Woodrow Wilson "Red" Sovine was born on July 19th, 1918 in
Charleston,
West Virginia. As a child he was taught to play the
guitar by his mother and at age 17 he joined
WCHS radio in Charleston with country singer
Johnny Bailes.
After years of
blue collar work for
Gotham Hosiery Company , he broke into the music business with the
Bailes Brothers in
Shreveport, Louisiana. With the help of
Hank Williams, Red landed a
recording contract with
MGM, Red replaced Williams with the
Louisanna Hayride in 1949. After moving to
Nashiville with Hayride c-ostar
Webb Pierce, Red signed a contract with
Decca Records, and had several top 40 hits under their umbrella including; "
Are you mine," "
Why Baby Why," and "
Little Rosa."
Red signed up with
Starday Records in 1959 and had many hits over the next two decades. Some of the most memorable being "
Giddy-up Go," "
Phantom 309," and "
Teddy Bear." His song "Teddy Bear," is listed as #101 of country music's top 500 songs ever an impressive placing concidering the
thousands of country songs that have been made.
The majority of Red's music was of the
country music subgenre "truck driver music." Even if your not a country music fan his song's are worth listening too, especially "
The King's Last Concert," "
Bringing Mary Home," and "
Teddy Bear."
Red has yet to be inducted into the
Country Music Hall Of Fame but I have
no doubt this
legend will be. Red's music was one of the main reason I went '
against the grain' in the late 70's and loved country music as a kid.
Red Sovine Discography:
- 2002
- Pledge of Allegiance And Other Classic Narrations
- 2001
- Phantom 309
- 2000
- 16 Gospel Super Hits
- 1996
- The Best of the Trucks
- The Best of The Best
- 1995
- The Best of Red Sovine
- 1994
- Giddy-up Go
- Classic Narrations
- 16 New Gospel Songs
- 1990
- Sings Hank Williams
- The Legendary Red Sovine
- 1989
- Crying in the Chapel
- Famous Duets
- Golden Hits
- 1988
- Classic Red
- 1987
- Phantom 309
- 1981
- Gone But Not Forgotten
- 1977
- Woodrow Wilson Sovine
- Red Sovine's 16 Greatest Hits
- 1976
- Teddy Bear
- 1974
- It'll Come Back
- 1972
- The Greater Grand Ole Opry
- 1970
- I Know You're Married But I Love You Still
- A Dear John Letter
- Anytime
- 1969
- Who Am I)
- The Country Way
- 1968
- Sunday With Sovine
- Tell Maude I Slipped
- Phantom 309
- 1968
- Farewell, So Long, Goodbye
- The Nashville Sound of Red Sovine
- I Didn't Jump The Fence
- 1966
- Giddy-up Go
- 1965
- Little Rosa )
- Town and Country Action
- Country Music Time
- 1964
- Red Sovine
- 1963
- Country Hits Made Famous by Atkins and Ford
- 1962
- Golden Country Ballads of the 60's
- 1961
- The One and Only Red Sovine
- 1957
- Red Sovine
Red Sovine
1918-1980
Rest In Peace
http://chartrecords.net/sovine.htm
http://countrymusic.about.com/library/top500/bltop500g.htm
http://www.bsnpubs.com/king/stardaystory.html
http://hometown.aol.com/juvenilehi/Sovine.html