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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSTEAGALL, Red(b Russell Don Steagall, 22 Dec. '37, Gainesville TX) Rodeo rider, country singer-songwriter. Learned to play guitar and mandolin while recuperating from polio; played in coffee houses while studying animal husbandry at West Texas State U, worked as soil chemist for oil company; switched to full-time music, forming a band and working ski resort clubs in the Rockies '63-4. To West Coast '65, writer's contract with Tree Publishing; co-wrote 'Here We Go Again' with Don Lanier (top 20 hit for Ray Charles). More of his songs were recorded; he recorded for Dot '69, then Capitol; first chart hits were 'Party Dolls And Wine' and 'Somewhere My Love' '72. His hits through the '70s included his biggest (back on Dot), 'Lone Star Beer And Bob Wills' Music' '76; the last was 'Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues' '79. He was in demand on the rodeo circuit, recording for small labels; he discovered Reba McEntire, whom he saw working a rodeo in Oklahoma. About 20 albums include Party Dolls And Wine '72 on Capitol, For All Our Cowboy Friends and Lone Star Beer And Bob Wills' Music '77 on ABC-Dot, Cowboy Favorites '85 on Delta. In recent years he wrote and performed cowboy poetry; the Texas state legislature named him the official Cowboy Poet of Texas '91; same year he launched his annual Cowboy Gathering in Fort Worth featuring music, poetry, cook-outs and rodeo; signed to Warner Western '92 with Born To This Land '93 and Faith And Values '95; Wagon Tracks on Shanachie won his fifth Wrangler award 2002. He also appeared in films Benji The Hunted, Big Bad John, Dark Before The Dawn; his songs are still covered by George Strait and others. The Texas Legislature congratulated him 2003 on being inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's Hall of Great Westerners. |