|
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 ZWAGONER, Porter(b 12 August 1927, Howell Co. MO; 28 October 2007 of lung cancer) Country singer, guitarist, songwriter, TV star. He took up heavy farm duties at an early age because of his father's arthritis, later worked in grocery shop, picking and singing when things were slow, leading to local radio spot promoting the shop: got his own show on KWTO in Springfield '51, was discovered by Red Foley, who asked him to join his Ozark Jamboree, staying for four years until it was on national TV. Signed with RCA, soon had top ten hits 'Satisfied Mind', 'Eat, Drink, And Be Merry', 'What Would You Do If Jesus Came To Your House?' '55-6; joined Grand Ole Opry '57 but had no more hits until starting his own syndicated TV show '60 which became the most popular country show of all. The hits included 'Misery Loves Company' '62 (no. 1), 'I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand' '62 (no. 7), 'Sorrow On The Rocks' '64, 'Green, Green Grass Of Home' and 'Skid Row Joe' '65, 'The Cold Hard Facts Of Life' '67, 'The Carroll County Accident' and 'Big Wind' '68-9, all top five. His act was among the most popular touring the country, including his band the Wagonmasters and Norma Jean singing solo and duet from mid-'60s, then Dolly Parton from late '60s: they had eight top ten duet hits '67-71 and carried on through '70s, both also good writers: their 'Say Forever You'll Be Mine' '75 was Parton's song, 'Is Forever Longer Than Always' '76 was his, both top ten; his solo hit 'Carolina Moonshine' '75 was her song; hits with his own songs '70s inclded 'Tore Down', 'I Haven't Learned A Thing', 'Ole Slew Foot', several more. His many LPs included Duets With Skeeter Davis '62, Sings His Own Songs '71; he made Grammy-winning gospel LPs with the Blackwood Brothers: Grand Ole Gospel '66, More Grand Ole Gospel '67, In Gospel Country '69. Duet LPs with Parton included Always, Always '69, Porter Wayne And Dolly Rebecca '70, Once More and Two Of A Kind '71, Right Combination/Burning The Midnight Oil '72. He performed honky-tonk, bluegrass and other styles; he was involved in some of Parton's early innovative work but himself remained within country genres. He produced her records and she began to feel constrained; she left late '70s despite lawsuits. Her song 'I Will Always Love You' was said to be about him. Their duets continued to be hits into the '80s, though Wagoner had been dropped by RCA. The TV show came to an end '81; he moved to Warner Brothers '83, MCA/Dot '85. He remained a member of the Opry, co-hosted Opry Backstage with Bill Anderson. He did little touring latterly, but in the mid-'90s was a 'goodwill ambassador' at Opryland Theme Park, personally greeting visitors. CD compilations were four-disc set The Thin Man From The West Plains 1952-62 on Bear Family; The Essential Porter And Dolly and The Essential Porter Wagoner, both on RCA. |