Born Ellen Muriel Deason in Nashville on August 30 1919, Kitty Wells was the first female country singer to be dubbed ‘Queen of Country’.
 |
| Kitty Wells |
In 1952 her recording of ‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels’ took her to the top of the country charts and turned her into the first female country star. She inspired many of the female country singers who came to prominence in the 1960’s, including Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker and Tammy Wynette.
Having one of the longest celebrity marriages known (they married in 1937), Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright had three offspring Ruby, Carol Sue and Bobby.
All three children tried to follow their mother into country music with varying success. Kitty and Carol Sue released a duet ‘How Far is Heaven’ in the mid 50’s which reached No. 11, and although both Ruby and Bobby released separate albums, they never really had much success. Ruby died in 2009 at age 70.
Kitty’s success during the 50’s and 60’s turned her into the sixth most successful female artist of the Billboard Country Charts history, and was instrumental in her being awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976 and at the time of writing is currently its oldest member at the age of 91 (2011).
If you want to find the music of Kitty Wells, or any of your favourite country singers just enter their name in the search box on the right, or go to my website at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com
No comments:
Post a Comment