"Emotional Healings and Gospel Feelings" Great songs of the past. Another Blogger Blog Brought to by Poetry Writes & Other Stuff from Sinbad the Sailor Man
Barbara started her career at a very young age singing country music.
She cut her very first single at only 15 years old.
In 1963, she moved
to St. Louis, MO,
and by 1965, she was a regular on a local TV show and recorded for a
local label, Norman Records, but none of her singles released were much
more than regional hits.
In 1968, after high school graduation, she decided to follow her dream and moved to Nashville.
She briefly signed with Kapp Records with no success.
He listened to Barbara's songs and decided that she was ready for a major record deal and he signed her with Columbia Records
in 1969.
Her first single in 1969, "Love Is A Gentle Thing", was a
minor hit as was her next single, "A Woman's Hand".
In 1970, she scored
her first Top 40 hit with "A Girl Who'll Satisfy Her Man". Between 1970
and 1972, Barbara scored 4 more Top 40 hits, the biggest of these being
"Love's Old Song" and "Thanks For The Mem'ries".
The success of "Teddy Bear Song"
1973 would turn out to be the breakthrough year for Barbara as she
released the biggest hit of her career with "Teddy Bear Song".
It not
only became a number 1 hit on the country charts but also reached the
pop charts as well peaking at No. 32.
"Teddy Bear Song" spent 2 weeks at the No. 1 spot and became
Fairchild's signature song.
She followed up "Teady Bear Song" very well
with another smash hit with "Kid Stuff" that year which reached number 2
on the country charts and barely made the Top 100 on the pop charts at
No. 95.
In 1974, she scored another Top 10 with the song "Baby Doll".
Between 1974 and 1977, she had several other major successes among these
being "Standing In Your Line", "Little Girl Feelin'", "Mississippi" (originally recorded by the Dutch band Pussycat), "Cheatin' Is" and "Let Me Love You Once Before You Go".
But by 1978, her country success began to rapidly fade away as her
singles began to show up in the lower regions of the charts.
In 1980,
she signed with Paid Records where she recorded several duets with Billy Walker but none of these singles brought her back into the upper regions of the charts.
In 1986, she signed with Capitol Records
in an attempt at a comeback but the single released "Just Out Ridin'
Around" only reached No. 84 and would represent her last single to
chart.
Margo Smith (born Betty Lou Miller April 9, 1942 in Dayton, Ohio) is an American
country music singer. In the 1970s, she was a popular female country
vocalist, acquiring two No. 1 hits on the country charts during that
time, "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While", both country music remakes of previous pop music standards.
She is also considered a "world class yodeler".
However, in the late '70s, after releasing 1979's A Woman
album, Smith's image underwent a metamorphosis, wearing much riskier
clothing, and recording much riskier material, like 1979's top 10
country hit, "Still a Woman".
Ohio-native Margo Smith was already a popular country singer when she emerged with a new sexy image in the late 70s. This new kind of image made Margo Smith more of a star than she already was.
Margo Smith was born Betty Lou Miller in 1942 in Dayton, Ohio. Smith had been singing since childhood, but decided to pursue a career in kindergarten teaching instead, graduating from Wittenberg University. Since childhood, Margo Smith learned how to yodel.
She soon found work as a kindergarten teacher, but always aspired to make it big in Nashville. During this period, Smith would write songs that she would use frequently in her lesson plans during the day at school. She soon began singing at PTA meetings, and began singing her songs on the radio.
She developed a following wherever she went. She soon cut a demo for various record companies. One record company noticed Smith's voice (20th Century Records) and liked what they heard. They soon signed Smith to their label in 1975. She soon began recording for the label in Nashville, Tennessee.
The height of her career in the '70s & '80s
Early music success: Good girl image
One of her first recordings under 20th Century Records was the song "There I Said It". The song was released as a single in 1975, and debuted on her first album, simply entitled Margo Smith.
"There I Said It" became a top ten country hit for Smith that year, and
tuned Smith into a country success overnight. Her follow-up single to
her big hit was the song "Paper Lovin'". Although not as successful as
"There I Said It", it still made the country top 30, giving her a minor
hit that year. In 1976, Smith had to switch record companies, as 20th Century Records shut down its division in Nashville, Tennessee.
She soon began cutting recordings for Warner Bros. and worked with producer Norro Wilson. She had more success under her new record company with hits like "Save Your Kisses for Me"
and "Take My Breath Away", which were both Top 10 hits in 1976, proving
that Smith could continue to have hits, even if she switched record
companies. In 1977 she had a Top 15 hit with "Love's Explosion".
Smith kept her image as the girl next door and a good Christian girl. In 1978, she had her biggest success when two of her singles went to No. 1, first starting with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" (a No. 1 pop hit for Connie Francis in 1962) and then followed by "It Only Hurts For a Little While" (originally by the Ames Brothers in 1956).
These two songs were her only chart toppers. She had another hit in 1978, that reached the top 5 called "Little Things Mean a Lot", which previously had been No. 1 pop hit by Kitty Kallen in 1954.
Later music success: Risque image
The year 1979 was a great change for Smith. This was the year Smith
turned her image completely around and emerged into the country
spotlight with a new image. However, she wasn't the only female country
singer doing this.
Country singer Dottie West, who had been around since the 1960s, also changed her image to a more sexy image. In 1979, Smith released a new album called A Woman.
She soon released singles from the album, starting with "Still a Woman"
in 1979. Although the song seemed very risky to record, it ended up
being a hit that year, making the country top 10.
That year, she had another top 10 hit from the same album called "If I Give My Heart to You", which was again another risky song (and another remake of an oldie, previously a hit for Doris Day in 1954).
This kind of country music sounded more pop than country, and
most of the artists coming out of Nashville at the time recorded this
kind of country. Her stage show got more a more flashy as time
progressed. She soon began wearing Spandex and satin outfits.
Because of this, Smith's fan base grew larger. She also married producer Richard Cammeron
of Cammeron Records in 1982, a record company for which Smith later
recorded. Into 1980, her career was in its peak, with hits like "Baby My
Baby", "The Shuffle Song" and "My Guy" (a hit for Mary Wells in the 1960s).
She had her last major hits in 1981, duetting with Rex Allen Jr.,
on the top 20 hit "Cup of Tea", along with a Top 30 hit called "While
the Feeling's Good". Their duet "Cup of Tea" nominated the duo for Top Duet of the Year by the Academy of Country Music in 1981. In 1982, she moved to AMI Records,
but with minor charting singles.
She continued to label jumping through
much of the early 80s, having a charting single in 1984 with "Please
Tell Him I Said Hello". In 1985, she released an album entitled The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler, which paid a tribute to one of Smith's favorite singers, Bonnie Lou. The album was sold on television. Her last hit on the national charts came in 1988 was with the hit "Echo Me" on Playback Records.
She switched over to her Cammeron Records. She also briefly acted on the TNN show I-40 Paradise. She and her daughter, Holly became a Christian music group, called Margo Smith and Holly, and they recorded for Homeland Records.
She and her daughter were popular Christian singers throughout much of
the 1980s. They even had some Christian hits. Her daughter, now married
and called Holly Watson,
continues her career as a TV spokeswoman and actress.
She recorded on
and off for labels in the 1990s. Most recently, Smith contributed her vocals to the CD, The Littlest Star: A Musical Story, which is also a picture book.
In 2005, she released a new album, her first in many years called Nothing to Lose, produced by Dave Moody and released by Lamon Records.
She also continues to tour. Margo Smith is also a professional yodeler. One of her students, Taylor Ware, was the runner-up on the NBC show America's Got Talent in August 2006. Today, she is still married to Richard Cammeron, and they live in Brentwood, Tennessee.
George Jones and Hank Williams Jr. I Saw The Light
George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931) is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette.
Over the past 20 years, Jones has frequently been referred to as the greatest living country singer.[2][3]
Country music scholar Bill C. Malone writes, "For the two or three minutes consumed by a song, Jones immerses himself so completely in its lyrics, and in the mood it conveys, that the listener can scarcely avoid becoming similarly involved." Waylon Jennings,
in his song "It's Alright" expressed a common jealousy when he said,
"If we all could sound like we wanted to, we'd all sound like George
Jones."
Throughout his long career, Jones made headlines often as much for
tales of his drinking, stormy relationships with women, and violent
rages as for his prolific career of making records and touring.
His wild
lifestyle led to Jones missing many performances, earning him the
nickname "No Show Jones."[1]
With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy, he has been sober for more
than 10 years. Jones has had more than 150 hits during his career, both
as a solo artist and in duets with other artists. The shape of his nose
and facial features have given Jones the nickname "The Possum."
Jones
said in an interview that he has chosen to tour only about 60 dates a
year.
In August 2012, it was announced that at the conclusion of his 2013
tour, Jones' would retire to spend more time with his family. Titled
"The Grand Tour", Jones' final tour takes place across 60 dates [4]
Randall Hank Williams (born May 30, 1949), better known as Hank Williams, Jr. and Bocephus, is an American countrysinger-songwriter and musician.
His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and traditional country. He is the son of country music singer Hank Williams and the father of Hank Williams III, Holly Williams, Hilary Williams, Samuel Williams, and Katie Williams.
Williams began his career by following in his famed father's
footsteps, singing his father's songs and imitating his father's style.
Williams's own style slowly evolved as he struggled to find his own
voice and place within the country music industry.
This trend was
interrupted by a near-fatal fall off the side of Ajax Mountain in
Montana on August 8, 1975. After an extended recovery, he challenged the
country music establishment with a blend of country, rock, and blues.
Williams enjoyed much success in the 1980s, from which he earned
considerable recognition and popularity both inside and outside the
country music industry.
From the CD "That's The Way Love Goes", Sony Music 1973
Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs is the fourth studio album by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in June 1966 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Bob Ferguson. This album was Connie Smith's first Gospel recording and would set the trend for a series of Gospel releases she would issue in the next decade.
Like previous country music recordings, Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs consisted of twelve tracks. Many of the album's songs were cover versions, including "In the Garden," "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," Jimmie Davis's "I Wouldn't Take Anything from My Journey Now," and Martha Carson's
"Satisfied."
The album also included a song written by Smith's
producer, Bob Ferguson titled, "Wings of a Dove." The album itself was
released on a 12-inch vinyl LP record, with six tracks on each side of the record. The album was reviewed by Allmusic, which gave the release four out of five stars, however an official review was not provided.[2]
Upon the album's release, Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs entered the Billboard Magazine charts, peaking at #19 on their Top Country Albums chart, becoming Smith's first LP not to reach the Top 10.[3]
Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel is the twenty sixth studio album by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in May 1975 on Columbia Records and was produced by Ray Baker. It was Smith's fourth and final Gospel music album released.
Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel was an eleven-track album of Gospel songs originally written and recorded by deceased American country artist, Hank Williams.
The album included Williams's best-known Gospel song, "I Saw the
Light," as well as "Jesus Remembered Me" and "House of Gold."
The album
would be Smith's final Gospel album released on the Columbia label. The
album was released on a 12-inch LP, with six songs on the record's first side and five on its second side.[1]
The album has not been reissued on compact disc since its original release on Columbia in 1975.
THE PRAYER with LYRICS - CELINE DION
& JOSH GROBAN. One of the best duet I ever heard. Powerful voices
with an amazing song. Definitely, one of the best songs ever composed.
It is the second single from Dion's Christmas album These Are Special Times and the first from Bocelli's album Sogno, and was released as a promotional single on March 1, 1999.[1]
A re-recorded solo version by Celine Dion (renamed "A Mother's Prayer") appeared on her 2004 album Miracle. Dion performed "The Prayer" live during her Taking Chances Tour as a virtual duet with Bocelli on the screen; the performance was released in the Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert CD/DVD.
The song appeared also on Bocelli's 2007 compilation The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere.
Both Dion and Bocelli have sung the song with other artists, and
various other artists have recorded the song, either as a duet or a
solo.
"The Prayer" was popular on the adult contemporary charts in Canada
and the United States, peaking at number 8 and number 22 respectively.
It has also become popular during Christmas.
The single has sold 37,531 copies in its first week. In Canada, the song peaked at number 37 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 19 on the Canadian Top Digital Downloads.
Groban also sang "The Prayer" live with Celine Dion 6 years earlier,
at the Concert for World Children's Day in 2002.
The two first sang the
song together in 1999, when Groban filled in for Andrea Bocelli
at rehearsal for the 1999 Grammy Awards.
Nearly 10 years later, Groban
and Bocelli performed the song together for the first time during the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
Marvin Lawrence Winans (born March 5, 1958)[1] is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
His siblings David II, Carvin (his fraternal twin), Benjamin (BeBe), Daniel, Michael, Ronald, Priscilla (CeCe),
Deborah (Debbie), Angelique (Angie) are also musically gifted and have
careers in the music industry singing, writing and producing.
Marvin met
and married Vickie Bowman, to whom he was married for 16 years until
their divorce in 1995.
His sons, Marvin Jr. (Coconut), Josiah Winans,
and stepson Mario (Skeeter)
are also in the music business. Mario is a producer and R&B singer.
Marvin Jr., once a member of Winans Phase 2, is now a solo artist and
is also a producer, and Josiah Winans is Also a Producer featured on
Marvin jr's first solo project.
Musical career
Winans sang in the 1970s with his brothers Ronald,
Carvin (his twin) and Michael (the group also included others) as The
Testimonial Singers.
Their first performance was at a high school talent
show. In 1975 the group's name was changed to The Winans. Their musical
careers spanned both the 1980s and 1990s.
The Winans, who were
discovered by Andrae Crouch, released their first album under the new group's name, entitled Introducing The Winans, in 1981.
The Winans were greatly influenced by the Queen of Gospel Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans.
An organist and pianist, Marvin also wrote songs, and produced for The
Winans records, for solo projects from family members, and on other
gospel releases.
For his vocals on the 1985 song "Bring Back the Days of
Yea and Nay", Winans was awarded a Grammy for Best Male Soul Gospel Performance. He and several of his siblings and family members sang The Winans' hit "Tomorrow" at Whitney Houston's funeral. [5]
In 2007, Winans released his first solo recording, Alone, But Not Alone.
On June 26, 2012 Winans released "Marvin L Winans Presents The Praise
and Worship Experience" on his own label, MLW Productions Inc. The
album features: Doen Moen, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Mom Winans, Roderick Dixon, Bishop Paul Morton amongst others and was recorded at Winans' church in Detroit, Mi.
Pastor, Perfecting Church (Detroit)
Winans, a pastor, founded The Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1990s, and released an album with the church's choir in 1992 entitled Introducing Perfected Praise.
A second album, Friends, appeared in 2001. His 2007 release, Alone but Not Alone, was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. On Saturday, February 18, 2012, at noon (EST), Winans preached the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral, at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.
Donald Andrew McClurkin, Jr. (born November 9, 1959) is an American gospel music singer and minister.
He has won three Grammy awards, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two
Soul Train awards, one Dove award and one NAACP Image award for his
work.
He was hired as an associate minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Church in Detroit, in 1989.[3] McClurkin served as an assistant to Winans for over a decade.
In 1991, a sharp pain and swelling, followed by internal bleeding
led, he says, to a diagnosis of leukemia. The doctor suggested immediate
treatment, but McClurkin, who was then 31, decided to take his own
advice. "I tell people to believe that God will save you," he says,
"[and] I had to turn around and practice the very thing that I
preached."[4]
He was ordained and sent out by Winans in 2001 to establish Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, where he is now Senior Pastor.[5][6]
The disc, which featured the perennially popular "Stand," went gold shortly after being publicly lauded by Oprah Winfrey.[7]
At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, he won in the category Traditional
Soul Gospel Album, for "Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs".[8]
McClurkin is best known for his hit songs “Stand” and “We Fall Down”
which were played in heavy rotation on both Gospel and Urban radio. His
three solo albums have topped the Billboard charts.[9]
Dovetailing off the success of his near double-platinum selling
album,"Live in London and More" McClurkin released "Psalms,Hymns and
Spiritual Songs" in 2005 and “We All Are One: Live In Detroit” in 2009
which also topped Billboard charts across various musical genres.
McClurkin's love for people and desire to share gospel music,globally,
is why he includes a language medley:Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and
Dutch in most live performances.
Radio and television
Tom Versen and Tony Sisti of T&T Creative www.tandtcreative.com
signed Grammy winner Donnie McClurkin to a radio syndication deal with
advertising giant Dial-Global and syndicator Gary Bernstein.
T&T
Creative provided a mobile recording studio in Pastor Donnie's church
that he can also take on the road. He is quoted as saying "As much as I
love music and singing, I really love doing radio and the direct
feedback I get from my listeners all over the country.
I never thought I
would be having this much fun doing radio and I could touch and impact
so many people."[19]
In 2009 he also broadcast his own television show titled “Perfecting Your Faith” on cable television.[10] His television appearances include Good Morning America, CBS Saturday’s Early Show, and the View.
He has also been featured in movies like “The Gospel”, “The Fighting
Temptations” and television shows “Girlfriends” and “The Parkers.”
I used to get mad at my school (No I can't complain)
The teachers who taught me weren't cool (No I can't complain)
You're holding me down (Oh), turning me round (Oh)
Filling me up with your rules (Foolish rules)
I've got to admit it's getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It can't get more worse)
I have to admit it's getting better (Better)
It's getting better since you've been mine
Me used to be angry young man
Me hiding me head in the sand
You gave me the word, I finally heard
I'm doing the best that I can
I've got to admit it's getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It can't get more worse)
I have to admit it's getting better (Better)
It's getting better since you've been mine
Getting so much better all the time
It's getting better all the time
Better, better, better
It's getting better all the time
Better, better, better
I used to be cruel to my woman
I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved
Man I was mean but I'm changing my scene
And I'm doing the best that I can (Ooh)
I admit it's getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It can't get more worse)
Yes I admit it's getting better (Better)
It's getting better since you've been mine
Getting so much better all the time
It's getting better all the time
Better, better, better
It's getting better all the time
Better, better, better
Getting so much better all the time
