DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Merle Haggard Forum
HTML https://thehag.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Other ClassicCountry Music Singers
*****************************************************
#Post#: 373--------------------------------------------------
Life Is Still `A Party’ For Rockabilly Queen WANDA JACKSON...
By: OKIEFAN Date: November 1, 2009, 7:18 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[font=andale mono][size=3][color=purple]
It took Wanda Jackson a long time to get inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame, but now that she’s there, the 71-year-old
Queen of Rockabilly and her uninhibited voice are busier than
ever.
“My name is bigger than it’s ever been before,” she said in her
Oklahoma City home during a recent break from touring. “My
crowds are bigger. I’m just floored by all this.”
Selling records and filling venues haven’t been a problem for
the chameleonic musician with the trademark growl. Her career
began 50 years ago with country, then moved to rock ‘n’ roll, to
gospel and back. But she says her April 4 induction into the
hall as given her some newfound popularity. Since then her
engagements have included a two-week stint in Europe and a
fundraiser for the Woody Guthrie folk festival.
Terry Stewart, the CEO of the Rock Hall, said Jackson, who was
inducted in the early influence category, was unique in music.
“There are a number of others of more obscure fame who sang in
that vein,” including Janis Martin, who died earlier this year,
Stewart said by telephone from Ohio. “There were girl singers in
the area of rhythm and blues that have been inducted, like Ruth
Brown and LaVern Baker.
“Wanda was certainly a stand alone in what she did.”
What she did was help spawn rockabilly, a combination of the
terms rock n’ roll and hillbilly. Musically, it’s an uptempo
blend of blues, country and western swing that emerged during
the 1950s when rock and roll was in its infancy.
She was 14 when she won a chance to perform on an Oklahoma radio
station in 1952. Country singer HANK THOMPSON tuned in and was
so impressed, he invited her to sing with him and his band and
helped her get her first music contract with Decca Records when
she was in high school.
Later, when she switched to Capitol Records, she was booked with
an up-and-coming singer named ELVIS PRESLEY.
“Oklahoma City wasn’t playing his records yet. My cousins down
in Texas, I corresponded with them and told them I was working
with this guy I’d never heard of, Elvis Presley,” Jackson said.
“They said he’s the best singer in the world, sexiest,
best-looking guy. Just wait. After I met him I knew what they
were talking about.”
Presley encouraged her to try rock ‘n’ roll and the pair worked
together from 1955 to 1957.
“He gave me his ring that I wore around my neck, we became
boyfriend and girlfriend for a little while there,” Jackson
said.
Jackson’s career and persona transformed from a country darling
in long-sleeved shirts, a hat and cowboy boots to rock ‘n’ roll
singer decked out in formfitting, fringed dresses and skirts her
mother made for her.
Her “Let’s Have a Party” peaked at No. 37 in 1960. Jackson’s
“Fujiyama Mama,” about a woman who compares herself to a volcano
and “Rock Your Baby” proliferated the new sound, but it didn’t
translate into big record sales.
“I got to where I’d put a rock song on one side and a country on
the other side of my releases to keep my country audiences with
the country song but try to gain a foothold in rock and roll,”
she said.
Country music won out. Jackson had 30 hits over 20 years and
received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Vocal
Performance by a Female.
HTML http://www.wandajackson.com/
HTML http://www.rockhall.com
#Post#: 384--------------------------------------------------
Re: Life Is Still `A Party’ For Rockabilly Queen WANDA JACKSON..
.
By: 1haggard Date: November 1, 2009, 8:55 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I saw some pictures of her from that show and she still looks
great !
#Post#: 1601--------------------------------------------------
Re: Life Is Still `A Party’ For Rockabilly Queen WANDA JACKSON..
.
By: lightninboy Date: July 8, 2010, 9:49 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I saw her on TV about a year ago. She has a lot of fun.
*****************************************************