WANDA JACKSON-WALK THROUGH THIS WORLD WITH ME

Wanda Jackson was born in Maud, Oklahoma in 1937. Her father, who was also a musician, moved the family to California during the 1940s in hopes of a better life. [2] Two years later, he bought Jackson a guitar and encouraged her to play. He also took her to see popular concert attractions, such as Spade Cooley, Tex Williams, and Bob Wills, which left a lasting impression on Jackson. [1] In 1952 at age 15, her father moved the family back to Oklahoma. That same year she won a talent contest, which led to her own radio program. [3] The program was upped to an additional 30 minutes shortly after. It was during this time when Hank Thompson heard Jackson sing. [1] Thompson invited her to perform with his band, the Brazos Valley Boys. Under their label, Capitol Records, she recorded a few songs, including "You Can't Have My Love," a duet with Thompson's bandleader, Billy Gray. The song was released as a single in 1954 and became a national country hit. Jackson then asked Capitol to sign her, however she was turned down by producer Ken Nelson who told her "girls don't sell records." Instead, she signed with Decca Records [2] After graduating from Oklahoma City's Capitol Hill High School,[4] she began to tour, where her father joined her, acting as her manager and chaperone. [1] On tour she often shared the bill with Elvis Presley, who encouraged Jackson to sing rockabilly. She was a cast member of ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee from 1955-1960, and in 1956 she signed with Capitol records, recording a number of singles mixed of country as well as rock and roll material. One of these singles, "I Gotta Know," released in 1956, was a major country hit, peaking at #15[3]. Jackson continued to record more rockabilly singles throughout the decade, with the help of producer Ken Nelson. Jackson insisted that Nelson should make her records sound like those of label mates Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps. Nelson brought in many experienced and popular session players including rock & roll pianist Merill Moore and the then unknown Buck Owens. With a unique vocal style and upbeat music material, Jackson created some of the most influential Rock and Roll music of the time period. [5] During the 1950s, Jackson's stage outfits were often designed by her mother. Unlike the traditional country attire worn by female country music singers of the time, Jackson wore fringe dresses, high heels, and long earrings. Jackson has claimed she was the first female to put "glamour into country music."[1] During the late 1950s, Jackson recorded and released a number of rockabilly songs, including "Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad," "Mean, Mean Man," "Fujiyama Mama" (which peaked at #1 in Japan), and "Honey Bop." These songs failed to gain major success and were regional hits at best. [5] It wasn't until 1960 she had a hit with "Let's Have a Party," (a song Elvis Presley had cut a year earlier) which peaked in the U.S. Pop Top 40. [3] By this time, Jackson was headlining concerts by herself with her own band, which she dubbed, "The Party Timers." Prominently featured in her show was Black pianist Big Al Downing and guitarist Roy Clark, who was virtually unknown at the time. [5] A year later, she recorded more country-pop sounding material withe "Right or Wrong" and "In the Middle of a Heartache," which both peaked in the country top 10. [1] The unexpected success from her records led Capitol to release a number of albums composed of her 1950s material, including 1960's Rockin' with Wanda and There's a Party Goin' on, which included "Tongue Tied" and "Riot in the Cell Block #9." Her 1961 and 1962 albums, Right or Wrong and Wonderful Wanda, featured her two Top 10 country hits from 1961. In 1963, Jackson recorded a final Rock & Roll-styled album titled Two Sides of Wanda, which included material of Rock & Roll and Country, including a cover of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On".[6]

Author: oldcountrytunes
Keywords: MUSIC COUNTRY WANDA JACKSON
Added: December 22, 2008