Del Reeves
Del Reeves (* July 14, 1932 when Franklin Delano Reeves in Sparta, North Carolina, † January 1, 2007 in Centerville, Tennessee) was an American country music singer and songwriter.
Del Reeves grew up in a large family. He learned early to play the guitar and had already at the age of twelve regular radio appearances. He spent his military service in California, where he found ample opportunity to radio and television appearances. From 1958 he played at Capitol Records a few singles that however poorly sold. His performances in the Chester Smith Show, however, were so successful that he was given his own TV show called Del Reeves ' Country Carnival after his military service. He married and started together with his wife, Ellen, a successful career as a songwriter. Many established artists of the country scene drew on their material, including Carl Smith and Sheb Wooley.
Career
1961 Reeves moved to Decca Records, where he managed a top 10 hit with Be Quiet Mind immediately. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Nashville, in the stronghold of country music. After a further label changes and some middle hits he signed in 1965 with United Artists Records. Here began his real career that was to last several decades.
Already with the first single on the new label managed Reeves 1965 final commercial break: Girl on the Billboard became his first and only number 1 hit; the cover version of "The Woman with the belt " of the group Truck Stop 1977 was also successful in Germany. His next release, The Belles of Southern Bell, made it into the Top 10 in 1966 he became a permanent member of the Grand Ole Opry. A year later he reached Looking at the World Through a Windshield and Good Time Charlie's number five. His backing band renamed itself then into GoodTimeCharlies. His series of Top 20 successes continued until the end of the decade. Some times he sang a duet with Bobby Goldsboro. In addition to his weekly Opry appearances, he completed extensive tours.
In addition to his musical activities, he found time to start a career as an actor. In total he participated in six Western, including 1969 in Sam Whiskey, directed by Arnold Laven. The hit parade success was rare. But thanks to his appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, he was still in the public eye. His casual appearance on the stage earned him the title " Dean Martin of Country Music " a. In the early 1980s he moved to the independent Koala label. Here he had in 1981 with Slowhand his last chart success.
Del Reeves died on 1 January 2007 after a long struggle in Centerville (Tennessee ) from emphysema. He leaves behind his wife and three daughters.