Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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REEVES, Del

(b Franklin Delano Reeves, 14 July '33, Sparta NC) Country singer, songwriter, multi- instrumentalist. A child star on local radio '45--7, attended Appalachian State College in Boone, served in WSAF, worked at radio WTOP in Galax VA '56, moved to West Coast and became regular on Chester Smith TV show in Sacramento '58--61. Moved to Nashville and signed with Decca; had top ten hit 'Be Quiet Mind', lesser hits as the first country singer on Frank Sinatra's Reprise label, then Columbia; meanwhile he also wrote hits for Roy Drusky, Sheb Wooley, Carl Smith; switched to UA and reached no. 1 with his first release, 'The Girl On The Billboard' '65. Other top ten hits incl. 'Looking At The World Through A Windshield' and 'Goodtime Charlies' '68, 'Be Glad' '69. He was a superb showman, touring more than 230 days a year, always giving audiences good value; he named his band the Goodtime Charlies. Joined the Grand Ole Opry '66, appeared in films such as Second Fiddle To A Steel Guitar '66, Forty Acre Feud '67; had syndicated TV show Del Reeves' Country Carnival; 'The Philadelphia Phillies' went top ten '71 and he continued charting, but less strongly; also had duet hits with Bobby Goldsboro '68--9, Penny DeHaven '70--71, Billie Jo Spears '76; left UA '79 when hits dried up. Among many LPs there were about seven in '65--8 alone; Greatest Hits now on Razor and Tie.