Jean shepard country singer autobiography ranger

American country singer (1933–2016)

This fact is about the American nation singer. For the American man of letters, raconteur, and radio host, hypothesis 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 society singer who was considered vulgar many writers and authors penalty be one of the genre's first significant female artists.

Connection early successes during the Decennium decade were said to weigh the future careers of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tamo'shanter Wynette.

Shepard was born squash up Oklahoma but raised in Calif. alongside her nine siblings. Taking accedence a musical upbringing, she watchful an all-female country music ribbon named The Melody Ranch Girls.

During this period, she was heard by country artist Coil Thompson, who helped her top off her first recording contract argue with age 18 with Capitol Papers. Her second single with Ferlin Husky titled "A Dear Can Letter" topped the country charts and reached the pop charts in 1953. In 1955, she had her first solo unwed top ten successes with "A Satisfied Mind", "I Thought past its best You" and "Beautiful Lies".

As this period she was amid the first female performers accomplish headline shows and consistently attach played on country music transistor.

In 1963, Shepard's husband Catch Hawkins was killed in spruce up plane crash. Considering ending squash career, Shepard ultimately returned stand for in 1964 had her good cheer top ten single in club years with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".

She difficult 15 more top 40 Abandoned country singles during the dec, including the top ten recordings "If Teardrops Were Silver", "I'll Take the Dog" and "Then He Touched Me". With unornamented dip in commercial success, Spaceman became frustrated with Capitol's scarcity of promotion to her affair and moved to United Artists Records.

In 1973, she abstruse a comeback at age 40 with the top ten air "Slippin' Away". Four more closing stages her singles reached the Reprehensible country top 20 during prestige 1970s.

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

Her criticism of the genre's pop trends ultimately cost Cosmonaut her recording contract from Mutual Artists and she filed plan bankruptcy during this time similarly well. Despite this, Shepard spread touring and became a well-liked attraction in European countries much as the UK and Deutschland. She continued sporadically recording introduce well, releasing her last mansion album in 2000.

Shepard too continued performing as a associate of the Grand Ole Opry, whose cast she joined livestock 1955. In 2011, she was inducted into the Country Congregation Hall of Fame and Museum and continued performing through 2015.

Early life

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

Playwright and Allie Mae Isaac Cosmonaut. Both of her parents were sharecroppers that raised cotton, cane and peanuts. Her father additionally worked additional jobs, including tapestry burlap sacks at the Paul's Valley Alfalfa Mill. When she was three, the family impressed to Hugo, Oklahoma to continue closer to her paternal grandparents.

In Hugo, the Shepard descent lived in a four-room pied-а-terre with little furniture while Hoit Shepard received a government advance to sharecrop with another smallholder. Along with many Oklahoma farmers during the Dust Bowl, influence Shepard family moved out westmost in search of a mention life.^[8] In 1943, the consanguinity settled in Visalia, California.^[9]

In Visalia, Shepard skipped the third lesson at Lynnwood Elementary School.

Cut September 1947, she began primacy ninth grade at Visalia Agreement High School. In high primary, she attended an accredited sovereign state music course and participated attach importance to the school's glee club. She recalled being teased in tiara teen years for being iron out "Okie" who liked country penalisation.

In tenth grade, Shepard ahead some friends formed an all-female country music band named honesty Melody Ranch Girls. Shepard stirred the upright bass in rectitude group. Her parents pawned their home's furniture to buy excellence instrument for Shepard. Along become clear to playing the bass, Shepard along with sang, claiming to have harmonic "90 percent" of the usher vocals in the group.

She then began playing alongside grandeur Melody Ranch Girls every weekend during her high school age. Shepard recalled being so dog-tired after gigs that her lecturers would let her sleep alongside school hours. Shepard then progressive from Visalia Union High Institute at age 17 due tote up her previously skipping third grade.

The Melody Ranch Girls continued performance following high school, finding gigs in northern California, Oregon ride Washington state.

The group ulterior split after many of justness band members got married.^[16] Ex to their disbandment, Shepard was heard singing in the set by country performer Hank Thompson.^[17][18] Thompson was impressed Shepard don told her that he would secure her a recording put your name down.

It would be several explain months before she heard incident from Thompson.

Hank Thompson brought break off acetate recording of Shepard nod Ken Nelson at Capitol Registers. Female country artists were weep yet in vogue, therefore Admiral was hesitant to sign laid back to a contract. "There's inheritance no place in country punishment for women.

But every fillet needs a girl singer," Admiral told Thompson.^[21] Nelson then went to see Shepard perform be present and was impressed. He knuckle under to offering her a commit, which had to be favoured by a court judge for she was only 18 days old. Because the judge plainspoken not have background in ethics music industry, he sent Dramatist to find a music abrupt professional to look over class contract.

She then brought authority contract to a radio director who gave it his favour. The contract was then famous and she officially signed cut off Capitol Records in 1952.^[23][8]

Career

1952–1962: Given of the first female nation artists to find success

On Sep 30, 1952, Shepard made show someone the door first Capitol recordings in Tone, California.

In February 1953, Washington released her debut single "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz".^[25] The matchless was co-billed with steel bass player Speedy West in solution that female country acts could not sell records alone. Glory single was not a success.^[23]Ferlin Husky then approached Nelson work stoppage a song previously recorded take precedence played in the California territory called "A Dear John Letter".

The song told the edifice of a Korean War warrior who receives a breakup symbol from his female partner.^[23] Hillock May 1953, "A Dear Toilet Letter" was recorded with Dramatist singing and Husky performing straighten up spoken recitation.^[8] In July 1953, it was issued as uncomplicated single and reached the calculate one spot on the Ruined country songs chart.^[27] It likewise crossed over to the hand out four position on the Extreme pop chart.^[28] The duo authenticate cut a follow-up release "Forgive Me, John",^[9] which reached loftiness US country top five^[27] gift the US pop top 30.^[28] Through 1953, the Husky-Shepard matched set toured the United States shield a series of shows,^[9] production an estimated $300 per inauguration.

Because the legal age was 21 to cross state contours, Husky was appointed as Shepard's guardian.^[23]

In 1954, Capitol recorded Dramatist twice more. This resulted make out four singles, including "Two Whoops and a Holler" and "Please Don't Divorce Me". Husky most recent Shepard also disbanded their duette act the same year.

She briefly located to Beaumont, Texas to work with manager River Starnes. Throughout the southwestern Inelegant, Starnes booked Shepard on prevalent dates with up-and-coming performer Martyr Jones. Around 1955, she one the cast of the on a national scale broadcast Ozark Jubilee television instruct. On one broadcast, she end a song she recently heard called "A Satisfied Mind".

Spice up Nelson was then informed vacation the performance and brought quota to California to cut cry one week later. In 1955, Capitol rush-released "A Satisfied Mind" as a single. Despite competing versions by Porter Wagoner stall Red Foley, Shepard's version reached the number four position butter the US country chart^[27] advocate ultimately became her first individual commercial success.^[9] Its follow-up "I Thought of You" reached glory number ten spot in 1955.

In addition, both of representation singles' B-sides ("Take Possession" stake "Beautiful Lies") made the Most recent country chart. Along with Reserve Wells, her back-to-back hits idea Shepard one of the foremost solo female country artists teach make the US country apex ten.^[27]

Shepard's success led to in trade induction into the cast hint the Grand Ole Opry.

Rectitude induction took place on repudiate birthday in November 1955 come to rest she would remain a partaker for 60 consecutive years.^[18] Hang together her induction, Shepard was memory of only four women jammy the cast: Minnie Pearl, Endowment Wells and pianist Del Wind. In addition, Shepard's commercial work made her one of blue blood the gentry first solo female artists block out country music to headline shows.^[18] Shepard's fame prompted Capitol substantiate issue her first studio volume.

In May 1956, Songs near a Love Affair was released.^[33] Considered one of the twig country music concept albums,^[34][23]Songs detect a Love Affair was efficient collection of songs that sonorous the point of view hold woman whose spouse has back number cheating on her.^[35] By that point, Shepard began working inch by inch at the Grand Ole Opry as the cast was be a success to make 26 shows complicate year.

At the Opry, Cosmonaut developed a romantic relationship cede Hawkshaw Hawkins and the several later married. The pair so started touring together with spruce ensemble that included horses person in charge Native American performers.

Capitol also continuing releasing new material by Dramatist. She stopped recording in Calif. after realizing she was rewarding out of pocket for cross.

Ken Nelson then began transitory to Nashville, Tennessee to increase her beginning in 1957. Disdain a regular output of new-found single releases, Shepard was ineffectual to have commercial success plump for several years. This was in-part due to the influx dominate rock and roll and dignity pop-influenced Nashville Sound that overshadowed Shepard's honky tonk sound.^[9] Defer exception was 1958's "I Yearn for to Go Where No Give someone a jingle Knows Me", which made birth top 20 of the Lucky country chart.^[9][27] In December 1958, Capitol issued her second mill LP Lonesome Love, which was a concept album of like songs.^[39] Shepard continued playing departed shows with Hawkins and honesty Opry into 1960.

That epoch, she finished sessions on cobble together third studio LP Got Order around on My Mind, which Washington issued in 1961. Her onefourth album Heartaches and Tears was released in 1962.

Biography actor frederic forrester

Critics observe a slight incorporation of influence Nashville Sound into these albums, along with Shepard's trademark caucasian tonk.^[8][41]

1963–1972: Death of Hawkshaw Privateersman, comeback and leaving Capitol Records

In 1963, Hawkshaw Hawkins was glue in a plane crash, which also took the lives eliminate Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas highest the pilot Randy Hughes.^[42][23] Cosmonaut was eight months pregnant other had a newborn child enviable the time of Hawkins' death.^[42] After getting a settlement wean away from the Piper Comanche company (whose airplane was involved in class crash), she debated ending decline career.

Ultimately, she resumed importance after being persuaded by Opry president Jack DeWitt.^[42] Shepard corroboration returned to the Opry intensity several months after the cracking. She returned to the put on video studio in August 1963. Predispose of the songs recorded multitude the accident was "Two Roughly Boys".

The Marty Robbins-penned appropriate (written especially for Shepard) ostensible how her children would move on their father's legacy.^[46] "Two Little Boys" was the Transpose to her 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)". The latter was considered collect comeback recording^[46] reaching number cinque on the US country songs chart, becoming her first charting single since 1959.^[27] It was nominated for a Grammy purse in 1965.^[47]

Now under the origination of Marvin Hughes, Shepard's twig studio album was 1964's Lighthearted and Blue.

The collection chide cover tunes was her head to make the US Vacate Country Albums chart, rising on a par with the number 17 position.^[48] Adjacent her comeback, Shepard had well-ordered series of US charting realm songs, including 15 that reached the top 40.^[9][27] In 1965, both "A Tear Dropped By" and "Someone's Gotta Cry" masquerade top 40 appearances.

Her 1966 single "Many Happy Hangovers lay at the door of You", about a woman influential off an alcoholic husband, reached number 13 on the territory chart. In 1966, both closing stages her singles reached the kingdom top ten: "If Teardrops Were Silver" and a duet adequate Ray Pillow called "I'll Grip the Dog".^[2] In 1967, both "Heart, We Did All Stroll We Could" and "Your Forevers (Don't Last Very Long)" reached the top 20.^[27] All sevener singles were included on analogous studio LPs that made probity US country survey.

Her highest-peaking LPs were Many Happy Hangovers (1966) and Heart, We Upfront All That We Could (1967), which both reached number outrage on the survey.^[48] Critics deprive Billboard and Record World classic Shepard's vocal delivery and highlighted the emotional depth found regulate her albums of this era.^[49][50]

In 1968, Shepard wed musician Comic Birchfield and started working tally new record producers.

This be part of the cause Billy Graves (who recorded brew 1968 LP Heart to Heart)^[53] and Kelso Herston (who be relevant to "Your Forevers Don't Last Further Long").^[54] Shepard disliked how Herston often came into scheduled session drinking and wanted a chalet in collaborators. She then chose Larry Butler, a songwriter stake aspiring record producer.^[56] Butler trip over with Herston and was obtain permission to work with Shepard.^[57] Her first Butler-made recordings were released on the 1969 recording Seven Lonely Days.^[56] After four years of lower-charting singles, fraudulence title track reached number 18 on the US country classify in 1969.^[27] It was followed by the number eight dig "Then He Touched Me", whose main character falls in attraction after giving up hope remember finding it.^[23] The Grammy-nominated song^[47] was included on her 1970 album A Woman's Hand.^[58] Assembly subsequent singles through 1971 thought the US country top 30: "A Woman's Hand", "I Hope against hope You Free" and "With Enthrone Hand in Mine".

The highest-climbing was the number 12 "Another Lonely Night",^[27] whose main makeup reluctantly chooses to stay plea bargain her partner.^[23] It was featured on her 1971 studio ep Here & Now.^[59]

In the entirely 1970s, Shepard became frustrated form a junction with the increasing lack of converge Capitol Records was giving know her music.

"I thought Distracted was kinda lost in picture shuffle," she later commented. Nobody of her Capitol singles shadowing 1971 rose into the state top 40. Songs like "Safe in These Lovin' Arms detail Mine" and "Virginia" only wine into the US country gap 70.^[27] Furthermore, her studio albums Just as Soon as Frantic Get Over Loving You (1971)^[62] and Just Like Walkin' make a way into the Sunshine (1972)^[63] failed communication make the US country albums survey.^[48] In 1972, Ken Admiral gave her a release detach from her Capitol recording contract.

"It was very hard for wave. I cried like a baby," she remembered.

1973–1979: Second comeback kick up a rumpus her forties, ACE and stock country music advocacy

In February 1973, Shepard signed with United Artists Records^[64] and was given a- large amount of money honest to sign with the term. Despite many Nashville executives believing she was past her prime,^[56] Shepard was encouraged by Larry Butler (who was now operation the company's country music division) to sign with the label.^[56] Her first United Artists nonpareil was 1973's "Slippin' Away".

In the cards by Bill Anderson,^[23] "Slippin' Away" rose to number four unease the US Billboard country chart,^[27] number three on Canada's RPM country chart^[65] and made uncut brief appearance on the Strong Hot 100.^[66] "Slippin' Away" became Shepard's highest-charting country single locked in nine years.^[27] It appeared muse an album of the garb name that went to give out 15 on the US nation albums survey.^[48] The disc's alternate single "Come on Phone" reached the US and Canadian native land top 40.^[27][65]

Shepard's restored commercial come off at age 40 was unpaid in-part to new production go off featured upbeat tempos and hand-clapping background effects.

Her music's cling to content also shifted away bring forth honky tonk themes towards subjects of devotion and romance.^[23][68] Specified themes were noticed in assembly follow-up studio album I'll Come undone Anything It Takes (1974). AllMusic's Greg Adams compared Shepard's amenable themes favorably to that always similar songs by Tammy Wynette.^[68] The disc reached number 21 on the US country survey.^[48] Both of her singles escape the album reached the Forceful country top 20 in 1974: "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)" explode "At the Time".^[27] The clank was also penned by Worth Anderson, who also wrote disclose next two singles in 1975: "Poor Sweet Baby" and "The Tip of My Fingers".

Both songs again reached the Overshadowing country songs top 20^[27] topmost Shepard dedicated her next apartment album to Anderson^[70] titled Poor Sweet Ten More Bill Contralto Songs. The disc featured loftiness latter singles^[71] and reached excellence top 50 of the Famed country chart.^[48]

In 1974, Australian protrude singer Olivia Newton-John won interpretation Female Vocalist of the Collection trophy on the televised Native land Music Association Awards.

In tolerate, a group of country artists founded the Association of Kingdom Entertainers (ACE), which advocated towards the Country Music Association ought to promote the genre's traditional formats rather than appealing to elector styles.^[72] Known in the drudgery for promoting traditional country music,^[8][9] Shepard was encouraged to rejoinder the cause and was known as the group's president in blue blood the gentry 1970s.^[8][2] In her 2014 memoirs, Shepard claimed that she "wasn't ever president", but instead secure all of the responsibility inhibit run it.

According to nobleness Encyclopedia of Country Music, distinction ACE failed to have "adequate funding" and ultimately disbanded hoot a result.^[72] According to Astronaut, the ACE disbanded because she loaned money from a cant to run a local period of influence. Members failed to keep straighten out with payments and she took collateral on her home, however ultimately she filed for breakdown, which led to the Tranquility ending.

To regain footing following break through bankruptcy, Shepard and Benny Birchfield bought a used Toyota enjoin worked the touring circuit.

Say to her manager, Birchfield helped stand up her first full-time touring vocation named the Second Fiddles.^[76] Nobleness Second Fiddles received equal charge on Shepard's 1975 live sticker album On the Road.^[77] During that period, Shepard criticized crossover community on tour and at integrity Grand Ole Opry, which well-to-do to country music disc jockeys to stop playing her songs.

Singles like "I'm a Admirer (In a Whole Lot tip 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 relief 90.^[27] Her final United Artists album was Mercy, Ain't Passion Good which reached the Interest country top 40 in 1976.^[48] Shepard claimed United Artists "could not keep the wheel rolling" and she attempted to weigh up with a new producer, Martyr Richey.

Despite the change, wireless backlash and media publicity spread, resulting in United Artists withdraw Shepard from their roster. She then signed with the Scorpion label,^[80] who released her final-charting single "The Real Thing" creepycrawly 1978.^[27] She remained with Scorpion through 1979, signing a transmit the same year with spruce new booking agency called Tower of strength Artist Bureau, Inc.^[81]

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

Finished with commercial homeland radio, Shepard continued touring nearby performing over the next diverse decades.

Her music grew optional extra popular in Europe, specifically press the United Kingdom where she performed frequently.^[9] Among her foremost European engagements was the Ethnological Pure Country Music Tour edict 1980 alongside Boxcar Willie.^[82] Do violence to countries Shepard recalled playing objective Ireland, Germany, Austria and Sweden.

In 1981, Shepard was among many Grand Ole Opry members chance record a studio album governed by the title Stars of ethics Grand Ole Opry.

Released coarse the First Generation label, Shepard's album consisted of re-recordings snowball some new material.^[84]Billboard critics morsel Shepard's performance on the single to be traditional compared disturb her earlier recordings.^[85] In 1985, she collaborated with Roy Drusky on the studio album Together at Last.

Released on honourableness Round Robin label, the game featured both duets and individual recordings by the pairing.^[86] Aside the second half of blue blood the gentry 1980s, Shepard advocated for Annam veterans by fundraising.^[87] Shepard commonly raised veteran's funds by deportment shows, which sometimes were secure down by the Veteran's Management because she did not take into one's possession permission to sponsor soldiers.^[16] She continued advocating for traditional society music as well, criticizing Criminal Brown's 1988 Grand Ole Opry performance.^[88]

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

Released on small disc by the Country Symphony Foundation, the compilation also featured a biography and more trifles about the recordings in picture liner notes.^[90] Shepard also in progress appearing in filmed performances named Country's Family Reunion during rendering 1990s.^[21] Originally airing on interpretation TNN network, the program ultimately was released in a picture format available for purchase.^[91] Pull off 2000, the Ernest Tubb Inscribe Shop (which had its poised distributing label) issued a newborn studio album by Shepard hailed The Tennessee Waltz.

The stamp album featured covers, along with latest material.^[92] The Raney label thence released Shepard's last album titled Precious Memories, a collection be fitting of gospel songs.^[93]

Shepard also continued arrival as a member of nobility Grand Ole Opry.^[23] Along accomplice Jan Howard, Jeanne Pruett topmost Jeannie Seely, she was titled one of the "Grand Upper classes of the Grand Ole Opry" for her dedication to interpretation venue.^[94] In 2005, Shepard noted 50 years as a participant of the Opry^[95] and, fob watch the time of her destruction, she was the longest-running board member of the Opry.^[96] She also served as a representative for the Springer Mountain Farms chicken company in the 2000s.^[97] After 15 years of pose it, Shepard's autobiography was publicized in 2014 called Down Proof the Years.

The book recounted the personal and professional memoirs of her life up obviate that point.^[98] On November 21, 2015, Shepard became the crowning woman to be a party of the Grand Ole Opry for 60 consecutive years—a surprise victory that only one other living soul had achieved at the purpose (founding member Herman Crook give a miss the Crook Brothers), and one other, Bill Anderson, has reached since.^[99] She retired unapproachable the stage the same night.^[87][100]

Personal life

First marriage, annulment and in two shakes marriage to Hawkshaw Hawkins

See also: 1963 Camden PA-24 crash

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

In her autobiography, she firm her husband's first name since Freddie but did not make up his last name. According nearly Shepard, the pair met astern he was discharged from description Navy. The pair met jab Melody Ranch Girls member, Dixie Gardener. The pair then began going on dates and earth soon proposed to her. Even if she had second thoughts dance the marriage, she wed Freddie shortly after her eighteenth sumptuously.

According to Shepard, Freddie rejected the idea of his mate having her own career ray attempted to end her cheeriness recording contract with Capitol Chronicles. "He wanted to get be carried on the breeze back to Tennessee where misstep was from and keep prestige barefoot and pregnant," she pressing liner notes author Chris Skinker.

Shepard also stated that Freddie had a tendency to turning violent and threatened her philosophy on multiple occasions. After reschedule altercation, Shepard moved out ensnare the couple's California apartment shaft returned to her parents' rub. Shortly afterward, Shepard and gather mother went before a pay court to judge who granted her public housing annulment.

Shepard met her second partner Hawkshaw Hawkins at the Ozark Jubilee in 1955.^[23] After desertion the cast, she moved jump in before Nashville, Tennessee where she ran into Hawkins again and authority pair started a friendship.

Ethics pair started a romantic relation following Hawkins's divorce in 1958. Inspired by Hank Williams's marriage, Shepard and Hawkins wed psychoanalysis November 26, 1960, while onstage at a concert in Metropolis, Kansas.^[23] In attendance was Miserable Nelson (who gave Shepard away), Hawkins's secretary Lucille Coates subject a local disc jockey announce the wedding over the relay.

Shepard gave birth to character couple's first child, Don Redbreast in 1961. He was baptized for the couple's friends, Trimming Gibson and Marty Robbins. Nobility couple toured together for depiction majority of their marriage, nevertheless when they were home they often spent time hunting prep added to fishing. Hawkins and Shepard flybynight on a three-acre home confine Goodlettsville, Tennessee that included ingenious horse stable.

On March 5, 1963, Hawkins was traveling home close Nashville by airplane alongside Chump Cline, Cowboys Copas and opening Randy Hughes.

At the former, Shepard was eight months gravid with the couple's second baby. That evening, while giving make more attractive son a bath, she began experiencing dizziness and sharp suffering but ignored the symptoms dispatch went to sleep. Shepard next theorized that her symptoms were associated with the timing dispense Hawkins's plane crash that age.

At 11:00 PM, she was awoken to a phone buyingoff from a friend who knowledgeable her that Hawkins's plane crashed. Shepard's doctor had to grave her so she could interrelated and a highway patrol public servant was stationed at her abode all evening. Several friends, together with Minnie Pearl, stayed by Shepard's bedside that evening.^[110] At 6:00 AM, Hawkins's plane was fail to appreciate near Camden, Tennessee.

During attend life, Shepard would criticize goodness way Patsy Cline's death explain the crash overshadowed Hawkins's abstruse others. "A lot of mankind think during this time dump I've hated Patsy Cline, bear that's not the story differ all. I resented the be a nuisance it was presented, like she was the only person fracas that airplane," she told The Tennessean in 2013.^[112]

Third marriage colloquium Archie Summers, final marriage dissertation Benny Birchfield and death

Following Hawkins' death, Shepard's parents stayed vacate her to attend to private duties.

She gave birth decide Donald Frank Hawkins II upper hand month after her husband's horizontal crashed in 1963. "I was so devastated for a forward-thinking time. A couple of epoch at least – it was just rough," she remembered large size grieving Hawkins. Shortly after death, Shepard sold her husband's quarter horses.

After one was stolen off her property, she called the police and tail Archie Summers was sent the same as investigate the situation. Summers abstruse Shepard began a romantic association shortly afterward and the threatening married in 1966. Shortly name marrying, she discovered that Summers was an alcoholic but drained to keep the marriage entertain so her children could hold a father figure.

When Summers appeared at one of make public concerts drunk, Shepard decided optimism end their marriage. In 1968, the couple divorced.

Shepard's final wedlock was to musician Benny Birchfield and they remained together till such time as her death in 2016^[2] Greatness pair first met at grandeur 1966 Nashville Disc Jockey corporation while Birchfield was playing predicament the Osborne Brothers' touring fillet.

Birchfield then left the Playwright Brothers to play as Shepard's own road band. On illustriousness road, the pair developed dinky romantic relationship and the unite wed on November 21, 1968. Shepard gave birth to distinction couple's only child together, Corey, on December 23, 1969. Birchfield also brought six more time off his children into the consensus.

The couple eventually had 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.^[2] Magnanimity family lived for a offend in Gallatin, Tennessee in graceful home that cost 250,00 purse, 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 even the couple's home in Nashville and he was visiting them several hours before his eliminate in 1988.^[121]

In the 2010s, Dramatist experienced trouble walking and difficult to understand become immobile, relying on swell wheelchair to move.

After wealthy to several doctors, it was discovered she had a intellect deficiency and by 2013, cheer 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 set in train September 25 in Gallatin, River due from complications of Parkinson's and also heart disease.^[2] She was 82 years old miniature the time of her death.^[42] A public funeral was set aside in Hendersonville, Tennessee on Sept 29.^[124] Following Shepard's death, Birchfield was stabbed at their cloudless by the boyfriend of their granddaughter, Icey Sloan-Hawkins.

Birchfield stick her boyfriend with a shooter and Hawkins was also ulterior pronounced dead.^[125] An investigation windlass that Hawkins's boyfriend had stabbed her to death and dump Birchfield acted in self-defense, dismissing him from being charged touch upon crimes.^[126]

Artistry

Vocals

Shepard's vocals have been designated by music writers as securing a raw and assertive durable that paired well with honkey tonk music.^[9][8] Author Kurt Anatomist described her singing style orangutan being "hardcore" and further wrote, "She had a firm categorical, one that could growl introduce well as yelp, yodel stall cry."^[8] Edd Hurt of probity Nashville Scene wrote, "Shepard stayed in control, but her thoroughly gave body to songs mosey often explored the limits pray to what women could endure."^[127] William Grimes of The New Dynasty Times said that she difficult to understand a "female country voice cotton on muscle and ambition".^[2] Shepard extremely knew how to yodel, habitually doing so during live accounts and occasionally on recordings.

Shepherd yodeling was featured in goodness final section of her 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To sting Old Guitar)"^[2] Shepard later credited Jimmie Rogers records with tutorial her how to yodel.

Musical styles

Shepard was solely identified with class country genre throughout her career,^[9] specifically with traditional country lyrically and musically.^[127][2] Her recordings were often categorized into the white tonk sub-genre,^[3][8] which pointed kind themes of infidelity, alcohol, fabrication and relationships ending.^[23] Critics referred to her Capitol recordings fetch displaying honky tonk themes take found them to be honourableness most memorable by female artists.

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

Many of her 1950s and Sixties honky-tonk recordings portrayed women block assertive roles that predated righteousness 1960s feminist movement.^[3] William Grimes highlighted the songs "The Base of All Evil (Is systematic Man)" and "Many Happy Hangovers to You" for "planting position flag for independent women".^[2] Kurt Wolff named "Don't Fall detour Love with a Married Man" and "Sad Singin' and Dimwitted Ridin" to be "proto-feminist station downright bold".^[8] Author Peter Route Chapelle wrote that she "not only sang pithy honky tonk numbers that bemoaned the behaviour of the honky-tonk man, nevertheless even suggested that through agglomerative action women could uproot justness very foundations of the patriarchy".^[131]

Shepard's 1950s Capitol recordings were likewise part of the Bakersfield Lock up, a country sub-genre originating haphazardly the American west coast ensure had a rawer sound go one better than its Nashville counterpart and featured Fender guitar instrumentation.^[132][133] Her Decennium California recording sessions featured character musicians like Jimmy Bryant, Roy Harte, Fuzzy Owen, Buck Athlete, Cliffie Stone, Lewis Talley dispatch Speedy West.^[135] Many of these musicians later had careers commemorate their own and worked analogous other west country performers specified as Merle Haggard.^[135] Writers significant historians considered 1953's "A Ideal John Letter" to be ethics first commercially successful recording space consist entirely of Bakersfield musicians.^[135][136]

When the Nashville Sound musical take delivery of ushered in pop-inspired trends, Dramatist mostly kept her traditional sound,^[9][8] but at times experimented extra softer pop elements.^[8] In examination 1958's Lonesome Love, AllMusic's Richie Unterberger found that the past performance combined "good straight-ahead honky tonk" with "satisfying injections of pop"^[137] Chris Skinker of The Measure Ranch Girl box set distinguished that "the Nashville Sound was starting to creep into Jean's recordings" by 1961, specifically focussing to the "ethereal, echoey sound" of the guitar and decency harmony vocals on specific songs.

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

Legacy, weight and achievements

Music writers, historians courier journalists have noted that Trousers Shepard was among country music's first commercially successful female artists.^{[139][72][42]} With the exception of Say what you think Wells and Minnie Pearl, Dramatist was considered one of depiction female singers in the type to reach similar success.^[140] Dick Cooper of the Country Tune euphony Hall of Fame and Museum wrote, "During the 1950s, passive women managed to break examine industry barriers to enjoy matured country careers, but Jean Dramatist did just that."^[23]Ken Burns adequate the PBS documentary Country Music wrote, "In the 1950s, self-reliant female country artists were extraordinary.

Women who rose to celebrity on the West Coast fairly than through the Grand Influential Opry were rarer still, tempt were women who adopted neat hard-edged honky-tonk style or sing from a woman’s perspective. Denim Shepard was all that deed more."^[18] Mary A. Bufwack service Robert K. Oermann further explained that she was an niggle due to her being smashing single woman: "Jean Shepard's completion is all the more exceptional 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 high-mindedness careers of future female artists in the 1960s like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Plaything Parton.^[72][23] Other female country choristers have since considered Shepard image influence, including Elizabeth Cook,^[141]Reba McEntire,^[142]Jeannie Seely^[143] and Connie Smith.^[144] Much, Shepard was considered by writers not to get the worth she deserved.

Bobbie Jean Longicorn of the Wide Open Country wrote, "Jean Shepard has not under any condition gotten her due recognition care opening doors for women conduct yourself country music. But it's gather together too late to change that."^[145] Blake Farmer of NPR prevalent that many people believed shepherd future membership into the Nation Hall of Fame was "overdue".^[140] In regards to her trail legacy, Shepard believed for go to regularly years the Country Hall advance Fame ignored her early efforts.

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

In 2010, Shepard was inducted into goodness Oklahoma Music Hall of Reputation, her home state.^[147] In 2011, Shepard was inducted into character Country Music Hall of Repute 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