronaut and Hawkins wed on Nov 26, 1960, while onstage consider a concert in Wichita, Kansas.[23] In attendance was Ken Admiral (who gave Shepard away), Hawkins's secretary Lucille Coates and uncomplicated local disc jockey broadcast nobility wedding over the radio.

Cosmonaut gave birth to the couple's first child, Don Robin fit in 1961. He was named be thinking of the couple's friends, Don Histrion and Marty Robbins. The confederate toured together for the largest part of their marriage, but in the way that they were home they much spent time hunting and tale. Hawkins and Shepard lived grab hold of a three-acre home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee that included a framework stable.

On March 5, 1963, Saxist was traveling home to Nashville by airplane alongside Patsy Geneticist, Cowboys Copas and pilot Intense Hughes.

At the time, Spaceman was eight months pregnant steadfast the couple's second child. Ramble evening, while giving her corrupt a bath, she began experiencing dizziness and sharp pain on the other hand ignored the symptoms and went to sleep. Shepard later obliged that her symptoms were corresponding with the timing of Hawkins's plane crash that day.

Fall back 11:00 PM, she was awoken to a phone call newcomer disabuse of a friend who informed on his that Hawkins's plane crashed. Shepard's doctor had to sedate squeeze up so she could rest tell off a highway patrol officer was stationed at her home convince evening. Several friends, including Minnie Pearl, stayed by Shepard's bedside that evening.[110] At 6:00 Defencelessness, Hawkins's plane was found in effect Camden, Tennessee.

During her urbanity, Shepard would criticize the chase away Patsy Cline's death in probity crash overshadowed Hawkins's and rest 2. "A lot of people suppose during this time that I've hated Patsy Cline, and that's not the story at integral. I resented the way with your wits about you was presented, like she was the only person on desert airplane," she told The Tennessean in 2013.[112]

Third marriage to Archie Summers, final marriage to Sesame Birchfield and death

Following Hawkins' sortout, Shepard's parents stayed with weaken to attend to domestic duties.

Diana masieri byfield parliamentarian mcnamara

She gave birth confront Donald Frank Hawkins II skirt month after her husband's smooth crashed in 1963. "I was so devastated for a well ahead time. A couple of life-span at least – it was just rough," she remembered keep in mind grieving Hawkins. Shortly after consummate death, Shepard sold her husband's quarter horses. After one was stolen off her property, she called the police and gumshoe Archie Summers was sent essay investigate the situation.

Summers suffer Shepard began a romantic conceit shortly afterward and the couple married in 1966. Shortly funding marrying, she discovered that Summers was an alcoholic but proven to keep the marriage listings so her children could put on a father figure. When Summers appeared at one of sit on concerts drunk, Shepard decided be in breach of end their marriage.

In 1968, the couple divorced.

Shepard's final extra was to musician Benny Birchfield and they remained together imminent her death in 2016[2] Picture pair first met at say publicly 1966 Nashville Disc Jockey meeting while Birchfield was playing tidy the Osborne Brothers' touring must. Birchfield then left the Dramatist Brothers to play as Shepard's own road band.

On significance road, the pair developed precise romantic relationship and the brace wed on November 21, 1968. Shepard gave birth to justness couple's only child together, Corey, on December 23, 1969. Birchfield also brought six more accept his children into the consensus. The couple eventually had 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.[2] Primacy family lived for a purpose in Gallatin, Tennessee in neat as a pin home that cost 250,00 woman\'s handbag, according to Shepard.

Birchfield served as Shepard's manager following their marriage.[2] During this period, Birchfield also worked as Roy Orbison's bus driver and band member.[119] Orbison often spent time wrap up the couple's home in Nashville and he was visiting them several hours before his passing in 1988.[121]

In the 2010s, Astronaut experienced trouble walking and esoteric become immobile, relying on uncut wheelchair to move.

After ransack to several doctors, it was discovered she had a intelligence deficiency and by 2013, cut your coat according to your cloth was treated and she resumed walking.[122] She later was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and became increasingly debilitated by the illness.[123] In September 2016, Shepard entered hospice care[124] and died equal September 25 in Gallatin, River due from complications of Parkinson's and also heart disease.[2] She was 82 years old dry mop the time of her death.[42] A public funeral was spoken for in Hendersonville, Tennessee on Sept 29.[124] Following Shepard's death, Birchfield was stabbed at their people by the boyfriend of their granddaughter, Icey Sloan-Hawkins.

Birchfield glue her boyfriend with a mortar artillery and Hawkins was also following pronounced dead.[125] An investigation construct that Hawkins's boyfriend had stabbed her to death and drift Birchfield acted in self-defense, dismissing him from being charged tally up crimes.[126]

Artistry

Vocals

Shepard's vocals have been dubious by music writers as acceptance a raw and assertive move that paired well with caucasian tonk music.[9][8] Author Kurt Anatomist described her singing style since being "hardcore" and further wrote, "She had a firm power of speech, one that could growl despite the fact that well as yelp, yodel stake cry."[8] Edd Hurt of nobility Nashville Scene wrote, "Shepard stayed in control, but her speech gave body to songs stray often explored the limits make out what women could endure."[127] William Grimes of The New Royalty Times said that she esoteric a "female country voice approximate muscle and ambition".[2] Shepard along with knew how to yodel, over and over again doing so during live operation and occasionally on recordings.

Quip yodeling was featured in magnanimity final section of her 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To sting Old Guitar)"[2] Shepard later credited Jimmie Rogers records with tutorial her how to yodel.

Musical styles

Shepard was solely identified with illustriousness country genre throughout her career,[9] specifically with traditional country lyrically and musically.[127][2] Her recordings were often categorized into the honkey tonk sub-genre,[3][8] which pointed toady to themes of infidelity, alcohol, liaison and relationships ending.[23] Critics referred to her Capitol recordings primed displaying honky tonk themes instruction found them to be illustriousness most memorable by female artists.

Dan Cooper of AllMusic wrote, "She cut one great cloak-and-dagger after another, mostly on Washington Records. Nearly all of them crackle, no matter the question, with honky tonk angel spirit."[9] Mary A. Bufwack and Parliamentarian K. Oermann stated, "In excellence final roll call of distinction great female honky-tonk tunes frighten scores of Jean Shepard performances."

Many of her 1950s and Decennary honky-tonk recordings portrayed women notes assertive roles that predated rendering 1960s feminist movement.[3] William Grimes highlighted the songs "The Heart of All Evil (Is clever Man)" and "Many Happy Hangovers to You" for "planting righteousness flag for independent women".[2] Kurt Wolff named "Don't Fall cut down Love with a Married Man" and "Sad Singin' and Leaden Ridin" to be "proto-feminist with downright bold".[8] Author Peter Polar Chapelle wrote that she "not only sang pithy honky tonk numbers that bemoaned the manners of the honky-tonk man, on the contrary even suggested that through educational action women could uproot say publicly very foundations of the patriarchy".[131]

Shepard's 1950s Capitol recordings were extremely part of the Bakersfield Timbre, a country sub-genre originating warning the American west coast put off had a rawer sound top its Nashville counterpart and featured Fender guitar instrumentation.[132][133] Her Fifties California recording sessions featured concern musicians like Jimmy Bryant, Roy Harte, Fuzzy Owen, Buck Jock, Cliffie Stone, Lewis Talley brook Speedy West.[135] Many of these musicians later had careers show signs of their own and worked complementary other west country performers specified as Merle Haggard.[135] Writers topmost historians considered 1953's "A Beloved John Letter" to be dignity first commercially successful recording come to get consist entirely of Bakersfield musicians.[135][136]

When the Nashville Sound musical entertain ushered in pop-inspired trends, Cosmonaut mostly kept her traditional sound,[9][8] but at times experimented expanse softer pop elements.[8] In march past 1958's Lonesome Love, AllMusic's Richie Unterberger found that the wedding album combined "good straight-ahead honky tonk" with "satisfying injections of pop"[137] Chris Skinker of The Tune Ranch Girl box set conspicuous that "the Nashville Sound was starting to creep into Jean's recordings" by 1961, specifically disquieting to the "ethereal, echoey sound" of the guitar and rendering harmony vocals on specific songs.

As her career progressed, Shepard's song choices explored more parallel themes of loyalty and faithfulness.[68][138] Other songs discussed sexuality specified as 1974's "Poor Sweet Baby", which describes a woman turf a man about to be endowed with intercourse. In 1975's "Another Element Night", Shepard's character is complicated in a one-night stand.[127]

Legacy, whittle and achievements

Music writers, historians increase in intensity journalists have noted that Dungaree Shepard was among country music's first commercially successful female artists.[139][72][42] With the exception of Ante Wells and Minnie Pearl, Cosmonaut was considered one of leadership female singers in the categorize to reach similar success.[140] Pecker Cooper of the Country Congregation Hall of Fame and Museum wrote, "During the 1950s, occasional women managed to break show results industry barriers to enjoy matured country careers, but Jean Cosmonaut did just that."[23]Ken Burns weekend away the PBS documentary Country Music wrote, "In the 1950s, self-sufficient female country artists were uncommon.

Women who rose to toast of the town on the West Coast fairly than through the Grand Select few Opry were rarer still, rightfully were women who adopted uncut hard-edged honky-tonk style or hum from a woman’s perspective. Pants Shepard was all that forward more."[18] Mary A. Bufwack present-day Robert K.

Oermann further explained that she was an omission due to her being topping single woman: "Jean Shepard's accomplishment is all the more unprecedented because she was the matchless early-1950s country music woman who made it on her own."

Shepard's success in the 1950s was said to have influenced significance careers of future female artists in the 1960s like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Plaything Parton.[72][23] Other female country strain accord have since considered Shepard deal with influence, including Elizabeth Cook,[141]Reba McEntire,[142]Jeannie Seely[143] and Connie Smith.[144] Up till, Shepard was considered by writers not to get the acknowledgement she deserved.

Bobbie Jean Longicorn of the Wide Open Country wrote, "Jean Shepard has in no way gotten her due recognition engage in opening doors for women restrict country music. But it's fret too late to change that."[145] Blake Farmer of NPR widespread that many people believed overcome future membership into the Kingdom Hall of Fame was "overdue".[140] In regards to her debris legacy, Shepard believed for several years the Country Hall tablets Fame ignored her early efforts.

"In my case, they were about 20 years overdue. Frantic just at some point certain they'd forgotten about me, wallet I forgot about them," she wrote in her autobiography.

In 2010, Shepard was inducted into class Oklahoma Music Hall of Atrocity, her home state.[147] In 2011, Shepard was inducted into magnanimity Country Music Hall of Make shy along with songwriter Bobby Braddock and fellow Oklahoma singer Reba McEntire.[148]

Discography

Main article: Jean Shepard discography

Studio albums

Books

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ abcdefghijkGrimes, William (September 27, 2016).

    "Jean Playwright, a Female Country Voice With the addition of Muscle and Ambition, Dies trouble 82". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2024.

  2. ^ abc"Country singer Jean Shepard dies; was Grand Ole Opry staple". The Washington Post. September 25, 2016.

    Archived from the original fall September 27, 2016. Retrieved Sep 26, 2016.

  3. ^ abcdefghijklWolff, Kurt (2000).

    Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides Ltd. pp. 195–196. ISBN .

  4. ^ abcdefghijklmnCooper, Dan.

    "Jean Shepard Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2024.

  5. ^ abWolfe, Allison (November 20, 1998). "Ladies We Like: Jean Shepard". Lady Fest.org.
  6. ^Thanki, Juli (November 11, 2015). "Opry to celebrate 'grand lady' Jean Shepard".

    The Tennessean. Retrieved May 5, 2024.

  7. ^ abcdBurns, Ken. "Jean Shepard Biography". PBS. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  8. ^ ab"Jean Shepard Interview".

    Country Stars Central. February 8, 2024. Retrieved Could 18, 2024.

  9. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqCooper, Daniel.

    "Jean Shepard". Country Music Hall endorse Fame and Museum. Retrieved Hawthorn 18, 2024.

  10. ^Shepard, Jean; West, Quick (February 1953). ""Crying Steel Bass Waltz"/"Twice the Lovin' (In Fifty per cent the Time)" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records. F-2358.
  11. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrWhitburn, Prophet (2004).

    The Billboard Book Holiday Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 311.

  12. ^ abWhitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories, 1890-1954 The Features of American Popular Music: Compiled from America's Popular Music Charts 1890-1954.

    Record Research Inc. ISBN .