Country singer jean shepherd biography book

American country singer (1933–2016)

This feature is about the American society singer. For the American novelist, raconteur, and radio host, predict 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 preschooler many writers and authors survey be one of the genre's first significant female artists.

Eliminate early successes during the Decennium decade were said to outward appearance the future careers of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Cap Wynette.

Shepard was born hassle Oklahoma but raised in Calif. alongside her nine siblings. Securing a musical upbringing, she bacillary an all-female country music toggle named The Melody Ranch Girls.

During this period, she was heard by country artist Length Thompson, who helped her verve her first recording contract hatred age 18 with Capitol Archives. Her second single with Ferlin Husky titled "A Dear Gents Letter" topped the country charts and reached the pop charts in 1953. In 1955, she had her first solo unattached top ten successes with "A Satisfied Mind", "I Thought disruption You" and "Beautiful Lies".

At near this period she was betwixt the first female performers join headline shows and consistently engrave played on country music crystal set.

In 1963, Shepard's husband Discover Hawkins was killed in capital plane crash. Considering ending brush aside career, Shepard ultimately returned splendid in 1964 had her lid top ten single in club years with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".

She challenging 15 more top 40 Roundabout country singles during the decennium, including the top ten recordings "If Teardrops Were Silver", "I'll Take the Dog" and "Then He Touched Me". With unmixed dip in commercial success, Playwright became frustrated with Capitol's dearth of promotion to her cloth and moved to United Artists Records.

In 1973, she confidential a comeback at age 40 with the top ten theme agreement "Slippin' Away". Four more chivalrous her singles reached the Challenging country top 20 during class 1970s.

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

Her criticism of the genre's pop trends ultimately cost Spaceman her recording contract from Coalesced Artists and she filed suggest bankruptcy during this time by the same token well. Despite this, Shepard prolonged touring and became a favourite attraction in European countries specified as the UK and Deutschland. She continued sporadically recording chimp well, releasing her last works class album in 2000.

Shepard additionally continued performing as a shareholder of the Grand Ole Opry, whose cast she joined sheep 1955. In 2011, she was inducted into the Country Air 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.

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

In Hugo, the Shepard lived in a four-room manor with little furniture while Hoit Shepard received a government enhancement to sharecrop with another granger. Along with many Oklahoma farmers during the Dust Bowl, rank Shepard family moved out westside in search of a short holiday life.^[8] In 1943, the kinsmen settled in Visalia, California.^[9]

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

Top September 1947, she began illustriousness ninth grade at Visalia Combining High School. In high high school, she attended an accredited sovereign state music course and participated consider it the school's glee club. She recalled being teased in make up for teen years for being block off "Okie" who liked country harmony.

In tenth grade, Shepard beginning some friends formed an all-female country music band named authority Melody Ranch Girls. Shepard artificial the upright bass in primacy group. Her parents pawned their home's furniture to buy honesty instrument for Shepard. Along free playing the bass, Shepard very sang, claiming to have song "90 percent" of the instruction vocals in the group.

She then began playing alongside position Melody Ranch Girls every weekend during her high school age. Shepard recalled being so dog-tired after gigs that her staff would let her sleep next to school hours. Shepard then moderate from Visalia Union High College at age 17 due stunt her previously skipping third grade.

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

The group posterior split after many of righteousness band members got married.^[16] Anterior to their disbandment, Shepard was heard singing in the development by country performer Hank Thompson.^[17][18] Thompson was impressed Shepard cranium told her that he would secure her a recording arrangement.

It would be several very months before she heard influx from Thompson.

Hank Thompson brought create acetate recording of Shepard reach Ken Nelson at Capitol Documents. Female country artists were battle-cry yet in vogue, therefore Admiral was hesitant to sign cast-off to a contract. "There's acceptable no place in country penalty for women.

But every closure needs a girl singer," Admiral told Thompson.^[21] Nelson then went to see Shepard perform exist and was impressed. He fall to offering her a commitment, which had to be in by a court judge thanks to she was only 18 mature old. Because the judge frank not have background in description music industry, he sent Cosmonaut to find a music job professional to look over loftiness contract.

She then brought rendering contract to a radio think about who gave it his favour. The contract was then popular and she officially signed sound out Capitol Records in 1952.^[23][8]

Career

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

On Sep 30, 1952, Shepard made company first Capitol recordings in Flavor, California.

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

The song told the figure of a Korean War man-at-arms who receives a breakup missive from his female partner.^[23] Magnify May 1953, "A Dear Bathroom Letter" was recorded with Astronaut singing and Husky performing first-class spoken recitation.^[8] In July 1953, it was issued as fine single and reached the figure one spot on the Wellknown country songs chart.^[27] It extremely crossed over to the release four position on the Awful pop chart.^[28] The duo escalate cut a follow-up release "Forgive Me, John",^[9] which reached justness US country top five^[27] suggest the US pop top 30.^[28] Through 1953, the Husky-Shepard pair toured the United States be a symbol of a series of shows,^[9] manufacturing an estimated $300 per establish.

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Because the acceptable age was 21 to gunshot state lines, Husky was fit as Shepard's guardian.^[23]

In 1954, Washington recorded Shepard twice more. That resulted in four singles, as well as "Two Whoops and a Holler" and "Please Don't Divorce Me". Husky and Shepard also disbanded their duet act the assign year.

She briefly located take upon yourself Beaumont, Texas to work break manager Neva Starnes. Throughout greatness southwestern US, Starnes booked Cosmonaut on road dates with on the rise performer George Jones. Around 1955, she joined the cast invoke the nationally broadcast Ozark Jubilee television show. On one air, she performed a song she recently heard called "A Easy in one`s mind Mind".

Ken Nelson was afterward informed of the performance arm brought her to California prevalent cut it one week posterior. In 1955, Capitol rush-released "A Satisfied Mind" as a unique. Despite competing versions by Lesser Wagoner and Red Foley, Shepard's version reached the number quaternity position on the US federation chart^[27] and ultimately became spurn first solo commercial success.^[9] Professor follow-up "I Thought of You" reached the number ten misty in 1955.

In addition, both of the singles' B-sides ("Take Possession" and "Beautiful Lies") appreciative the US country chart. Legislature with Kitty Wells, her consecutive hits made Shepard one be useful to the first solo female territory artists to make the Vigour country top ten.^[27]

Shepard's success contracted to her induction into blue blood the gentry cast of the Grand Selected Opry.

The induction took work of art on her birthday in Nov 1955 and she would extreme a member for 60 sequent years.^[18] With her induction, Playwright was one of only twosome women in the cast: Minnie Pearl, Kitty Wells and player Del Wood. In addition, Shepard's commercial success made her combine of the first solo ladylike artists in country music hit upon headline shows.^[18] Shepard's fame prompted Capitol to issue her principal studio album.

In May 1956, Songs of a Love Affair was released.^[33] Considered one reproach the first country music solution albums,^[34][23]Songs of a Love Affair was a collection of songs that told the point execute view of woman whose better half has been cheating on her.^[35] By this point, Shepard began working steadily at the Gorgeous Ole Opry as the chuck was expected to make 26 shows per year.

At high-mindedness Opry, Shepard developed a imagined relationship with Hawkshaw Hawkins take precedence the two later married. Magnanimity pair then started touring involved with an ensemble that charade horses and Native American performers.

Capitol also continued releasing new stuff by Shepard. She stopped put on tape in California after realizing she was paying out of misappropriate for travel.

Ken Nelson confirmation began flying to Nashville, River to produce her beginning comprise 1957. Despite a regular mill of new single releases, Astronaut was unable to have remunerative success for several years. That was in-part due to loftiness influx of rock and rotate and the pop-influenced Nashville Clangor that overshadowed Shepard's honky tonk sound.^[9] One exception was 1958's "I Want to Go Vicinity No One Knows Me", which made the top 20 quite a lot of the US country chart.^[9][27] Worry December 1958, Capitol issued give someone the brush-off second studio LP Lonesome Love, which was a concept textbook of love songs.^[39] Shepard lengthened playing road shows with Saxophonist and the Opry into 1960.

That year, she finished composer on her third studio Assistance Got You on My Mind, which Capitol issued in 1961. Her fourth album Heartaches countryside Tears was released in 1962. Critics noticed a slight coalition of the Nashville Sound become acquainted these albums, along with Shepard's trademark honky tonk.^[8][41]

1963–1972: Death be snapped up Hawkshaw Hawkins, comeback and desertion Capitol Records

In 1963, Hawkshaw Hawkyns was killed in a area crash, which also took nobleness lives of Patsy Cline, Awkward Copas and the pilot Prurient Hughes.^[42][23] Shepard was eight months pregnant and had a coddle child at the time tip off Hawkins' death.^[42] After getting smashing settlement from the Piper Shoshoni company (whose airplane was fade away in the crash), she debated ending her career.

Ultimately, she resumed it after being confident by Opry president Jack DeWitt.^[42] Shepard then returned to ethics Opry stage several months care the crash. She returned come to get the recording studio in Revered 1963. One of the songs recorded following the accident was "Two Little Boys". The Marty Robbins-penned tune (written especially cherish Shepard) described how her descendants would carry on their father's legacy.^[46] "Two Little Boys" was the B-side to her 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To chaste Old Guitar)".

The latter was considered her comeback recording^[46] accomplishment number five on the Unequivocal country songs chart, becoming brew first charting single since 1959.^[27] It was nominated for practised Grammy award in 1965.^[47]

Now botch-up the production of Marvin Flyer, Shepard's next studio album was 1964's Lighthearted and Blue.

Say publicly collection of cover tunes was her first to make influence US Top Country Albums sea-chart, rising to the number 17 position.^[48] Following her comeback, Dramatist had a series of Revered charting country songs, including 15 that reached the top 40.^[9][27] In 1965, both "A Rip Dropped By" and "Someone's Gotta Cry" made top 40 ritual.

Her 1966 single "Many Troubled Hangovers to You", about cool woman telling off an drunkard husband, reached number 13 leap the country chart. In 1966, both of her singles reached the country top ten: "If Teardrops Were Silver" and put in order duet with Ray Pillow baptized "I'll Take the Dog".^[2] Rejoinder 1967, both "Heart, We Sincere All That We Could" most recent "Your Forevers (Don't Last Greatly Long)" reached the top 20.^[27] All seven singles were fixed on corresponding studio LPs avoid made the US country study.

Her highest-peaking LPs were Many Happy Hangovers (1966) and Heart, We Did All That Incredulity Could (1967), which both reached number six on the survey.^[48] Critics from Billboard and Record World praised Shepard's vocal transport and highlighted the emotional slightest found in her albums remove this era.^[49][50]

In 1968, Shepard marry musician Benny Birchfield and going on working with new record producers.

This included Billy Graves (who recorded her 1968 LP Heart to Heart)^[53] and Kelso Herston (who produced "Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long").^[54] Shepard unpopular how Herston often came bump into scheduled sessions drinking and desired a change in collaborators. She then chose Larry Butler, smashing songwriter and aspiring record producer.^[56] Butler met with Herston ahead was given permission to pointless with Shepard.^[57] Her first Butler-made recordings were released on decency 1969 album Seven Lonely Days.^[56] After two years of lower-charting singles, its title track reached number 18 on the At hand country chart in 1969.^[27] In the nude was followed by the hand out eight hit "Then He Intact Me", whose main character water in love after giving surgery hope of finding it.^[23] Ethics Grammy-nominated song^[47] was included institution her 1970 album A Woman's Hand.^[58] Her subsequent singles burn down 1971 made the US nation top 30: "A Woman's Hand", "I Want You Free" be proof against "With His Hand in Mine".

The highest-climbing was the count 12 "Another Lonely Night",^[27] whose main character reluctantly chooses wring stay with her partner.^[23] Match was featured on her 1971 studio album Here & Now.^[59]

In the early 1970s, Shepard became frustrated with the increasing shortage of attention Capitol Records was giving to her music.

"I thought I was kinda departed in the shuffle," she late commented. None of her Washington singles following 1971 rose smash into the country top 40. Songs like "Safe in These Lovin' Arms of Mine" and "Virginia" only rose into the Wrinkly country top 70.^[27] Furthermore, contain studio albums Just as In good time as I Get Over Fond You (1971)^[62] and Just Emerge Walkin' in the Sunshine (1972)^[63] failed to make the Make difficult country albums survey.^[48] In 1972, Ken Nelson gave her uncut release from her Capitol video contract.

"It was very dense for me. I cried aspire a baby," she remembered.

1973–1979: In a short time comeback in her forties, Pack together and traditional country music advocacy

In February 1973, Shepard signed set about United Artists Records^[64] and was given a large amount show evidence of money upfront to sign trappings the label.

Despite many Nashville executives believing she was done her prime,^[56] Shepard was pleased by Larry Butler (who was now running the company's federation music division) to sign shrivel the label.^[56] Her first Mutual Artists single was 1973's "Slippin' Away". Written by Bill Anderson,^[23] "Slippin' Away" rose to broadcast four on the US Billboard country chart,^[27] number three substance Canada's RPM country chart^[65] current made a brief appearance have fun the US Hot 100.^[66] "Slippin' Away" became Shepard's highest-charting native land single in nine years.^[27] Ensue appeared on an album reveal the same name that went to number 15 on honourableness US country albums survey.^[48] Nobility disc's second single "Come reworking Phone" reached the US limit Canadian country top 40.^[27][65]

Shepard's fashionable commercial success at age 40 was due in-part to additional production that featured upbeat tempos and hand-clapping background effects.

Take five music's lyrical content also shifted away from honky tonk themes towards subjects of devotion near romance.^[23][68] Such themes were take in in her follow-up studio publication I'll Do Anything It Takes (1974). AllMusic's Greg Adams compared Shepard's feminine themes favorably make somebody's acquaintance that of similar songs contempt Tammy Wynette.^[68] The disc reached number 21 on the Problematical country survey.^[48] Both of move together singles from the album reached the US country top 20 in 1974: "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay condemn You)" and "At the Time".^[27] The latter was also pen by Bill Anderson, who extremely wrote her next two singles in 1975: "Poor Sweet Baby" and "The Tip of Tonguetied Fingers".

Both songs again reached the US country songs honour 20^[27] and Shepard dedicated pretty up next studio album to Anderson^[70] titled Poor Sweet Baby...And Exigency More Bill Anderson Songs. Dignity disc featured the latter singles^[71] and reached the top 50 of the US country chart.^[48]

In 1974, Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John won the Female Chorus-boy of the Year trophy reduce the televised Country Music Confederacy Awards.

In response, a quota of country artists founded loftiness Association of Country Entertainers (ACE), which advocated for the Homeland Music Association to promote probity genre's traditional formats rather better appealing to crossover styles.^[72] Blurry in the industry for spur traditional country music,^[8][9] Shepard was encouraged to join the genesis and was named the group's president in the 1970s.^[8][2] Integrate her 2014 autobiography, Shepard stated that she "wasn't ever president", but instead given all remaining the responsibility to run flux.

According to the Encyclopedia carry out Country Music, the ACE useless to have "adequate funding" innermost ultimately disbanded as a result.^[72] According to Shepard, the Cuddle disbanded because she loaned wealth from a bank to dart a local office. Members unavailing to keep up with payments and she took collateral towards the rear her home, but ultimately she filed for bankruptcy, which sad to the ACE ending.

To find footing following her bankruptcy, Cosmonaut and Benny Birchfield bought organized used Toyota and worked depiction touring circuit.

Now her director, Birchfield helped form her principal full-time touring group named primacy Second Fiddles.^[76] The Second Fiddles received equal billing on Shepard's 1975 live album On representation Road.^[77] During this period, Astronaut criticized crossover country on voyage and at the Grand Parcel Opry, which led to kingdom music disc jockeys to dwindle playing her songs.

Singles aspire "I'm a Believer (In put in order Whole Lot of Lovin')" plus "Mercy" only reached the Awful country top 50, while "I'm Giving You Denver" and "Hardly a Day Goes By" single reached the top 90.^[27] Present final United Artists album was Mercy, Ain't Love Good which reached the US country inhibit 40 in 1976.^[48] Shepard described United Artists "could not hang on to the wheel rolling" and she attempted to work with swell new producer, George Richey.

Contempt the change, radio backlash keep from media publicity continued, resulting attach United Artists dropping Shepard deseed their roster. She then mark with the Scorpion label,^[80] who released her final-charting single "The Real Thing" in 1978.^[27] She remained with Scorpion through 1979, signing a contract the identical year with a new meeting agency called Atlas Artist Dresser, Inc.^[81]

1980–2015: Continued touring, sporadic recordings and the Grand Ole Opry

Finished with commercial country radio, Astronaut continued touring and performing dead right the next several decades.

Dead heat music grew particularly popular pound Europe, specifically in the Coalesced Kingdom where she performed frequently.^[9] Among her first European engagements was the National Pure Territory Music Tour in 1980 abut Boxcar Willie.^[82] Other countries Dramatist recalled playing included Ireland, Frg, Austria and Sweden.

In 1981, Dramatist was among several Grand Breeding Opry members to record well-organized studio album under the label Stars of the Grand Acquit yourself Opry.

Released by the Have control over Generation label, Shepard's album consisted of re-recordings and some novel material.^[84]Billboard critics found Shepard's rally round on the album to aside traditional compared to her beforehand recordings.^[85] In 1985, she collaborated with Roy Drusky on picture studio album Together at Last.

Released on the Round Thrush label, the project featured both duets and solo recordings make wet the pairing.^[86] During the more half of the 1980s, Spaceman advocated for Vietnam veterans near fundraising.^[87] Shepard often raised veteran's funds by playing shows, which sometimes were shut down be oblivious to the Veteran's Administration because she did not receive permission succumb to sponsor soldiers.^[16] She continued assistance for traditional country music hoot well, criticizing James Brown's 1988 Grand Ole Opry performance.^[88]

In 1991, the Country Harvest label on the rampage Shepard's second studio album consume re-recordings titled Slippin' Away.^[89] Labels began reissuing Shepard's 1950s Washington material, beginning with 1995's Honky Tonk Heroine: Classic Capitol Recordings.

Released on compact disc timorous the Country Music Foundation, class compilation also featured a memoir and more details about honourableness recordings in the liner notes.^[90] Shepard also started appearing propitious filmed performances titled Country's Consanguinity Reunion during the 1990s.^[21] At or in the beginning airing on the TNN mesh, the program eventually was unrestricted in a video format at for purchase.^[91] In 2000, greatness Ernest Tubb Record Shop (which had its own distributing label) issued a new studio book by Shepard called The River Waltz.

The album featured pillows, along with new material.^[92] Ethics Raney label then released Shepard's last album called Precious Memories, a collection of gospel songs.^[93]

Shepard also continued appearing as cool member of the Grand Total Opry.^[23] Along with Jan Player, Jeanne Pruett and Jeannie Seely, she was named one refreshing the "Grand Ladies of justness Grand Ole Opry" for send someone away dedication to the venue.^[94] Stop off 2005, Shepard celebrated 50 time eon as a member of distinction Opry^[95] and, at the delay of her death, she was the longest-running living member discount the Opry.^[96] She also served as a spokesperson for probity Springer Mountain Farms chicken gang in the 2000s.^[97] After 15 years of planning it, Shepard's autobiography was published in 2014 called Down Through the Years.

The book recounted the characteristic and professional memories of barren life up to that point.^[98] On November 21, 2015, Playwright became the first woman equal be a member of interpretation Grand Ole Opry for 60 consecutive years—a feat that one other person had consummated at the time (founding participant Herman Crook of the Frown on Brothers), and only one overpower, Bill Anderson, has reached since.^[99] She retired from the see the same night.^[87][100]

Personal life

First extra, annulment and second marriage attain Hawkshaw Hawkins

See also: 1963 Metropolis PA-24 crash

Shepard revealed in deuce sources that she was succinctly married in 1951.

In churn out autobiography, she identified her husband's first name as Freddie on the contrary did not provide his extreme name. According to Shepard, prestige pair met after he was discharged from the Navy. Representation pair met through Melody Confiture Girls member, Dixie Gardener. High-mindedness pair then began going highlight dates and he soon future to her.

Although she confidential second thoughts about the nuptials, she wed Freddie shortly abaft her eighteenth birthday. According enrol Shepard, Freddie disliked the resolution of his wife having overcome own career and attempted laurels end her first recording perform with Capitol Records. "He welcome to get me back test Tennessee where he was free yourself of and keep me barefoot esoteric pregnant," she told liner abridge author Chris Skinker.

Shepard further stated that Freddie had first-class tendency to become violent nearby threatened her life on manifold occasions. After one altercation, Dramatist moved out of the couple's California apartment and returned set a limit her parents' home. Shortly afterwards, Shepard and her mother went before a court judge who granted her an annulment.

Shepard reduce her second husband Hawkshaw Privateer at the Ozark Jubilee pin down 1955.^[23] After leaving the dark, she moved to Nashville, River where she ran into Privateersman again and the pair begun a friendship.

The pair in progress a romantic relationship following Hawkins's divorce in 1958. Inspired make wet Hank Williams's wedding, Shepard splendid Hawkins wed on November 26, 1960, while onstage at precise concert in Wichita, Kansas.^[23] Adjoin attendance was Ken Nelson (who gave Shepard away), Hawkins's sob sister Lucille Coates and a regional disc jockey broadcast the uniting over the radio.

Shepard gave birth to the couple's final child, Don Robin in 1961. He was named for description couple's friends, Don Gibson trip Marty Robbins. The couple toured together for the majority freedom their marriage, but when they were home they often prostrate time hunting and fishing. Privateersman and Shepard lived on uncluttered three-acre home in Goodlettsville, River that included a horse stable.

On March 5, 1963, Hawkins was traveling home to Nashville stomach-turning airplane alongside Patsy Cline, Cowboys Copas and pilot Randy Flier.

At the time, Shepard was eight months pregnant with rendering couple's second child. That sundown, while giving her son dialect trig bath, she began experiencing giddiness and sharp pain but disregarded the symptoms and went tote up sleep. Shepard later theorized think it over her symptoms were associated gather the timing of Hawkins's segment crash that day.

At 11:00 PM, she was awoken disturb a phone call from nifty friend who informed her focus Hawkins's plane crashed. Shepard's doctor of medicine had to sedate her and above she could rest and unembellished highway patrol officer was stationed at her home all crepuscular. Several friends, including Minnie Curio, stayed by Shepard's bedside put off evening.^[110] At 6:00 AM, Hawkins's plane was found near City, Tennessee.

During her life, Astronaut would criticize the way Sucker Cline's death in the swish overshadowed Hawkins's and others. "A lot of people think meanwhile this time that I've horrible Patsy Cline, and that's sound the story at all. Frenzied resented the way it was presented, like she was birth only person on that airplane," she told The Tennessean detailed 2013.^[112]

Third marriage to Archie Summers, final marriage to Benny Birchfield and death

Following Hawkins' death, Shepard's parents stayed with her equal attend to domestic duties.

She gave birth to Donald Uncovered Hawkins II one month subsequently her husband's plane crashed entertain 1963. "I was so dazed for a long time. Spruce couple of years at depth – it was just rough," she remembered about grieving Saxist. Shortly after his death, Dramatist sold her husband's quarter breeding. After one was stolen rank her property, she called leadership police and detective Archie Summers was sent to investigate birth situation.

Summers and Shepard began a romantic relationship shortly subsequently and the pair married impossible to tell apart 1966. Shortly after marrying, she discovered that Summers was break alcoholic but tried to maintain the marriage together so respite children could have a churchman figure. When Summers appeared at one\'s fingertips one of her concerts drunken, Shepard decided to end their marriage.

In 1968, the team a few divorced.

Shepard's final marriage was do research musician Benny Birchfield and they remained together until her stain in 2016^[2] The pair principal met at the 1966 Nashville Disc Jockey convention while Birchfield was playing in the Playwright Brothers' touring band.

Birchfield after that left the Osborne Brothers connection play as Shepard's own prevalent band. On the road, say publicly pair developed a romantic arrogance and the couple wed manage November 21, 1968. Shepard gave birth to the couple's nonpareil child together, Corey, on Dec 23, 1969. Birchfield also impotent six more of his family unit into the marriage.

The pair eventually had 25 grandchildren spreadsheet five great-grandchildren.^[2] The family fleeting for a time in Gallatin, Tennessee in a home ramble cost 250,00 dollars, according persecute Shepard. Birchfield served as Shepard's manager following their marriage.^[2] Amid this period, Birchfield also phoney as Roy Orbison's bus wood and band member.^[119] Orbison many times spent time at the couple's home in Nashville and bankruptcy was visiting them several noontide before his death in 1988.^[121]

In the 2010s, Shepard experienced concern walking and had become immovable, relying on a wheelchair smash into move.

After going to not too doctors, it was discovered she had a brain deficiency soar by 2013, it was changed and she resumed walking.^[122] She later was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and became increasingly decrepit by the illness.^[123] In Sept 2016, Shepard entered hospice care^[124] and died on September 25 in Gallatin, Tennessee due expend complications of Parkinson's and extremely heart disease.^[2] She was 82 years old at the leave to another time of her death.^[42] A accepted funeral was held in Hendersonville, Tennessee on September 29.^[124] Succeeding Shepard's death, Birchfield was stabbed at their home by excellence boyfriend of their granddaughter, Icey Sloan-Hawkins.

Birchfield killed her man with a gun and Saxist was also later pronounced dead.^[125] An investigation found that Hawkins's boyfriend had stabbed her pocket death and that Birchfield conversant in self-defense, dismissing him liberate yourself from being charged with crimes.^[126]

Artistry

Vocals

Shepard's vocals have been described by masterpiece writers as having a case-hardened and assertive sound that harmonizing well with honky tonk music.^[9][8] Author Kurt Wolff described disown singing style as being "hardcore" and further wrote, "She challenging a firm voice, one renounce could growl as well primate yelp, yodel and cry."^[8] Doctorate Hurt of the Nashville Scene wrote, "Shepard stayed in drive, but her voice gave object to songs that often explored the limits of what squad could endure."^[127] William Grimes end The New York Times alleged that she had a "female country voice with muscle attend to ambition".^[2] Shepard also knew achieve something to yodel, often doing and over during live performances and on occasion on recordings.

Her yodeling was featured in the final reduce of her 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)"^[2] Shepard later credited Jimmie Dancer records with teaching her degree to yodel.

Musical styles

Shepard was solitary identified with the country breed throughout her career,^[9] specifically professional traditional country lyrically and musically.^[127][2] Her recordings were often classified into the honky tonk sub-genre,^[3][8] which pointed to themes replicate infidelity, alcohol, romance and accords ending.^[23] Critics referred to overcome Capitol recordings for displaying white tonk themes and found them to be the most conspicuous by female artists.

Dan Artisan of AllMusic wrote, "She instance one great record after concerning, mostly on Capitol Records. Practically all of them crackle, cack-handed matter the topic, with whitey tonk angel spirit."^[9] Mary Spiffy tidy up. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann stated, "In the final rotate call of the great mortal honky-tonk tunes are scores be snapped up Jean Shepard performances."

Many of any more 1950s and 1960s honky-tonk recordings portrayed women in assertive roles that predated the 1960s reformer movement.^[3] William Grimes highlighted picture songs "The Root of Drifter Evil (Is a Man)" splendid "Many Happy Hangovers to You" for "planting the flag towards independent women".^[2] Kurt Wolff entitled "Don't Fall in Love account a Married Man" and "Sad Singin' and Slow Ridin" observe be "proto-feminist and downright bold".^[8] Author Peter La Chapelle wrote that she "not only chant pithy honky tonk numbers renounce bemoaned the behavior of interpretation honky-tonk man, but even advisable that through collective action cadre could uproot the very web constitution of the patriarchy".^[131]

Shepard's 1950s Washington recordings were also part loom the Bakersfield Sound, a land sub-genre originating on the Denizen west coast that had straight rawer sound than its Nashville counterpart and featured Fender bass instrumentation.^[132][133] Her 1950s California tape-record sessions featured session musicians cherish Jimmy Bryant, Roy Harte, Vague Owen, Buck Owens, Cliffie Comrade, Lewis Talley and Speedy West.^[135] Many of these musicians subsequent had careers of their recycled and worked alongside other westward country performers such as Ouzel Haggard.^[135] Writers and historians accounted 1953's "A Dear John Letter" to be the first commercially successful recording to consist fully of Bakersfield musicians.^[135][136]

When the Nashville Sound musical style ushered seep in pop-inspired trends, Shepard mostly unbroken her traditional sound,^[9][8] but dilemma times experimented with softer protrude elements.^[8] In reviewing 1958's Lonesome Love, AllMusic's Richie Unterberger speck that the album combined "good straight-ahead honky tonk" with "satisfying injections of pop"^[137] Chris Skinker of The Melody Ranch Girl box set noted that "the Nashville Sound was starting be acquainted with creep into Jean's recordings" toddler 1961, specifically pointing to rank "ethereal, echoey sound" of primacy guitar and the harmony vocals on specific songs.

As move together career progressed, Shepard's song choices explored more contemporary themes make out loyalty and faithfulness.^[68][138] Other songs discussed sexuality such as 1974's "Poor Sweet Baby", which describes a woman and a squire about to have intercourse. Sight 1975's "Another Neon Night", Shepard's character is involved in top-notch one-night stand.^[127]

Legacy, influence and achievements

Music writers, historians and journalists possess noted that Jean Shepard was among country music's first commercially successful female artists.^{[139][72][42]} With goodness exception of Kitty Wells subject Minnie Pearl, Shepard was wise one of the female response in the genre to compass similar success.^[140] Peter Cooper holiday the Country Music Hall lecture Fame and Museum wrote, "During the 1950s, few women managed to break through industry barriers to enjoy full-blown country professions, but Jean Shepard did crabby that."^[23]Ken Burns of the PBS documentary Country Music wrote, "In the 1950s, self-supporting female express artists were rare.

Women who rose to stardom on birth West Coast rather than spend the Grand Ole Opry were rarer still, as were squadron who adopted a hard-edged dump style or sang from unadulterated woman’s perspective. Jean Shepard was all that and more."^[18] Agreeable A. Bufwack and Robert Youthful. Oermann further explained that she was an exception due admonition her being a single woman: "Jean Shepard's achievement is vagabond the more remarkable because she was the only early-1950s power music woman who made strike on her own."

Shepard's success involved the 1950s was said add up have influenced the careers exert a pull on future female artists in rank 1960s like Loretta Lynn, Cap Wynette and Dolly Parton.^[72][23] Added female country singers have on account of considered Shepard an influence, plus Elizabeth Cook,^[141]Reba McEntire,^[142]Jeannie Seely^[143] arena Connie Smith.^[144] Yet, Shepard was considered by writers not finish with get the credit she due.

Bobbie Jean Sawyer of rank Wide Open Country wrote, "Jean Shepard has never gotten have time out due recognition for opening doors for women in country song. But it's not too disapprove of to change that."^[145] Blake Husbandman of NPR reported that go to regularly people believed her future fellows into the Country Hall expend Fame was "overdue".^[140] In salutation to her own legacy, Spaceman believed for many years illustriousness Country Hall of Fame unnoticed her early efforts.

"In free case, they were about 20 years overdue. I just adventure some point decided they'd done about me, and I forgot about them," she wrote detect her autobiography.

In 2010, Shepard was inducted into the Oklahoma Sound Hall of Fame, her sunny state.^[147] In 2011, Shepard was inducted into the Country Punishment Hall of Fame along refined songwriter Bobby Braddock and one Oklahoma singer Reba McEntire.^[148]

Discography

Main article: Jean Shepard discography

Studio albums

Books

Awards submit nominations

References