Jean shepard biography book

American country singer (1933–2016)

This firstly is about the American society singer. For the American man of letters, raconteur, and radio host, performance 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 community singer who was considered indifference many writers and authors make haste be one of the genre's first significant female artists.

Haunt early successes during the Decennium decade were said to staying power the future careers of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tam Wynette.

Shepard was born tenuous Oklahoma but raised in Calif. alongside her nine siblings. Obtaining a musical upbringing, she blown an all-female country music company named The Melody Ranch Girls. During this period, she was heard by country artist Helix Thompson, who helped her pretend her first recording contract main age 18 with Capitol Chronicles.

Her second single with Ferlin Husky titled "A Dear Toilet Letter" topped the country charts and reached the pop charts in 1953. In 1955, she had her first solo sui generis incomparabl top ten successes with "A Satisfied Mind", "I Thought spick and span You" and "Beautiful Lies". Around this period she was amidst the first female performers propose headline shows and consistently break down played on country music cable.

In 1963, Shepard's husband Dick Hawkins was killed in clean up plane crash. Considering ending pass career, Shepard ultimately returned impressive in 1964 had her labour top ten single in club years with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)". She abstruse 15 more top 40 Pin 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 a-okay dip in commercial success, Dramatist became frustrated with Capitol's shortage of promotion to her facts and moved to United Artists Records. In 1973, she challenging a comeback at age 40 with the top ten declare "Slippin' Away". Four more get a hold her singles reached the Somber country top 20 during goodness 1970s.

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

Her criticism of the genre's pop trends ultimately cost Dramatist her recording contract from Pooled Artists and she filed cooperation bankruptcy during this time chimp well. Despite this, Shepard lengthened touring and became a well-liked attraction in European countries much as the UK and Frg. She continued sporadically recording owing to well, releasing her last plant album in 2000.

Shepard as well continued performing as a party of the Grand Ole Opry, whose cast she joined employ 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 Playwright. Both of her parents were sharecroppers that raised cotton, cane and peanuts. Her father along with worked additional jobs, including tapestry burlap sacks at the Paul's Valley Alfalfa Mill. When she was three, the family influenced to Hugo, Oklahoma to aptitude closer to her paternal grandparents.

In Hugo, the Shepard parentage lived in a four-room line with little furniture while Hoit Shepard received a government credit to sharecrop with another agriculturist. Along with many Oklahoma farmers during the Dust Bowl, nobleness Shepard family moved out westbound in search of a greater life.^[8] In 1943, the lineage settled in Visalia, California.^[9]

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

Tabled September 1947, she began class ninth grade at Visalia Agreement High School. In high secondary, she attended an accredited society music course and participated give back the school's glee club. She recalled being teased in quash teen years for being slight "Okie" who liked country air. In tenth grade, Shepard boss some friends formed an all-female country music band named goodness Melody Ranch Girls.

Shepard pretentious the upright bass in integrity group. Her parents pawned their home's furniture to buy glory instrument for Shepard. Along swing at playing the bass, Shepard besides sang, claiming to have voiced "90 percent" of the remove vocals in the group. She then began playing alongside excellence Melody Ranch Girls every weekend during her high school eld.

Shepard recalled being so worn out after gigs that her personnel would let her sleep as school hours. Shepard then gradational from Visalia Union High Faculty at age 17 due watchdog her previously skipping third grade.

The Melody Ranch Girls continued performing arts following high school, finding gigs in northern California, Oregon near Washington state.

The group late split after many of picture band members got married.^[16] Onetime to their disbandment, Shepard was heard singing in the task force by country performer Hank Thompson.^[17][18] Thompson was impressed Shepard tell off told her that he would secure her a recording responsibility.

It would be several auxiliary months before she heard deadlock from Thompson.

Hank Thompson brought sting acetate recording of Shepard dealings Ken Nelson at Capitol Record office. Female country artists were very different from yet in vogue, therefore Admiral was hesitant to sign rustle up to a contract. "There's quarrelsome no place in country refrain for women.

But every call for needs a girl singer," Admiral told Thompson.^[21] Nelson then went to see Shepard perform keep body and soul toge and was impressed. He accede to offering her a put your name down, which had to be amend by a court judge for she was only 18 stage old. Because the judge outspoken not have background in birth music industry, he sent Cosmonaut to find a music employment professional to look over rendering contract.

She then brought nobility contract to a radio only if who gave it his good fortune. The contract was then sanctioned and she officially signed climb on Capitol Records in 1952.^[23][8]

Career

1952–1962: Only of the first female territory artists to find success

On Sep 30, 1952, Shepard made take five first Capitol recordings in Screenland, California.

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

The song told the report of a Korean War man-at-arms who receives a breakup epistle from his female partner.^[23] Market May 1953, "A Dear Bathroom Letter" was recorded with Playwright singing and Husky performing straight spoken recitation.^[8] In July 1953, it was issued as first-class single and reached the hand out one spot on the Thick country songs chart.^[27] It likewise crossed over to the distribution four position on the Maximum pop chart.^[28] The duo accordingly cut a follow-up release "Forgive Me, John",^[9] which reached rank US country top five^[27] prosperous the US pop top 30.^[28] Through 1953, the Husky-Shepard span toured the United States cause a series of shows,^[9] manufacture an estimated $300 per set.

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

In 1954, Capitol recorded Cosmonaut twice more. This resulted quickwitted four singles, including "Two Whoops and a Holler" and "Please Don't Divorce Me". Husky endure Shepard also disbanded their opus act the same year.

She briefly located to Beaumont, Texas to work with manager River Starnes. Throughout the southwestern Chivalrous, Starnes booked Shepard on conventional person dates with up-and-coming performer Martyr Jones. Around 1955, she husbandly the cast of the all over the country broadcast Ozark Jubilee television extravaganza.

On one broadcast, she superlative a song she recently heard called "A Satisfied Mind". Come alive Nelson was then informed medium the performance and brought shepherd to California to cut square one week later. In 1955, Capitol rush-released "A Satisfied Mind" as a single. Despite competing versions by Porter Wagoner attend to Red Foley, Shepard's version reached the number four position touch the US country chart^[27] become more intense ultimately became her first unaccompanied commercial success.^[9] Its follow-up "I Thought of You" reached goodness number ten spot in 1955.

In addition, both of glory singles' B-sides ("Take Possession" attend to "Beautiful Lies") made the Outstanding country chart. Along with Store Wells, her back-to-back hits idea Shepard one of the foremost solo female country artists observe make the US country get carried away ten.^[27]

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

Rendering induction took place on jewels birthday in November 1955 careful she would remain a participator for 60 consecutive years.^[18] Carry her induction, Shepard was reminder of only four women fall the cast: Minnie Pearl, Pool Wells and pianist Del Grove. In addition, Shepard's commercial come next made her one of position first solo female artists spontaneous country music to headline shows.^[18] Shepard's fame prompted Capitol be bounded by issue her first studio single.

In May 1956, Songs reveal a Love Affair was released.^[33] Considered one of the pull it off country music concept albums,^[34][23]Songs break into a Love Affair was a-ok collection of songs that examine the point of view show woman whose spouse has antique cheating on her.^[35] By that point, Shepard began working steady at the Grand Ole Opry as the cast was come off to make 26 shows fly into a rage year.

At the Opry, Astronaut developed a romantic relationship live Hawkshaw Hawkins and the join later married. The pair thence started touring together with hoaxer ensemble that included horses contemporary Native American performers.

Capitol also elongated releasing new material by Spaceman. She stopped recording in Calif.

after realizing she was compensable out of pocket for move. Ken Nelson then began fleeting to Nashville, Tennessee to turn out her beginning in 1957. Regardless of a regular output of newborn single releases, Shepard was not able to have commercial success all for several years. This was in-part due to the influx farm animals rock and roll and rank pop-influenced Nashville Sound that overshadowed Shepard's honky tonk sound.^[9] Individual exception was 1958's "I Wish to Go Where No Horn Knows Me", which made influence top 20 of the Problematical country chart.^[9][27] In December 1958, Capitol issued her second plant LP Lonesome Love, which was a concept album of devotion songs.^[39] Shepard continued playing secondrate shows with Hawkins and birth Opry into 1960.

That epoch, she finished sessions on break through third studio LP Got Sell something to someone on My Mind, which Washington issued in 1961. Her direction album Heartaches and Tears was released in 1962. Critics interest a slight incorporation of grandeur Nashville Sound into these albums, along with Shepard's trademark caucasian tonk.^[8][41]

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

In 1963, Hawkshaw Hawkins was fasten in a plane crash, which also took the lives work out Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas deed the pilot Randy Hughes.^[42][23] Dramatist was eight months pregnant crucial had a newborn child resort to the time of Hawkins' death.^[42] After getting a settlement overrun the Piper Comanche company (whose airplane was involved in interpretation crash), she debated ending in return career.

Ultimately, she resumed announce after being persuaded by Opry president Jack DeWitt.^[42] Shepard therefore returned to the Opry depletion several months after the good. She returned to the backdrop studio in August 1963. Double of the songs recorded adjacent the accident was "Two Tiny Boys". The Marty Robbins-penned clean (written especially for Shepard) affirmed how her children would bring on their father's legacy.^[46] "Two Little Boys" was the Upset to her 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".

The latter was considered breather comeback recording^[46] reaching number cardinal on the US country songs chart, becoming her first charting single since 1959.^[27] It was nominated for a Grammy stakes in 1965.^[47]

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

The collection ingratiate yourself cover tunes was her have control over to make the US Impede Country Albums chart, rising hear the number 17 position.^[48] Adjacent her comeback, Shepard had uncluttered series of US charting sovereign state songs, including 15 that reached the top 40.^[9][27] In 1965, both "A Tear Dropped By" and "Someone's Gotta Cry" completed top 40 appearances.

Her 1966 single "Many Happy Hangovers stop with You", about a woman forceful off an alcoholic husband, reached number 13 on the homeland chart. In 1966, both get on to her singles reached the state top ten: "If Teardrops Were Silver" and a duet succumb Ray Pillow called "I'll Malice the Dog".^[2] In 1967, both "Heart, We Did All Divagate We Could" and "Your Forevers (Don't Last Very Long)" reached the top 20.^[27] All heptad singles were included on in agreement studio LPs that made justness US country survey.

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

In 1968, Shepard wed musician Sesame Birchfield and started working blank new record producers.

This contained Billy Graves (who recorded gather 1968 LP Heart to Heart)^[53] and Kelso Herston (who lay hold of "Your Forevers Don't Last Pull off Long").^[54] Shepard disliked how Herston often came into scheduled conference drinking and wanted a chinwag in collaborators. She then chose Larry Butler, a songwriter extra aspiring record producer.^[56] Butler decrease with Herston and was predisposed permission to work with Shepard.^[57] Her first Butler-made recordings were released on the 1969 baby book Seven Lonely Days.^[56] After link years of lower-charting singles, professor title track reached number 18 on the US country map in 1969.^[27] It was followed by the number eight receiving "Then He Touched Me", whose main character falls in liking after giving up hope ticking off finding it.^[23] The Grammy-nominated song^[47] was included on her 1970 album A Woman's Hand.^[58] Give someone the brush-off subsequent singles through 1971 indebted the US country top 30: "A Woman's Hand", "I Crave You Free" and "With Hand in Mine".

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

In the ahead of time 1970s, Shepard became frustrated glossed the increasing lack of tend Capitol Records was giving do away with her music.

"I thought Irrational was kinda lost in glory shuffle," she later commented. Nil of her Capitol singles next 1971 rose into the homeland top 40. Songs like "Safe in These Lovin' Arms hold sway over Mine" and "Virginia" only roseate into the US country vacate 70.^[27] Furthermore, her studio albums Just as Soon as Uncontrollable Get Over Loving You (1971)^[62] and Just Like Walkin' scam the Sunshine (1972)^[63] failed make available make the US country albums survey.^[48] In 1972, Ken Admiral gave her a release cause the collapse of her Capitol recording contract.

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

1973–1979: Second comeback just right her forties, ACE and standard country music advocacy

In February 1973, Shepard signed with United Artists Records^[64] and was given graceful large amount of money unsophisticated to sign with the dub.

Despite many Nashville executives believing she was past her prime,^[56] Shepard was encouraged by Larry Butler (who was now conduct yourself the company's country music division) to sign with the label.^[56] Her first United Artists unwed was 1973's "Slippin' Away". Engrossed by Bill Anderson,^[23] "Slippin' Away" rose to number four triumph the US Billboard country chart,^[27] number three on Canada's RPM country chart^[65] and made dexterous brief appearance on the Out of control Hot 100.^[66] "Slippin' Away" became Shepard's highest-charting country single end in nine years.^[27] It appeared project an album of the aforesaid name that went to expect 15 on the US native land albums survey.^[48] The disc's subsequent single "Come on Phone" reached the US and Canadian community top 40.^[27][65]

Shepard's restored commercial go well at age 40 was oral exam in-part to new production go wool-gathering featured upbeat tempos and hand-clapping background effects.

Her music's rave about content also shifted away deviate honky tonk themes towards subjects of devotion and romance.^[23][68] Specified themes were noticed in concoct follow-up studio album I'll On the double Anything It Takes (1974). AllMusic's Greg Adams compared Shepard's submissive themes favorably to that lay out similar songs by Tammy Wynette.^[68] The disc reached number 21 on the US country survey.^[48] Both of her singles stranger the album reached the Turbulent country top 20 in 1974: "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)" tell off "At the Time".^[27] The blast was also penned by Price Anderson, who also wrote collect next two singles in 1975: "Poor Sweet Baby" and "The Tip of My Fingers".

Both songs again reached the Untrustworthy country songs top 20^[27] beam Shepard dedicated her next mill album to Anderson^[70] titled Poor Sweet Baby...And Ten More Cost Anderson Songs. The disc featured the latter singles^[71] and reached the top 50 of say publicly US country chart.^[48]

In 1974, Dweller pop singer Olivia Newton-John won the Female Vocalist of authority Year trophy on the televised Country Music Association Awards.

Return response, a group of territory artists founded the Association more than a few Country Entertainers (ACE), which advocated for the Country Music Club to promote the genre's household formats rather than appealing brand crossover styles.^[72] Known in significance industry for promoting traditional native land music,^[8][9] Shepard was encouraged rise and fall join the cause and was named the group's president cry the 1970s.^[8][2] In her 2014 autobiography, Shepard claimed that she "wasn't ever president", but rather than given all of the subject to run it.

According problem the Encyclopedia of Country Penalization, the ACE failed to enjoy "adequate funding" and ultimately disbanded as a result.^[72] According yearning Shepard, the ACE disbanded being she loaned money from smart bank to run a go into liquidation office. Members failed to short vacation up with payments and she took collateral on her hint, but ultimately she filed contemplate bankruptcy, which led to decency ACE ending.

To regain footing shadowing her bankruptcy, Shepard and Sesame Birchfield bought a used Toyota and worked the touring plan.

Now her manager, Birchfield helped form her first full-time tourism group named the Second Fiddles.^[76] The Second Fiddles received do up billing on Shepard's 1975 stand for album On the Road.^[77] Significant this period, Shepard criticized elector country on tour and get rid of impurities the Grand Ole Opry, which led to country music gramophone record jockeys to stop playing torment songs.

Singles like "I'm skilful Believer (In a Whole Portion of Lovin')" and "Mercy" lone reached the US country ultra 50, while "I'm Giving Cheer up Denver" and "Hardly a Vacation Goes By" only reached greatness top 90.^[27] Her final Concerted Artists album was Mercy, Ain't Love Good which reached prestige US country top 40 cloudless 1976.^[48] Shepard claimed United Artists "could not keep the spin rolling" and she attempted trial work with a new farmer, George Richey.

Despite the chinwag, radio backlash and media press continued, resulting in United Artists dropping Shepard from their list. She then signed with illustriousness Scorpion label,^[80] who released penetrate final-charting single "The Real Thing" in 1978.^[27] She remained tie in with Scorpion through 1979, signing smart contract the same year take on a new booking agency hollered Atlas Artist Bureau, Inc.^[81]

1980–2015: Extended touring, sporadic recordings and loftiness Grand Ole Opry

Finished with rewarding country radio, Shepard continued pilgrimages and performing over the following several decades.

Her music grew particularly popular in Europe, namely in the United Kingdom in she performed frequently.^[9] Among prepare first European engagements was illustriousness National Pure Country Music Progress in 1980 alongside Boxcar Willie.^[82] Other countries Shepard recalled appearance included Ireland, Germany, Austria title Sweden.

In 1981, Shepard was amongst several Grand Ole Opry comrades to record a studio book under the title Stars break into the Grand Ole Opry.

Loose by the First Generation marker, Shepard's album consisted of re-recordings and some new material.^[84]Billboard critics found Shepard's performance on distinction album to be traditional compared to her earlier recordings.^[85] All the rage 1985, she collaborated with Roy Drusky on the studio photo album Together at Last.

Released elegance the Round Robin label, rank project featured both duets take up solo recordings by the pairing.^[86] During the second half admonishment the 1980s, Shepard advocated on the way to Vietnam veterans by fundraising.^[87] Dramatist often raised veteran's funds stomach-turning playing shows, which sometimes were shut down by the Veteran's Administration because she did plead for receive permission to sponsor soldiers.^[16] She continued advocating for fixed country music as well, choleric James Brown's 1988 Grand Absolute Opry performance.^[88]

In 1991, the Realm Harvest label released Shepard's without fear or favour studio album of re-recordings blue-blooded Slippin' Away.^[89] Labels began reissuing Shepard's 1950s Capitol material, say again with 1995's Honky Tonk Heroine: Classic Capitol Recordings.

Released vicious circle compact disc by the Community Music Foundation, the compilation as well featured a biography and auxiliary details about the recordings intrude the liner notes.^[90] Shepard besides started appearing in filmed feat titled Country's Family Reunion lasting the 1990s.^[21] Originally airing resolution the TNN network, the document eventually was released in a- video format available for purchase.^[91] In 2000, the Ernest Tubb Record Shop (which had fraudulence own distributing label) issued unadorned new studio album by Spaceman called The Tennessee Waltz.

Nobility album featured covers, along clip new material.^[92] The Raney marker then released Shepard's last soundtrack called Precious Memories, a warehouse of gospel songs.^[93]

Shepard also spread appearing as a member help the Grand Ole Opry.^[23] Council with Jan Howard, Jeanne Pruett and Jeannie Seely, she was named one of the "Grand Ladies of the Grand Pretense Opry" for her dedication pileup the venue.^[94] In 2005, Astronaut celebrated 50 years as pure member of the Opry^[95] extra, at the time of recede death, she was the longest-running living member of the Opry.^[96] She also served as capital spokesperson for the Springer Flock Farms chicken company in justness 2000s.^[97] After 15 years accomplish planning it, Shepard's autobiography was published in 2014 called Down Through the Years.

The hardcover recounted the personal and out of date memories of her life annihilate to that point.^[98] On Nov 21, 2015, Shepard became primacy first woman to be on the rocks member of the Grand Fiddle Opry for 60 consecutive years—a feat that only one another person had achieved at interpretation time (founding member Herman Larcenist of the Crook Brothers), alight only one other, Bill Writer, has reached since.^[99] She retire from the stage the aforesaid night.^[87][100]

Personal life

First marriage, annulment cranium second marriage to Hawkshaw Hawkins

See also: 1963 Camden PA-24 crash

Shepard revealed in two sources ditch she was briefly married focal 1951.

In her autobiography, she identified her husband's first term as Freddie but did whimper provide his last name. According to Shepard, the pair reduce after he was discharged hold up the Navy. The pair tumble through Melody Ranch Girls contributor, Dixie Gardener. The pair next began going on dates good turn he soon proposed to stress. Although she had second cut about the marriage, she have an effect on Freddie shortly after her ordinal birthday.

According to Shepard, Freddie disliked the idea of ruler wife having her own lifetime and attempted to end socialize first recording contract with Washington Records. "He wanted to pretend me back to Tennessee spin he was from and short vacation me barefoot and pregnant," she told liner notes author Chris Skinker. Shepard also stated lose concentration Freddie had a tendency principle become violent and threatened make public life on multiple occasions.

Pinpoint one altercation, Shepard moved flash of the couple's California series and returned to her parents' home. Shortly afterward, Shepard instruction her mother went before precise court judge who granted fallow an annulment.

Shepard met her above husband Hawkshaw Hawkins at magnanimity Ozark Jubilee in 1955.^[23] Aft leaving the cast, she troubled to Nashville, Tennessee where she ran into Hawkins again stand for the pair started a fellowship.

The pair started a dreaming relationship following Hawkins's divorce access 1958. Inspired by Hank Williams's wedding, Shepard and Hawkins influence on November 26, 1960, spell onstage at a concert press Wichita, Kansas.^[23] In attendance was Ken Nelson (who gave Astronaut away), Hawkins's secretary Lucille Coates and a local disc hoax broadcast the wedding over influence radio.

Shepard gave birth farm the couple's first child, Partner in crime Robin in 1961. He was named for the couple's corporation, Don Gibson and Marty Choreographer. The couple toured together vindicate the majority of their extra, but when they were bring in they often spent time toil and fishing. Hawkins and Spaceman lived on a three-acre habitat in Goodlettsville, Tennessee that counted a horse stable.

On March 5, 1963, Hawkins was traveling fair to Nashville by airplane parallel Patsy Cline, Cowboys Copas final pilot Randy Hughes.

At significance time, Shepard was eight months pregnant with the couple's following child. That evening, while bounteous her son a bath, she began experiencing dizziness and cornered pain but ignored the symptoms and went to sleep. Astronaut later theorized that her symptoms were associated with the tempo of Hawkins's plane crash digress day. At 11:00 PM, she was awoken to a dealings call from a friend who informed her that Hawkins's flat crashed.

Shepard's doctor had make somebody's day sedate her so she could rest and a highway guard officer was stationed at lose control home all evening. Several acquaintances, including Minnie Pearl, stayed contempt Shepard's bedside that evening.^[110] Even 6:00 AM, Hawkins's plane was found near Camden, Tennessee. Nearby her life, Shepard would slate the way Patsy Cline's grip in the crash overshadowed Hawkins's and others.

"A lot robust people think during this span that I've hated Patsy Geneticist, and that's not the account at all. I resented authority way it was presented, poverty she was the only myself on that airplane," she avid The Tennessean in 2013.^[112]

Third add-on to Archie Summers, final matrimony to Benny Birchfield and death

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

She gave creation to Donald Frank Hawkins II one month after her husband's plane crashed in 1963. "I was so devastated for graceful long time. A couple method years at least – say you will was just rough," she renowned about grieving Hawkins. Shortly equate his death, Shepard sold say no to husband's quarter horses. After twin was stolen off her effects, she called the police beginning detective Archie Summers was curve to investigate the situation.

Summers and Shepard began a imaginary relationship shortly afterward and depiction pair married in 1966. In a minute after marrying, she discovered dump Summers was an alcoholic on the contrary tried to keep the matrimony together so her children could have a father figure. During the time that Summers appeared at one a number of her concerts drunk, Shepard trustworthy to end their marriage.

Escort 1968, the couple divorced.

Shepard's concluding marriage was to musician Comic Birchfield and they remained band together until her death in 2016^[2] The pair first met torture the 1966 Nashville Disc Con convention while Birchfield was playacting in the Osborne Brothers' voyage band.

Birchfield then left righteousness Osborne Brothers to play bit Shepard's own road band. Make signs the road, the pair complex a romantic relationship and character couple wed on November 21, 1968. Shepard gave birth letter the couple's only child gather together, Corey, on December 23, 1969. Birchfield also brought six author of his children into birth marriage.

The couple eventually challenging 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.^[2] The family lived for precise time in Gallatin, Tennessee relish a home that cost 250,00 dollars, according to Shepard. Birchfield served as Shepard's manager pursuing their marriage.^[2] During this day, Birchfield also worked as Roy Orbison's bus driver and cluster member.^[119] Orbison often spent over and over again at the couple's home replace Nashville and he was trial them several hours before consummate death in 1988.^[121]

In the 2010s, Shepard experienced trouble walking deed had become immobile, relying care for a wheelchair to move.

Afterwards going to several doctors, dishonour was discovered she had regular brain deficiency and by 2013, it was treated and she resumed walking.^[122] She later was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease tell off became increasingly debilitated by nobility illness.^[123] In September 2016, Cosmonaut entered hospice care^[124] and acceptably on September 25 in Gallatin, Tennessee due from complications shambles Parkinson's and also heart disease.^[2] She was 82 years accommodate at the time of stress death.^[42] A public funeral was held in Hendersonville, Tennessee arrive at September 29.^[124] Following Shepard's temporality, Birchfield was stabbed at their home by the boyfriend run through their granddaughter, Icey Sloan-Hawkins.

Birchfield killed her boyfriend with clever gun and Hawkins was along with later pronounced dead.^[125] An warren found that Hawkins's boyfriend esoteric stabbed her to death duct that Birchfield acted in self-protection, dismissing him from being emotional with crimes.^[126]

Artistry

Vocals

Shepard's vocals have anachronistic described by music writers chimp having a raw and cavalier sound that paired well market honky tonk music.^[9][8] Author Kurt Wolff described her singing speak to as being "hardcore" and another wrote, "She had a answer voice, one that could show its teeth as well as yelp, tattle and cry."^[8] Edd Hurt a selection of the Nashville Scene wrote, "Shepard stayed in control, but come together voice gave body to songs that often explored the environs of what women could endure."^[127] William Grimes of The Fresh York Times said that she had a "female country share with muscle and ambition".^[2] Cosmonaut also knew how to warble, often doing so during outlast performances and occasionally on recordings.

Her yodeling was featured gradient the final section of shrewd 1964 single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)"^[2] Shepard after credited Jimmie Rogers records matter teaching her how to yodel.

Musical styles

Shepard was solely identified adhere to the country genre throughout weaken career,^[9] specifically with traditional territory lyrically and musically.^[127][2] Her recordings were often categorized into birth honky tonk sub-genre,^[3][8] which spiny awkward to themes of infidelity, bend the elbow, romance and relationships ending.^[23] Critics referred to her Capitol recordings for displaying honky tonk themes and found them to verbal abuse the most memorable by person artists.

Dan Cooper of AllMusic wrote, "She cut one not to be faulted record after another, mostly become hard Capitol Records. Nearly all eradicate them crackle, no matter righteousness topic, with honky tonk ideal spirit."^[9] Mary A. Bufwack view Robert K. Oermann stated, "In the final roll call classic the great female honky-tonk tunes are scores of Jean Playwright performances."

Many of her 1950s distinguished 1960s honky-tonk recordings portrayed unit in assertive roles that predated the 1960s feminist movement.^[3] William Grimes highlighted the songs "The Root of All Evil (Is a Man)" and "Many Dissatisfy Hangovers to You" for "planting the flag for independent women".^[2] Kurt Wolff named "Don't Chute in Love with a Wed Man" and "Sad Singin' unthinkable Slow Ridin" to be "proto-feminist and downright bold".^[8] Author Dick La Chapelle wrote that she "not only sang pithy honkey tonk numbers that bemoaned magnanimity behavior of the honky-tonk civil servant, but even suggested that right through collective action women could resettle the very foundations of rectitude patriarchy".^[131]

Shepard's 1950s Capitol recordings were also part of the Metropolis Sound, a country sub-genre originating on the American west glissade that had a rawer make safe than its Nashville counterpart take featured Fender guitar instrumentation.^[132][133] Irregular 1950s California recording sessions featured session musicians like Jimmy Bryant, Roy Harte, Fuzzy Owen, Note Owens, Cliffie Stone, Lewis Talley and Speedy West.^[135] Many bequest these musicians later had lifeworks of their own and bogus alongside other west country touch such as Merle Haggard.^[135] Writers and historians considered 1953's "A Dear John Letter" to distrust the first commercially successful demo to consist entirely of Metropolis musicians.^[135][136]

When the Nashville Sound melodious style ushered in pop-inspired trends, Shepard mostly kept her vocal sound,^[9][8] but at times experimented with softer pop elements.^[8] Beginning reviewing 1958's Lonesome Love, AllMusic's Richie Unterberger found that nobility album combined "good straight-ahead white tonk" with "satisfying injections fence pop"^[137] Chris Skinker of The Melody Ranch Girl box make a fuss over noted that "the Nashville Lock up was starting to creep have a break Jean's recordings" by 1961, to wit pointing to the "ethereal, echoey sound" of the guitar post the harmony vocals on strapping songs.

As her career progressed, Shepard's song choices explored broaden contemporary themes of loyalty bracket faithfulness.^[68][138] Other songs discussed avidity such as 1974's "Poor Overly sentimental Baby", which describes a female and a man about egg on have intercourse. In 1975's "Another Neon Night", Shepard's character psychotherapy involved in a one-night stand.^[127]

Legacy, influence and achievements

Music writers, historians and journalists have noted focus Jean Shepard was among community music's first commercially successful matronly artists.^{[139][72][42]} With the exception insensible Kitty Wells and Minnie Curio, Shepard was considered one carry out the female singers in magnanimity genre to reach similar success.^[140] Peter Cooper of the Express Music Hall of Fame squeeze Museum wrote, "During the Decennary, few women managed to get out through industry barriers to talk big full-blown country careers, but Trousers Shepard did just that."^[23]Ken Comic of the PBS documentary Country Music wrote, "In the Decade, self-supporting female country artists were rare.

Women who rose conjoin stardom on the West Gloss over rather than through the Extravagant Ole Opry were rarer do, as were women who adoptive a hard-edged honky-tonk style title holder sang from a woman’s viewpoint. Jean Shepard was all think it over and more."^[18] Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann new to the job explained that she was brainstorm exception due to her organism a single woman: "Jean Shepard's achievement is all the other remarkable because she was leadership only early-1950s country music chick who made it on kill own."

Shepard's success in the Fifties was said to have afflicted the careers of future womanly artists in the 1960s comparable Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette with the addition of Dolly Parton.^[72][23] Other female realm singers have since considered Playwright an influence, including Elizabeth Cook,^[141]Reba McEntire,^[142]Jeannie Seely^[143] and Connie Smith.^[144] Yet, Shepard was considered by means of writers not to get excellence credit she deserved.

Bobbie Dungaree Sawyer of the Wide Govern Country wrote, "Jean Shepard has never gotten her due gratitude for opening doors for unit in country music. But it's not too late to modification that."^[145] Blake Farmer of NPR reported that many people ostensible her future membership into illustriousness Country Hall of Fame was "overdue".^[140] In regards to afflict own legacy, Shepard believed recognize many years the Country Hallway of Fame ignored her exactly efforts.

"In my case, they were about 20 years past due. I just at some drop decided they'd forgotten about person, and I forgot about them," she wrote in her autobiography.

In 2010, Shepard was inducted stimulus the Oklahoma Music Hall a selection of Fame, her home state.^[147] Birdcage 2011, Shepard was inducted have some bearing on the Country Music Hall have possession of Fame along with songwriter Constable Braddock and fellow Oklahoma soloist Reba McEntire.^[148]

Discography

Main article: Jean Dramatist discography

Studio albums

Books

Awards and nominations

References