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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 ZWALLACE, Jerry(b 15 December 1928, Kansas City MO; d 5 May 2008, Victorville CA) Pop/country singer with hits '58-64. His birth date used to be given as 1938 but it's said he first recorded for Allied in 1951. His hits were on Challenge, formed in Hollywood in 1956 by Gene Autry and Joe Johnson; the label also had the huge rock'n'roll instrumental hit 'Tequila', by the Champs (no. 1 '58). Wallace's mainstream pop included movie songs 'A Touch Of Pink' '59 (from The Wild And The Innocent) to a remake of 'Swinging Down The Lane' (the 1923 hit by Isham Jones; more famous version by Frank Sinatra); his only top 10 was 'Primrose Lane' with backing group the Jewels. He switched to Mercury for a minor hit, then Liberty; came back to the top 40 on Decca and on TV in 1972: 'If You Leave Me I'll Cry' ('The Tune in Dan's Cafe') from Night Gallery; he also appeared in TV's Hec Ramsey. MCA LP Do You Know What It's Like To Be Lonesome? made the top 200 '73; other albums included Primrose Lane, I Wonder and Wives And Lovers. He left Decca and continued into the 1980s with minor country hits on small labels. |