Del Reeves
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| Del Reeves | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Franklin Delano Reeves |
| Born | July 14, 1932 |
| Origin | Sparta, North Carolina |
| Died | January 1, 2007 (aged 74) |
| Genre(s) | Country Music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer Songwriter |
| Years active | 1961 – 2007 |
| Label(s) | United Artists Decca Records Columbia Records Capitol Records Reprise Records |
| Associated acts | Dick Curless Red Simpson Red Steagall Bobby Goldsboro Penny DeHaven Billie Jo Spears |
Franklin Delano "Del" Reeves (July 14, 1932 – January 1, 2007) was a country music singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty-type songs of the 1960s. He became one of the most successful male country singers of the 1960s. Reeves was named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had been nominated by the Democratic Party to be their presidential nominee just a few days before he was born.
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[edit] Rise to Fame
Del Reeves is probably best known for his fair share of 1960s hits. He proved that he could become a country singer in his own right and become successful, with songs such as "The Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell", both highlights from his career. He is also known for his 1968 trucker's anthem "Looking at the World through a Windshield" which proved he was capable of singing more than just novelty songs.
Del Reeves was born in Sparta, North Carolina in 1932.
In 1954, he signed on with Capitol Records. Later on in the 1950s, he recorded for Decca Records, as well as Reprise Records and Columbia Records.
[edit] The Height of His Career
Everything began to change when Reeves signed on with United Artists Records. The work he did for United Artists is probably his best known work. He finally scored big in 1961 with the hit song "Be Quiet Mind". Later in 1965, he had his first #1 hit with "The Girl on the Billboard". His follow-up, "The Belles of the Southern Belle" made the Country Top Five. During this time, he and his wife became a songwriting team. The husband-wife duo wrote songs for the likes of Rose Maddox, Carl Smith and Roy Drusky, to name a few.
His success continued throughout the rest of the 1960s. Songs that became hits during this time are "Be Glad" and "Good Time Charlie's."
[edit] Career In the 1970s
In the 1970s, he cut a series of duets with Bobby Goldsboro and Penny DeHaven. He also returned to television, hosting the TV program, Del Reeves' Country Carnival.
His last big hit was in "The Philadelphia Fillies." His career declined in the mid-70s and then started to slowly move away from Country music. However, he did record some duets with Billie Jo Spears in 1976.
[edit] Decline
In 1979, he left his musical career to pursue a career as a music executive. He played a big role in the signing of Billy Ray Cyrus.[citation needed] Reeves continued to record in the 1980s, just not as much and for smaller labels.
Del Reeves joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1966, where he continued to perform until his later years. His last Opry performance was in August 2002.
He died from emphysema on New Year's Day, 2007.
[edit] Trivia
- Del Reeves credits such well-known and legendary country singers as Jim Reeves, Ernest Tubb, Roger Miller and Johnny Cash as his biggest influences on his musical career.
- He was given the nickname The Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo Kid because he added the phrase "doodle-oo-doo-doo" to his vocal and guitar lines on many of his hit songs.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Hit Singles
| Year | Single | Album | U.S. Country Singles | U.S. Pop Singles |
| 1961 | "Be Quiet Mind" | (single only) | 9 | - |
| 1965 | "Girl On the Billboard" | Girl On the Billboard | 1 | 96 |
| 1965 | "The Belles of the Southern Belle" | The Girl On the Billboard | 4 | - |
| 1966 | "Women Do Funny Things to Me" | Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo | 9 | - |
| 1967 | "A Dime At a Time" | Our Way of Life | 12 | - |
| 1968 | "Looking At the World Through a Windshield" | Looking At the World | 5 | - |
| 1969 | "Good Time Charlie's" | Down At the Goodtime Charlie's | 3 | - |
| 1969 | "Be Glad" | Down At the Goodtime Charlie's | 5 | - |
| 1969 | "There Wouldn't Be a Lonely Heart In Town" | Big Daddy Del | 12 | - |
| 1969 | "Take A Little Good Will Home" (with Bobby Goldsboro) | Our Way Of Life | 31 | - |
| 1970 | "A Lover's Question" | The Best 2 | 14 | - |
| 1970 | "Landmark Tavern" (with Penny DeHaven) | (single only) | 20 | - |
| 1971 | "Philadelphia Fillies" | Del Reeves | 9 | - |
| 1971 | "Dozen Pairs of Boots" | Del Reeves | 31 | - |
| 1971 | "Workin' Like the Devil For the Lord" | Friends and Neighbors | 33 | - |
| 1972 | "Crying In the Rain" (with Penny DeHaven) | His Greatest Hits | 54 | - |
| 1972 | "But I Do" | His Greatest Hits | 65 | - |
| 1973 | "Lay A Little Lovin' On Me" | The Very Best Of Del Reeves | 22 | - |
| 1976 | "On The Rebound" (with Billie Jo Spears) | By Request | 29 | - |
| 1976 | "Teardrops Will Kiss The Morning Dew" (with Billie Jo Spears) | By Request | 42 | - |
[edit] Selected Albums
| Year | Album | US Country |
| 1965 | Girl on the Billboard | 8 |
| 1965 | Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo | 6 |
| 1966 | Sings Jim Reeves | 23 |
| 1966 | Special Delivery | 28 |
| 1966 | Gettin' Any Feed for Your Chickens | 18 |
| 1966 | Santa's Boy | |
| 1967 | Struttin' My Stuff | 22 |
| 1967 | Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other | 42 |
| 1967 | The Little Church in the Dell | |
| 1967 | Our Way of Life | 28 |
| 1968 | Running Wild | 35 |
| 1968 | The Best | |
| 1968 | Looking at the World | 33 |
| 1969 | Wonderful World of Country Music | |
| 1969 | Down at the Goodtime Charlie's | 42 |
| 1969 | Friends and Neighbors | |
| 1970 | Big Daddy Del | 41 |
| 1970 | Country Concert | |
| 1970 | The Best 2 | |
| 1971 | Del Reeves | 36 |
| 1972 | Before Goodbye | 45 |
| 1973 | Trucker's Paradise | |
| 1974 | Live at the Palomino Club | 45 |
| 1974 | The Very Best | 42 |
| 1975 | With Strings and Things | |
| 1976 | By Request (with Billie Jo Spears) | 46 |
| 1976 | 10th Anniversary | |
| 1980 | Let's Got to Heaven Tonight | |
| 1994 | His Greatest Hits | |
| 1996 | Gospel | |
| 1998 | I'll Take My Chances |
[edit] References
- All Music Guide
- Trott, Walt. (1998). "Del Reeves." In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Ed. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 434.
- Wolff, Kurt. Country Music: The Rough Guide.
