Franklin Delano Reeves (July 14, 1932 – January 1, 2007)[1] was an American country music singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty songs of the 1960s including "Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell". He is also known for his 1968 trucker's anthem, "Looking at the World Through a Windshield", which demonstrated he was capable of more than just novelty songs. He became one of the most successful male country singers of the 1960s.
Del Reeves | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Franklin Delano Reeves |
| Born | July 14, 1932 Sparta, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | January 1, 2007 (aged 74) Centerville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter |
| Years active | 1945–2006 |
| Labels | Capitol, Decca, Columbia Records, Reprise, United Artists |
Early life
editReeves was born in Sparta, North Carolina, in July 1932 , United States, the youngest of 11 children.[2] He was named after U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.[3] While his older brothers served in World War II, Reeves learned how to play their musical instruments.[2] By age 12, Reeves began performing on the Merry Go Round Show on local radio station WPAQ.[3][4]
After high school, Reeves briefly attended Appalachian State College (now University). He later enlisted in the United States Air Force, stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California.[4]
Music career
edit1950s
editAfter completing his military service, Reeves began performing regularly on Chester Smith's radio show on Modesto station KTRB around 1955.[5][6] Reeves made his first rockabilly recordings with Capitol Records from 1957 to 1958.[7][8]
In 1958, Reeves began hosting a television variety show on Stockton station KOVR.[8]
1960s–2000s
editIn 1961, Reeves signed with Decca Records and recorded the song that would become his first charting single, "Be Quiet Mind".[2] Moving to Nashville in 1962, Reeves and wife Ellen Schiell co-wrote "Sing a Little Song of Heartache", a top five hit for Rose Maddox that year.[4][9]
After stints with Reprise Records in 1963 and Columbia Records in 1964, Reeves signed with United Artists Records.[9] Reeves became known as "The Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo Kid" for the sound effect he added to his songs.[10]
Under United Artists, he had his first number-one hit with "The Girl on the Billboard" in 1965.[2] His follow-up, "The Belles of the Southern Bell", made the country top five.[2] His success continued throughout the rest of the 1960s. Songs that became hits during this time are "Be Glad" and "Good Time Charlie's".[2] In the late 1960s, he appeared in several Hollywood films, including a starring role in Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers, and a supporting role in Burt Reynolds' first big movie Sam Whiskey.[4][9]
In the 1970s, he released a series of duets with Bobby Goldsboro and Penny DeHaven. He also returned to television, hosting the syndicated TV program, Del Reeves' Country Carnival.[2]
His last big hit was "The Philadelphia Fillies". His career declined in the mid-1970s, and then started to slowly move away from country music, although he recorded some duets with Billie Jo Spears in 1976.[2] He had hit songs on the country chart most years until 1982.
In 1979, Reeves left his musical career to pursue a career as a music executive; he would eventually help Billy Ray Cyrus score his first major record deal.[2] He continued to record in the 1980s on a reduced scale for smaller labels.
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | US Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Mr. Country Music | — |
| Girl on the Billboard | 8 | |
| Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo | 6 | |
| 1966 | Sings Jim Reeves | 23 |
| Special Delivery | 28 | |
| Gettin' Any Feed for Your Chickens | 18 | |
| Santa's Boy | — | |
| 1967 | Struttin' My Stuff | 22 |
| Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other | 42 | |
| The Little Church in the Dell | — | |
| Our Way of Life | 28 | |
| 1968 | Running Wild | 35 |
| The Best | — | |
| Looking at the World | 33 | |
| 1969 | Wonderful World of Country Music | — |
| Down at the Goodtime Charlie's | 42 | |
| Friends and Neighbors | — | |
| 1970 | Big Daddy Del | 41 |
| Country Concert | — | |
| The Best 2 | — | |
| 1971 | Del Reeves | 36 |
| 1972 | Before Goodbye | 45 |
| 1973 | Trucker's Paradise | — |
| 1974 | Live at the Palomino Club | 45 |
| The Very Best | 42 | |
| 1975 | With Strings and Things | — |
| 1976 | By Request (with Billie Jo Spears) | 46 |
| 10th Anniversary | — | |
| 1980 | Let's Go to Heaven Tonight | — |
| 1994 | His Greatest Hits | — |
| 1996 | Gospel | — |
| 1998 | I'll Take My Chances | — |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country[11] | CAN Country | |||
| 1961 | "Be Quiet Mind" | 9 | — | singles only |
| 1962 | "He Stands Real Tall" | 11 | — | |
| 1963 | "The Only Girl I Can't Forget" | 13 | — | |
| 1964 | "Talking to the Night Lights" | 41 | — | |
| 1965 | "Girl on the Billboard"A | 1 | — | Girl on the Billboard |
| "The Belles of the Southern Bell" | 4 | — | ||
| "Women Do Funny Things to Me" | 9 | — | Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo | |
| 1966 | "One Bum Town" | 42 | — | Special Delivery |
| "Gettin' Any Feed for Your Chickens" | 37 | — | Gettin' Any Feed for Your Chickens | |
| "This Must Be the Bottom" | 27 | — | Struttin' My Stuff | |
| 1967 | "Blame It on My Do Wrong" | 45 | — | Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other |
| "The Private" | 33 | — | The Best of Del Reeves | |
| "A Dime at a Time" | 12 | — | Our Way of Life | |
| 1968 | "I Just Wasted the Rest" (with Bobby Goldsboro) | 56 | — | |
| "Wild Blood" | 18 | 5 | Running Wild | |
| "Looking at the World Through a Windshield" | 5 | 4 | Looking at the World | |
| "Good Time Charlie's" | 3 | 20 | Down at the Goodtime Charlie's | |
| 1969 | "Be Glad" | 5 | — | |
| "There Wouldn't Be a Lonely Heart in Town" | 12 | — | Big Daddy Del | |
| "Take a Little Good Will Home" (with Bobby Goldsboro) | 31 | 31 | Our Way of Life | |
| 1970 | "A Lover's Question" (with the Goodtime Charlies) | 14 | — | The Best 2 |
| "Son of a Coal Man" | 41 | 21 | Friends and Neighbors | |
| "Landmark Tavern" (with Penny DeHaven) | 20 | 24 | singles only | |
| "Bad, Bad Tuesday" | — | 41 | ||
| "Right Back to Lovin' You Again" | 22 | 21 | Friends and Neighbors | |
| 1971 | "Bar Room Talk" | 30 | 7 | |
| "Workin' Like the Devil for the Lord" | 33 | — | ||
| "The Philadelphia Fillies" | 9 | 38 | Del Reeves | |
| "Dozen Pairs of Boots" | 31 | 49 | ||
| 1972 | "The Best Is Yet to Come" | 29 | — | |
| "No Rings, No Strings" | 62 | — | Before Goodbye | |
| "Crying in the Rain" (with Penny DeHaven) | 54 | — | single only | |
| "Before Goodbye" | 47 | — | Before Goodbye | |
| 1973 | "Trucker's Paradise" | 54 | 86 | Trucker's Paradise |
| "Mm-Mm Good" | 44 | 31 | single only | |
| "Lay a Little Lovin' on Me" | 22 | 63 | The Very Best of Del Reeves | |
| 1974 | "What a Way to Go" | 70 | — | singles only |
| "Prayer from a Mobile Home" | 62 | — | ||
| "She Likes Country Bands" | 89 | — | ||
| "Pour It All on Me" | 65 | — | Strings and Things | |
| 1975 | "But I Do" | 65 | — | |
| "Puttin' In Overtime at Home" | 74 | — | ||
| "You Comb Her Hair Every Morning" | 92 | — | single only | |
| 1976 | "I Ain't Got Nobody" | 51 | — | 10th Anniversary |
| "On the Rebound" (with Billie Jo Spears) | 29 | — | By Request | |
| "Teardrops Will Kiss the Morning Dew" (with Billie Jo Spears) | 42 | — | ||
| "My Better Half" | 79 | — | singles only | |
| 1977 | "Ladies' Night" | 78 | — | |
| 1978 | "When My Angel Turns into a Devil" | 93 | — | |
| "Dig Down Deep" | 79 | — | ||
| 1980 | "Take Me to Your Heart" | 82 | — | Del Reeves |
| "What Am I Gonna Do?" | 90 | — | ||
| 1981 | "Swinging Doors" | 67 | — | singles only |
| "Slow Hand" | 53 | — | ||
| 1982 | "Ain't Nobody Gonna Get My Body but You" | 67 | — | |
| 1986 | "The Second Time Around" | 95 | — | Here's Del Reeves |
- APeaked at No. 96 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 31 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada.
Music videos
edit| Year | Video |
|---|---|
| 1994 | "Girl on the Billboard" |
Personal life
editReeves married Ellen Schiell in 1956 at the Stanislaus County fair in California; they had three children.[9][12] Reeves died of emphysema on January 1, 2007, at age 74, at his home in Centerville, Tennessee.[1][3][4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Del Reeves, Grand Ole Opry Star, 74, Dies". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 6, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Huey, Steve. "Del Reeves: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c Foxx, Virginia (February 5, 2007). "Honoring Del Reeves" (PDF). Congressional Record. 153 (3): 3081. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Morris, Edward (January 4, 2007). "Grand Ole Opry Star Del Reeves Dead at 73". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on January 8, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Chester Smith". Hillbilly-music.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Chester Smith | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Del Reeves dies at 73". Country Standard Time. January 2, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ a b Sachs, Bill (April 14, 1958). "Folk talent & tunes" (PDF). The Billboard. 70 (15): 14, 46. Retrieved July 3, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b c d Trott, Walt (1998). "Del Reeves". In Kingsbury, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 434–435. ISBN 978-0-19-517608-7.
- ^ Wolff, Kurt (2000). "Del Reeves". Country Music: The Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides. p. 322. ISBN 1-85828-534-8.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 344–345. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ "Ellen Reeves - View Obituary & Service Information". Williamsfh.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.