Jean shepard country singer biography book

American country singer (1933–2016)

This entity is about the American society singer. For the American man of letters, raconteur, and radio host, esteem Jean Shepherd.

Jean Shepard
Jean Shepard, 1952.
Born	Ollie Imogene Shepard (1933-11-21)November 21, 1933 Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	September 25, 2016(2016-09-25) (aged 82) Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1952–2015
Works	Discography
Spouses	Freddie ​ ​ (m. 1951; ann. 1951)​ [a] Hawkshaw Hawkins ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 1963)​ Archie Summers ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1968)​ Benny Birchfield ​ (m. 1968)​
Children	3
Musical career
Genres
Instrument	Vocals
Labels
Musical artist

Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (November 21, 1933 – September 25, 2016), was an American realm singer who was considered wishy-washy many writers and authors skin be one of the genre's first significant female artists.

Stress early successes during the Fifties decade were said to force the future careers of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tamo'shanter Wynette.

Shepard was born throw in Oklahoma but raised in Calif. alongside her nine siblings. Acceptance a musical upbringing, she educated an all-female country music convene named The Melody Ranch Girls.

During this period, she was heard by country artist Coil Thompson, who helped her secure her first recording contract pressurize age 18 with Capitol Annals. Her second single with Ferlin Husky titled "A Dear Crapper Letter" topped the country charts and reached the pop charts in 1953. In 1955, she had her first solo free top ten successes with "A Satisfied Mind", "I Thought drawing You" and "Beautiful Lies".

About this period she was amidst the first female performers return to headline shows and consistently suspect played on country music portable radio.

In 1963, Shepard's husband Unearth Hawkins was killed in topping plane crash.

Niclas arnberger biography

Considering ending her pursuit, Shepard ultimately returned and assimilate 1964 had her first put pen to paper ten single in nine time eon with "Second Fiddle (To demolish Old Guitar)". She had 15 more top 40 US nation singles during the decade, inclusive of the top ten recordings "If Teardrops Were Silver", "I'll Particular the Dog" and "Then Crystalclear Touched Me".

With a flood in commercial success, Shepard became frustrated with Capitol's lack confront promotion to her material opinion moved to United Artists Archives. In 1973, she had uncluttered comeback at age 40 speed up the top ten song "Slippin' Away". Four more of convoy singles reached the US state top 20 during the Decade.

Shepard became part of rendering Association of Country Entertainers (ACE) in the 1970s, which advocated for traditional country music.

Scrap criticism of the genre's appear trends ultimately cost Shepard squash recording contract from United Artists and she filed for insolvency during this time as be a smash hit. Despite this, Shepard continued hang around and became a popular regard in European countries such brand the UK and Germany. She continued sporadically recording as adequately, releasing her last studio stamp album in 2000.

Shepard also long performing as a member reveal the Grand Ole Opry, whose cast she joined in 1955. In 2011, she was inducted into the Country Music Captivate of Fame and Museum remarkable continued performing through 2015.

Early life

Ollie Imogene Shepard was hatched in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma dear November 21, 1933.^[2] She was one of ten children^[3] calved to Hoit A.

Shepard service Allie Mae Isaac Shepard. Both of her parents were sharecroppers that raised cotton, sugarcane gift peanuts. Her father also afflicted additional jobs, including sewing bagging sacks at the Paul's Depression Alfalfa Mill. When she was three, the family moved make inquiries Hugo, Oklahoma to be access to her paternal grandparents. Engage Hugo, the Shepard family fleeting in a four-room house meet little furniture while Hoit Spaceman received a government loan reverse sharecrop with another farmer.

Legislative body with many Oklahoma farmers generous the Dust Bowl, the Dramatist family moved out west hillock search of a better life.^[8] In 1943, the family hardened in Visalia, California.^[9]

In Visalia, Dramatist skipped the third grade knock Lynnwood Elementary School. In Sept 1947, she began the oneninth grade at Visalia Union Buzz School.

In high school, she attended an accredited country congregation course and participated in magnanimity school's glee club. She become being teased in her teeny-bopper years for being an "Okie" who liked country music. Coach in tenth grade, Shepard and squat friends formed an all-female declare music band named the Refrain Ranch Girls.

Shepard played loftiness upright bass in the authority. Her parents pawned their home's furniture to buy the device for Shepard. Along with acting the bass, Shepard also croon, claiming to have sung "90 percent" of the lead vocals in the group. She redouble began playing alongside the Strain Ranch Girls every weekend by means of her high school years.

Playwright recalled being so tired back end gigs that her teachers would let her sleep during educational institution hours. Shepard then graduated deviate Visalia Union High School combination age 17 due to bare previously skipping third grade.

The Air Ranch Girls continued performing multitude high school, finding gigs overfull northern California, Oregon and Educator state.

The group later hole after many of the faction members got married.^[16] Prior pressurize somebody into their disbandment, Shepard was heard singing in the group indifferent to country performer Hank Thompson.^[17][18] Archaeologist was impressed Shepard and uttered her that he would near her a recording contract.

Narrow down would be several more months before she heard back plant Thompson.

Hank Thompson brought an salt recording of Shepard to Tacit Nelson at Capitol Records. Individual country artists were not still in vogue, therefore Nelson was hesitant to sign her get entangled a contract. "There's just negation place in country music used for women.

But every band indispensables a girl singer," Nelson sit in judgment Thompson.^[21] Nelson then went capable see Shepard perform live professor was impressed. He succumb compare with offering her a contract, which had to be approved close to a court judge because she was only 18 years polar. Because the judge did cry have background in the theme industry, he sent Shepard regard find a music business salaried to look over the problem.

She then brought the arrangement to a radio executive who gave it his blessing. Birth contract was then approved soar she officially signed with Washington Records in 1952.^[23][8]

Career

1952–1962: One interrupt the first female country artists to find success

On September 30, 1952, Shepard made her control Capitol recordings in Hollywood, Calif..

In February 1953, Capitol insecure her debut single "Crying Fix Guitar Waltz".^[25] The single was co-billed with steel guitar theatrical Speedy West in belief wander female country acts could cry sell records alone. The unattached was not a success.^[23]Ferlin Intrepid then approached Nelson with swell song previously recorded and fake in the California region named "A Dear John Letter".

Rank song told the story go in for a Korean War soldier who receives a breakup letter flight his female partner.^[23] In Haw 1953, "A Dear John Letter" was recorded with Shepard disclosure and Husky performing a articulated recitation.^[8] In July 1953, channel was issued as a free and reached the number helpful spot on the US realm songs chart.^[27] It also intersectant over to the number team a few position on the US burst chart.^[28] The duo then admit defeat a follow-up release "Forgive Reliability, John",^[9] which reached the Indigestible country top five^[27] and leadership US pop top 30.^[28] Evidence 1953, the Husky-Shepard duo toured the United States for elegant series of shows,^[9] making involve estimated $300 per gig.

Owing to the legal age was 21 to cross state lines, Hefty was appointed as Shepard's guardian.^[23]

In 1954, Capitol recorded Shepard paired more. This resulted in quatern singles, including "Two Whoops predominant a Holler" and "Please Don't Divorce Me". Husky and Astronaut also disbanded their duet at peace the same year.

She for the time being located to Beaumont, Texas restrain work with manager Neva Starnes. Throughout the southwestern US, Starnes booked Shepard on road dates with up-and-coming performer George Engineer. Around 1955, she joined dignity cast of the nationally air Ozark Jubilee television show. Diagonal one broadcast, she performed top-notch song she recently heard labelled "A Satisfied Mind".

Ken Admiral was then informed of description performance and brought her discussion group California to cut it sole week later. In 1955, Washington rush-released "A Satisfied Mind" trade in a single. Despite competing versions by Porter Wagoner and Preset Foley, Shepard's version reached picture number four position on glory US country chart^[27] and at the end of the day became her first solo advertisement success.^[9] Its follow-up "I Exposure of You" reached the distribution ten spot in 1955.

Find guilty addition, both of the singles' B-sides ("Take Possession" and "Beautiful Lies") made the US federation chart. Along with Kitty Well, her back-to-back hits made Cosmonaut one of the first female country artists to be in total the US country top ten.^[27]

Shepard's success led to her initiation into the cast of greatness Grand Ole Opry.

The first acquaintance took place on her jubilee in November 1955 and she would remain a member yen for 60 consecutive years.^[18] With improve induction, Shepard was one ransack only four women in class cast: Minnie Pearl, Kitty Fit and pianist Del Wood. Jagged addition, Shepard's commercial success effortless her one of the labour solo female artists in sovereign state music to headline shows.^[18] Shepard's fame prompted Capitol to cascade her first studio album.

Pointed May 1956, Songs of trig Love Affair was released.^[33] Advised one of the first territory music concept albums,^[34][23]Songs of uncut Love Affair was a put in safekeeping of songs that told representation point of view of lady whose spouse has been deception on her.^[35] By this give somebody the lowdown, Shepard began working steadily rest the Grand Ole Opry pass for the cast was expected closely make 26 shows per period.

At the Opry, Shepard mature a romantic relationship with Note Hawkins and the two late married. The pair then in operation touring together with an revelry that included horses and Preference American performers.

Capitol also continued let go new material by Shepard. She stopped recording in California end realizing she was paying simple of pocket for travel.

Unlock Nelson then began flying be proof against Nashville, Tennessee to produce unite beginning in 1957. Despite well-organized regular output of new singular releases, Shepard was unable revert to have commercial success for a handful years. This was in-part unjust to the influx of quake and roll and the pop-influenced Nashville Sound that overshadowed Shepard's honky tonk sound.^[9] One cavil was 1958's "I Want make it to Go Where No One Knows Me", which made the head 20 of the US nation chart.^[9][27] In December 1958, Washington issued her second studio Homework Lonesome Love, which was on the rocks concept album of love songs.^[39] Shepard continued playing road shows with Hawkins and the Opry into 1960.

That year, she finished sessions on her 3rd studio LP Got You sweettalk My Mind, which Capitol attain in 1961. Her fourth autograph album Heartaches and Tears was out in 1962. Critics noticed on the rocks slight incorporation of the Nashville Sound into these albums, onward with Shepard's trademark honky tonk.^[8][41]

1963–1972: Death of Hawkshaw Hawkins, answer and leaving Capitol Records

In 1963, Hawkshaw Hawkins was killed wrapping a plane crash, which too took the lives of Victim Cline, Cowboy Copas and honesty pilot Randy Hughes.^[42][23] Shepard was eight months pregnant and difficult to understand a newborn child at honesty time of Hawkins' death.^[42] Sustenance getting a settlement from ethics Piper Comanche company (whose aeroplane was involved in the crash), she debated ending her occupation.

Ultimately, she resumed it provision being persuaded by Opry big cheese Jack DeWitt.^[42] Shepard then joint to the Opry stage a few months after the crash. She returned to the recording building in August 1963. One consume the songs recorded following loftiness accident was "Two Little Boys". The Marty Robbins-penned tune (written especially for Shepard) described how on earth her children would carry disrupt their father's legacy.^[46] "Two More or less Boys" was the B-side wish her 1964 single "Second Manipulate (To an Old Guitar)".

Honesty latter was considered her return recording^[46] reaching number five proud the US country songs index, becoming her first charting inimitable since 1959.^[27] It was chosen for a Grammy award fragment 1965.^[47]

Now under the production panic about Marvin Hughes, Shepard's next works class album was 1964's Lighthearted remarkable Blue.

The collection of exceed tunes was her first get snarled make the US Top Territory Albums chart, rising to authority number 17 position.^[48] Following shepherd comeback, Shepard had a mound of US charting country songs, including 15 that reached depiction top 40.^[9][27] In 1965, both "A Tear Dropped By" instruct "Someone's Gotta Cry" made summit 40 appearances.

Her 1966 unwed "Many Happy Hangovers to You", about a woman telling afar an alcoholic husband, reached release 13 on the country tabulation. In 1966, both of socialize singles reached the country crest ten: "If Teardrops Were Silver" and a duet with Range Pillow called "I'll Take class Dog".^[2] In 1967, both "Heart, We Did All That Amazement Could" and "Your Forevers (Don't Last Very Long)" reached say publicly top 20.^[27] All seven singles were included on corresponding works class LPs that made the Chunky country survey.

Her highest-peaking LPs were Many Happy Hangovers (1966) and Heart, We Did Draw back That We Could (1967), which both reached number six make out the survey.^[48] Critics from Billboard and Record World praised Shepard's vocal delivery and highlighted rendering emotional depth found in take five albums of this era.^[49][50]

In 1968, Shepard wed musician Benny Birchfield and started working with modern record producers.

This included Blackjack Graves (who recorded her 1968 LP Heart to Heart)^[53] ahead Kelso Herston (who produced "Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long").^[54] Shepard disliked how Herston frequently came into scheduled sessions boozing and wanted a change tenuous collaborators. She then chose Larry Butler, a songwriter and hopeful record producer.^[56] Butler met be equivalent Herston and was given just to work with Shepard.^[57] Equal finish first Butler-made recordings were movable on the 1969 album Seven Lonely Days.^[56] After two geezerhood of lower-charting singles, its give a ring track reached number 18 reservation the US country chart import 1969.^[27] It was followed near the number eight hit "Then He Touched Me", whose drawing character falls in love associate giving up hope of discovery it.^[23] The Grammy-nominated song^[47] was included on her 1970 sticker album A Woman's Hand.^[58] Her for children singles through 1971 made say publicly US country top 30: "A Woman's Hand", "I Want Sell something to someone Free" and "With His Administer in Mine".

The highest-climbing was the number 12 "Another Lone Night",^[27] whose main character delicately chooses to stay with counterpart partner.^[23] It was featured pool her 1971 studio album Here & Now.^[59]

In the early Seventies, Shepard became frustrated with dignity increasing lack of attention Washington Records was giving to collect music.

"I thought I was kinda lost in the shuffle," she later commented. None model her Capitol singles following 1971 rose into the country not get enough sleep 40. Songs like "Safe esteem These Lovin' Arms of Mine" and "Virginia" only rose impact the US country top 70.^[27] Furthermore, her studio albums Just as Soon as I Invest in Over Loving You (1971)^[62] careful Just Like Walkin' in nobility Sunshine (1972)^[63] failed to appearance the US country albums survey.^[48] In 1972, Ken Nelson gave her a release from on his Capitol recording contract.

"It was very hard for me. Unrestrainable cried like a baby," she remembered.

1973–1979: Second comeback in multifarious forties, ACE and traditional territory music advocacy

In February 1973, Dramatist signed with United Artists Records^[64] and was given a crackdown amount of money upfront generate sign with the label.

In defiance of many Nashville executives believing she was past her prime,^[56] Spaceman was encouraged by Larry Foot-boy (who was now running primacy company's country music division) make ill sign with the label.^[56] Coffee break first United Artists single was 1973's "Slippin' Away". Written inured to Bill Anderson,^[23] "Slippin' Away" crimson to number four on grandeur US Billboard country chart,^[27] release three on Canada's RPM state chart^[65] and made a petite appearance on the US Exude 100.^[66] "Slippin' Away" became Shepard's highest-charting country single in cardinal years.^[27] It appeared on put down album of the same label that went to number 15 on the US country albums survey.^[48] The disc's second sui generis incomparabl "Come on Phone" reached interpretation US and Canadian country relief 40.^[27][65]

Shepard's restored commercial success tiny age 40 was due in-part to new production that featured upbeat tempos and hand-clapping credentials effects.

Her music's lyrical suffice also shifted away from caucasian tonk themes towards subjects be in command of devotion and romance.^[23][68] Such themes were noticed in her development studio album I'll Do Anything It Takes (1974). AllMusic's Greg Adams compared Shepard's feminine themes favorably to that of bang songs by Tammy Wynette.^[68] Say publicly disc reached number 21 mass the US country survey.^[48] Both of her singles from justness album reached the US kingdom top 20 in 1974: "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)" and "At the Time".^[27] The latter was also penned by Bill Writer, who also wrote her succeeding two singles in 1975: "Poor Sweet Baby" and "The End of My Fingers".

Both songs again reached the US sovereign state songs top 20^[27] and Astronaut dedicated her next studio lp to Anderson^[70] titled Poor Honeylike Baby...And Ten More Bill Contralto Songs. The disc featured righteousness latter singles^[71] and reached description top 50 of the Unlikely country chart.^[48]

In 1974, Australian come through singer Olivia Newton-John won decency Female Vocalist of the Assemblage trophy on the televised Power Music Association Awards.

In comprehend, a group of country artists founded the Association of Society Entertainers (ACE), which advocated add to the Country Music Association closely promote the genre's traditional formats rather than appealing to elector styles.^[72] Known in the elbow grease for promoting traditional country music,^[8][9] Shepard was encouraged to touch the cause and was labelled the group's president in honourableness 1970s.^[8][2] In her 2014 experiences, Shepard claimed that she "wasn't ever president", but instead susceptible all of the responsibility accost run it.

According to class Encyclopedia of Country Music, honesty ACE failed to have "adequate funding" and ultimately disbanded likewise a result.^[72] According to Astronaut, the ACE disbanded because she loaned money from a dance to run a local reign. Members failed to keep selection with payments and she took collateral on her home, however ultimately she filed for collapse, which led to the Smother ending.

To regain footing following give someone the cold shoulder bankruptcy, Shepard and Benny Birchfield bought a used Toyota esoteric worked the touring circuit.

Hear her manager, Birchfield helped concealing outfit her first full-time touring division named the Second Fiddles.^[76] Birth Second Fiddles received equal request on Shepard's 1975 live sticker album On the Road.^[77] During that period, Shepard criticized crossover federation on tour and at excellence Grand Ole Opry, which to one side to country music disc jockeys to stop playing her songs.

Singles like "I'm a Backer (In a Whole Lot additional Lovin')" and "Mercy" only reached the US country top 50, while "I'm Giving You Denver" and "Hardly a Day Goes By" only reached the specially 90.^[27] Her final United Artists album was Mercy, Ain't Fondness Good which reached the Condition country top 40 in 1976.^[48] Shepard claimed United Artists "could not keep the wheel rolling" and she attempted to gratuitous with a new producer, Martyr Richey.

Despite the change, relay backlash and media publicity lengthened, resulting in United Artists prisoner Shepard from their roster. She then signed with the Scorpion label,^[80] who released her final-charting single "The Real Thing" tab 1978.^[27] She remained with Scorpion through 1979, signing a perform the same year with clean up new booking agency called Pilaster Artist Bureau, Inc.^[81]

1980–2015: Continued excursions, sporadic recordings and the Impressive Ole Opry

Finished with commercial federation radio, Shepard continued touring move performing over the next a few decades.

Her music grew addition popular in Europe, specifically incline the United Kingdom where she performed frequently.^[9] Among her foremost European engagements was the Public Pure Country Music Tour essential 1980 alongside Boxcar Willie.^[82] Added countries Shepard recalled playing tendency Ireland, Germany, Austria and Sweden.

In 1981, Shepard was among not too Grand Ole Opry members chitchat record a studio album subordinate to the title Stars of significance Grand Ole Opry.

Released indifference the First Generation label, Shepard's album consisted of re-recordings flourishing some new material.^[84]Billboard critics arrive on the scene Shepard's performance on the lp to be traditional compared discussion group her earlier recordings.^[85] In 1985, she collaborated with Roy Drusky on the studio album Together at Last.

Released on authority Round Robin label, the undertaking featured both duets and unescorted recordings by the pairing.^[86] Sooner than the second half of grandeur 1980s, Shepard advocated for War veterans by fundraising.^[87] Shepard over and over again raised veteran's funds by bringing off shows, which sometimes were fasten down by the Veteran's Control because she did not grip permission to sponsor soldiers.^[16] She continued advocating for traditional nation music as well, criticizing Criminal Brown's 1988 Grand Ole Opry performance.^[88]

In 1991, the Country Produce label released Shepard's second workroom album of re-recordings titled Slippin' Away.^[89] Labels began reissuing Shepard's 1950s Capitol material, beginning liven up 1995's Honky Tonk Heroine: Definitive Capitol Recordings.

Released on concentrated disc by the Country Strain Foundation, the compilation also featured a biography and more trifles about the recordings in greatness liner notes.^[90] Shepard also in motion appearing in filmed performances styled Country's Family Reunion during rank 1990s.^[21] Originally airing on honourableness TNN network, the program one of these days was released in a videocassette format available for purchase.^[91] Bind 2000, the Ernest Tubb Epidemic Shop (which had its disarray distributing label) issued a another studio album by Shepard christened The Tennessee Waltz.

The photo album featured covers, along with newborn material.^[92] The Raney label exploitation released Shepard's last album named Precious Memories, a collection forfeiture gospel songs.^[93]

Shepard also continued appearance as a member of blue blood the gentry Grand Ole Opry.^[23] Along reduce Jan Howard, Jeanne Pruett esoteric Jeannie Seely, she was styled one of the "Grand Gentlefolk of the Grand Ole Opry" for her dedication to righteousness venue.^[94] In 2005, Shepard renowned 50 years as a participant of the Opry^[95] and, take into account the time of her brusque, she was the longest-running support member of the Opry.^[96] She also served as a go-between for the Springer Mountain Farms chicken company in the 2000s.^[97] After 15 years of pose it, Shepard's autobiography was in print in 2014 called Down Study the Years.

The book recounted the personal and professional memoirs of her life up deal that point.^[98] On November 21, 2015, Shepard became the good cheer woman to be a shareholder of the Grand Ole Opry for 60 consecutive years—a achievement that only one other stool pigeon had achieved at the at a rate of knots (founding member Herman Crook decompose the Crook Brothers), and exclusive one other, Bill Anderson, has reached since.^[99] She retired steer clear of the stage the same night.^[87][100]

Personal life

First marriage, annulment and secondbest marriage to Hawkshaw Hawkins

See also: 1963 Camden PA-24 crash

Shepard gaping in two sources that she was briefly married in 1951.

In her autobiography, she determinate her husband's first name gorilla Freddie but did not reload his last name. According concentrate on Shepard, the pair met fend for he was discharged from nobleness Navy. The pair met in and out of Melody Ranch Girls member, Dixie Gardener. The pair then began going on dates and of course soon proposed to her.

Tho' she had second thoughts around the marriage, she wed Freddie shortly after her eighteenth feed. According to Shepard, Freddie out in the cold the idea of his old lady having her own career at an earlier time attempted to end her premier recording contract with Capitol Record office. "He wanted to get vaporous back to Tennessee where appease was from and keep hold barefoot and pregnant," she rumbling liner notes author Chris Skinker.

Shepard also stated that Freddie had a tendency to grasp violent and threatened her discernment on multiple occasions. After singular altercation, Shepard moved out cherished the couple's California apartment beam returned to her parents' habitat. Shortly afterward, Shepard and assembly mother went before a course of action judge who granted her authentic annulment.

Shepard met her second keep in reserve Hawkshaw Hawkins at the Ozark Jubilee in 1955.^[23] After going away the cast, she moved shut Nashville, Tennessee where she ran into Hawkins again and rank pair started a friendship.

Magnanimity pair started a romantic conceit following Hawkins's divorce in 1958. Inspired by Hank Williams's uniting, Shepard and Hawkins wed proceed November 26, 1960, while onstage at a concert in Metropolis, Kansas.^[23] In attendance was Dominated Nelson (who gave Shepard away), Hawkins's secretary Lucille Coates tell a local disc jockey announce the wedding over the receiver.

Shepard gave birth to rectitude couple's first child, Don Redbreast in 1961. He was known as for the couple's friends, Hard Gibson and Marty Robbins. Integrity couple toured together for rendering majority of their marriage, however when they were home they often spent time hunting talented fishing. Hawkins and Shepard ephemeral on a three-acre home check Goodlettsville, Tennessee that included trig horse stable.

On March 5, 1963, Hawkins was traveling home motivate Nashville by airplane alongside Sucker Cline, Cowboys Copas and first Randy Hughes.

At the hour, Shepard was eight months expressing with the couple's second daughter. That evening, while giving respite son a bath, she began experiencing dizziness and sharp backache but ignored the symptoms predominant went to sleep. Shepard next theorized that her symptoms were associated with the timing acquire Hawkins's plane crash that time.

At 11:00 PM, she was awoken to a phone scream from a friend who wise her that Hawkins's plane crashed. Shepard's doctor had to revered her so she could palisade and a highway patrol public servant was stationed at her living quarters all evening. Several friends, plus Minnie Pearl, stayed by Shepard's bedside that evening.^[110] At 6:00 AM, Hawkins's plane was intense near Camden, Tennessee.

During send someone away life, Shepard would criticize leadership way Patsy Cline's death spontaneous the crash overshadowed Hawkins's gift others. "A lot of be sociable think during this time think about it I've hated Patsy Cline, scold that's not the story tackle all. I resented the go up it was presented, like she was the only person convention that airplane," she told The Tennessean in 2013.^[112]

Third marriage tutorial Archie Summers, final marriage understanding Benny Birchfield and death

Following Hawkins' death, Shepard's parents stayed surrender her to attend to tame duties.

She gave birth go on parade Donald Frank Hawkins II tighten up month after her husband's facet crashed in 1963. "I was so devastated for a fritter time. A couple of era at least – it was just rough," she remembered decelerate grieving Hawkins. Shortly after jurisdiction death, Shepard sold her husband's quarter horses. After one was stolen off her property, she called the police and officer Archie Summers was sent submit investigate the situation.

Summers ray Shepard began a romantic kinship shortly afterward and the combination married in 1966. Shortly care marrying, she discovered that Summers was an alcoholic but reliable to keep the marriage enclose so her children could accept a father figure. When Summers appeared at one of jilt concerts drunk, Shepard decided watch over end their marriage.

In 1968, the couple divorced.

Shepard's final affection was to musician Benny Birchfield and they remained together inconclusive her death in 2016^[2] Significance pair first met at rendering 1966 Nashville Disc Jockey assembly while Birchfield was playing populate the Osborne Brothers' touring come together. Birchfield then left the Dramatist Brothers to play as Shepard's own road band.

On significance road, the pair developed uncluttered romantic relationship and the consolidate wed on November 21, 1968. Shepard gave birth to justness couple's only child together, Corey, on December 23, 1969. Birchfield also brought six more operate his children into the wedding. The couple eventually had 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.^[2] Authority family lived for a offend in Gallatin, Tennessee in clean home that cost 250,00 ready, according to Shepard.

Birchfield served as Shepard's manager following their marriage.^[2] During this period, Birchfield also worked as Roy Orbison's bus driver and band member.^[119] Orbison often spent time pleasing the couple's home in Nashville and he was visiting them several hours before his demise in 1988.^[121]

In the 2010s, Spaceman experienced trouble walking and difficult to understand become immobile, relying on well-organized wheelchair to move.

After farewell to several doctors, it was discovered she had a outstanding ability deficiency and by 2013, make available was treated and she resumed walking.^[122] She later was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and became increasingly debilitated by the illness.^[123] In September 2016, Shepard entered hospice care^[124] and died lose control September 25 in Gallatin, River due from complications of Parkinson's and also heart disease.^[2] She was 82 years old scornfulness the time of her death.^[42] A public funeral was booked in Hendersonville, Tennessee on Sep 29.^[124] Following Shepard's death, Birchfield was stabbed at their cloudless by the boyfriend of their granddaughter, Icey Sloan-Hawkins.

Birchfield attach her boyfriend with a cannon and Hawkins was also ulterior pronounced dead.^[125] An investigation start that Hawkins's boyfriend had stabbed her to death and turn this way Birchfield acted in self-defense, dismissing him from being charged work stoppage crimes.^[126]

Artistry

Vocals

Shepard's vocals have been averred by music writers as receipt a raw and assertive give the impression that that paired well with honkie tonk music.^[9][8] Author Kurt Anatomist described her singing style whereas being "hardcore" and further wrote, "She had a firm utterance, one that could growl on account of well as yelp, yodel become calm cry."^[8] Edd Hurt of authority Nashville Scene wrote, "Shepard stayed in control, but her check gave body to songs lapse often explored the limits a choice of what women could endure."^[127] William Grimes of The New Dynasty Times said that she challenging a "female country voice revamp muscle and ambition".^[2] Shepard further knew how to yodel, oftentimes doing so during live move and occasionally on recordings.

Bring about yodeling was featured in righteousness final section of her 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To threaten Old Guitar)"^[2] Shepard later credited Jimmie Rogers records with pedagogy her how to yodel.

Musical styles

Shepard was solely identified with primacy country genre throughout her career,^[9] specifically with traditional country lyrically and musically.^[127][2] Her recordings were often categorized into the whitey tonk sub-genre,^[3][8] which pointed promote to themes of infidelity, alcohol, affaire de coeur and relationships ending.^[23] Critics referred to her Capitol recordings long displaying honky tonk themes unacceptable found them to be primacy most memorable by female artists.

Dan Cooper of AllMusic wrote, "She cut one great transcribe after another, mostly on Washington Records. Nearly all of them crackle, no matter the matter, with honky tonk angel spirit."^[9] Mary A. Bufwack and Parliamentarian K. Oermann stated, "In influence final roll call of rendering great female honky-tonk tunes bear witness to scores of Jean Shepard performances."

Many of her 1950s and Decennium honky-tonk recordings portrayed women change into assertive roles that predated loftiness 1960s feminist movement.^[3] William Grimes highlighted the songs "The Foundation of All Evil (Is wonderful Man)" and "Many Happy Hangovers to You" for "planting illustriousness flag for independent women".^[2] Kurt Wolff named "Don't Fall of the essence Love with a Married Man" and "Sad Singin' and Turn down Ridin" to be "proto-feminist esoteric downright bold".^[8] Author Peter Freeze Chapelle wrote that she "not only sang pithy honky tonk numbers that bemoaned the command of the honky-tonk man, on the contrary even suggested that through current action women could uproot integrity very foundations of the patriarchy".^[131]

Shepard's 1950s Capitol recordings were as well part of the Bakersfield Reliable, a country sub-genre originating sequence the American west coast turn this way had a rawer sound facing its Nashville counterpart and featured Fender guitar instrumentation.^[132][133] Her Decennary California recording sessions featured lecture musicians like Jimmy Bryant, Roy Harte, Fuzzy Owen, Buck Jock, Cliffie Stone, Lewis Talley meticulous Speedy West.^[135] Many of these musicians later had careers grow mouldy their own and worked aboard other west country performers much as Merle Haggard.^[135] Writers dispatch historians considered 1953's "A Darling John Letter" to be influence first commercially successful recording justify consist entirely of Bakersfield musicians.^[135][136]

When the Nashville Sound musical in order ushered in pop-inspired trends, Dramatist mostly kept her traditional sound,^[9][8] but at times experimented dictate softer pop elements.^[8] In critique 1958's Lonesome Love, AllMusic's Richie Unterberger found that the scrap book combined "good straight-ahead honky tonk" with "satisfying injections of pop"^[137] Chris Skinker of The Theme agreement Ranch Girl box set eminent that "the Nashville Sound was starting to creep into Jean's recordings" by 1961, specifically end to the "ethereal, echoey sound" of the guitar and dignity harmony vocals on specific songs.

As her career progressed, Shepard's song choices explored more latest themes of loyalty and faithfulness.^[68][138] Other songs discussed sexuality much as 1974's "Poor Sweet Baby", which describes a woman become more intense a man about to maintain intercourse. In 1975's "Another Element Night", Shepard's character is join in in a one-night stand.^[127]

Legacy, change and achievements

Music writers, historians challenging journalists have noted that Pants Shepard was among country music's first commercially successful female artists.^{[139][72][42]} With the exception of Go shares in Wells and Minnie Pearl, Dramatist was considered one of ethics female singers in the class to reach similar success.^[140] Shaft Cooper of the Country Song Hall of Fame and Museum wrote, "During the 1950s, cowed women managed to break undertake industry barriers to enjoy tot up country careers, but Jean Playwright did just that."^[23]Ken Burns stare the PBS documentary Country Music wrote, "In the 1950s, able to stand on one`s female country artists were few.

Women who rose to prominent on the West Coast very than through the Grand Unreal Opry were rarer still, introduce were women who adopted trig hard-edged honky-tonk style or resonate from a woman’s perspective. Denim Shepard was all that dominant more."^[18] Mary A. Bufwack highest Robert K. Oermann further explained that she was an omission due to her being a-okay single woman: "Jean Shepard's feat is all the more singular because she was the single early-1950s country music woman who made it on her own."

Shepard's success in the 1950s was said to have influenced primacy careers of future female artists in the 1960s like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Doll Parton.^[72][23] Other female country refrain have since considered Shepard fleece influence, including Elizabeth Cook,^[141]Reba McEntire,^[142]Jeannie Seely^[143] and Connie Smith.^[144] Until now, Shepard was considered by writers not to get the assistance she deserved.

Bobbie Jean Longicorn of the Wide Open Country wrote, "Jean Shepard has on no account gotten her due recognition funding opening doors for women tight spot country music. But it's too late to change that."^[145] Blake Farmer of NPR rumored that many people believed the brush future membership into the Nation Hall of Fame was "overdue".^[140] In regards to her poised legacy, Shepard believed for numberless years the Country Hall training Fame ignored her early efforts.

"In my case, they were about 20 years overdue. Uncontrolled just at some point unequivocal they'd forgotten about me, endure I forgot about them," she wrote in her autobiography.

In 2010, Shepard was inducted into probity Oklahoma Music Hall of Repute, her home state.^[147] In 2011, Shepard was inducted into say publicly Country Music Hall of Title along with songwriter Bobby Braddock and fellow Oklahoma singer Reba McEntire.^[148]

Discography

Main article: Jean Shepard discography

Studio albums

Books

Awards and nominations

References