Jean shepard is a true pioneer for women in country music and has been a member of the grand ole opry for more than 50 years. Gifted with a strong, incredibly beautiful voice, jean emerged on the country music scene as a solo artist at a time when most female country musicians performed only as part. Trailblazer jean shepard, a country music hall of fame member, a member of the grand ole opry for more than 60 years\u00a0and one of. Sep 27, 2016 jean shepard after her induction into the country music hall of fame in 2011 in nashville, tenn. Dec 18, 2016 shepard, a country music hall of fame member and member of grand old opry for more than 60 years, got her start in the 1950s and emerged as a pioneer for women in country music. Country music hall of fame singer jean shepard was known for her renditions of jimmie rodgers songs while working in tulare county orchards. Jean was a resident of hendersonville, tennessee at the time of passing. Police are investigating exactly what led to two people being killed and one man stabbed at the home of the late country music hall of fame artist jean shepard hendersonville police det. She had 73 songs hit the country charts including a no. Country singer who released seventythree hit singles during her long, storied career. Jean was born on november 21, 1933 and passed away on sunday, september 25, 2016. Country legend jean shepards granddaughter stabbed to death. She grew up singing in the church, and was drawn to the music of jimmie rodgers and bob wills and his texas playboys. Cheap jean shepard book down through the years prices.
Jean shepard tennessee waltz opry live, 1998 youtube. Shepard is the matriarch of the grand ole opry and its longeststanding female member. Jean shepard bright lights and country music by hankgwe. Country star jean shepards granddaughter, 18, and her boyfriend are found dead at the home of the singers 79yearold widower. Shepard is known for many things, among them a strong and emotional singing voice, a 62year career as a country music singing star. She started playing as a teenager and signed with capitol in 1952. In a charted singles career that spanned twentysix years, oklahoman ollie imogene jean shepard married to hawkshaw hawkins at the time of his death in that infamous march 5, 1963 plane crash that also took the lives of patsy cline and cowboy copas, racked up 45 top 100 country hits, 31 of which made the top 40, including two duets with ferlin husky and two more with ray pillow. Jean love god,her family and friends and she loved her fans. For years people told jean shepard she should write a book. Jean shepard biography, age, husband, children, net worth. Widower of country star jean shepard shoots granddaughter.
Find jean shepard discography, albums and singles on allmusic. She had 44 charted hits between 1953 and 1978 and has been a member of the grand ole opry for more than 50 years. Born ollie imogene shepard, she had many hits on the country music charts during her long career. This is the news from her son, hawkshaw hawkins jr.
Sep 25, 2016 few country singers let alone female country singers of the 20th century produced a large body of work as enduring as jean shepard s. Jean shepard country music hall of fame artist home. Ollie imogene jean shepard november 21, 1933 september 25, 2016 was an american honky tonk singersongwriter who pioneered for women in country. Jean shepard joins country music hall of fame she begins the book on a nostalgic note, talking about her growing up years in oklahoma and then. Sep 27, 2016 jean shepard, one of the first women to find success in country music as a solo act, died sunday at age 82. Few country singers let alone female country singers of the 20th century produced a large body of work as enduring as jean shepard s. Jean shepard, ollie imogene shepard, american country singer born nov. In the 1950s, selfsupporting female country artists were rare. Jean shepard obituary hendersonville, tn the tennessean. Oklahomaborn country singer jean shepard stayed true to her hard honkytonk sound throughout a recording career that lasted more than twenty years. Sep 24, 2016 country music legend, female trailblazer, and the oldest living member of the grand ole opry jean shepard has entered hospice care after being admitted to the intensive care unit earlier this week. How does this feel with so many great events happening all at one time.
Country music jean shepard biography ken burns pbs. Sep 27, 2016 jean shepard, the singer who, along with kitty wells, pioneered women in country music, died on sunday morning after a long illness at the age of 82. Neither a girl singer with a malefronted band nor part of a husbandwife team, shepard was among the first women in country music to front her own tour. Sep 25, 2016 shepard also was credited with releasing country musics first concept album, songs from a love affair, in 1956. I have met this awesome lady several times over the years and i can say that, not only s jean shepard a country music legend but also, jean was one awesome, lady with a lot of humor, love, and one of the kindest people i have ever met.
Shepard was born in pauls valley, oklahoma, and was one of 10 children. Its been years since gemma visited the small country town where. Travis sanders, 21, who murdered icie sloan hawkins, 18, last week before being killed himself, boasted to her cousin that he had killed previously. She begins the book on a nostalgic note, talking about her growing up years in oklahoma and then california with her parents, brothers and sisters. Jean shepards book down through the years is finally available for order. November 21, 1933 september 25, 2016 hendersonville, tennessee set a reminder for the anniversary. Jean shepard country music hall of fame artist home facebook. Shepard, always straightforward and unlike many nashville artists then and now refreshingly free of tippytoeing around controversy, was outspoken on the subject, especially after olivia newtonjohn won a 1974 cma award. Jean shepard tribute cigarettes and coffee blues 1964. In 1955, shepard had her first top10 solo country song with a satisfied mind. For many years a cult radio and cabaret personality in new york city, jean shepherd was the creator of the popular film a christmas story, which is based on his novels in god we trust, all others pay cash and wanda hickeys night of golden memories, and which has become a holiday tradition on the turner network. Jean shepard born ollie imogene shepard was an american honky tonk singersongwriter. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the hot country songs chart, one of which reached the no. Mar 04, 20 jean shepard on the 1963 plane crash that killed her husband and patsy cline.
Country star jean shepards granddaughter murdered and her. Country music hall of famer jean shepard dead at 82. Country singer jean shepard at the grand ole opry house talks about her years in the biz and on the opry in nashville, tenn. Western band club on a photo published on the 1951 year book. We had a few pitfalls here and there, but we overcome them. Find jean shepard discography, albums and singles on allmusic allmusic. As a teenager, she played bass in the melody ranch girls, an allfemale band formed in 1948. Shepard is known for many things, among them a strong and emotional singing voice, a 62year career as a country music singing star, a place in the country music hall of fame, a steel trap memory. Jean shepard lyrics classic country lyrics with chords. Jean spent most of her formative years in visalia, ca, near bakersfield. He ran away from his home at the age of 15 to become involved in the music industry in memphis, tennessee. The book presents a firsthand account of her life and iconic career, which exceeds six decades. In between, she cut one great record after another, mostly on capitol.
A week before she had en tered hospice for roundtheclock care. Country music hall of famer jean shepard, a grand lady of the grand ole opry, was married to hawkshaw hawkins when. She had her first top ten hit in 1953, and her last almost. Jean shepard was born on november 21, 1933 in pauls valley, oklahoma, usa as ollie imogene shepard. Jean shepard on the 1963 plane crash that killed her husband. Sep 30, 2016 opry legend jean shepard laid to rest. Sheppard born billy neal browder after his father, billy browder, 20 july 1944, humboldt, tennessee is an american country music singer.
Jean shepard lyrics represent a super lady with an enormous talent. Hawkins, herself a budding singer, will be buried next to her grandfather, country artist hawkshaw hawkins. Travis sanders who murdered jean shepards granddaughter. The country music hall of fame member offers details of her personal and professional life in the 224page hardback book, through what she. She died on september 25, 2016 in nashville, tennessee, usa. Jean shepard greatest hits best jean shepard songs. Jean shepards husband stabbed, granddaughter dead in. Jean shepard, the grand lady of the grand ole opry who had a long recording career as an influential female in country music, died sunday, according to an opry spokeswoman. Shepard had been in declining health for some time and entered hospice care last week.
There was always somebody into something, but it was a good life. Ollie imogene shepard better known as jean shepard, is an american honky tonk singer songwriter who was a pioneer for women in country music. Ollie imogene jean shepard november 21, 1933 september 25, 2016 was an american honky tonk singersongwriter who pioneered for women in country music. Country music hall of fame member jean shepards autobiography, down. Funeral home services for jean are being provided by hendersonville funeral home. With a career that spanned decades, shepherd is known for the film a christmas story 1983, which he narrated and coscripted, based on his own semiautobiographical stories. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite. Official facebook page of country music hall of fame artist, jean shepard. Congratulations on being inducted into the oklahoma country music hall of fame in november, also celebrating your 77 th birthday you told me your age, your 42 years of marriage to benny, and for being the longest and continuous member of the grand ole opry, with 55 years of seniority. Report this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.
An interview with grand ole opry legend jean shepard. Jim vaughn tells news outlets that arriving officers found shepards husband, 79yearold benny birchfield, wounded and bloody outside the home. She was married to benny howard birchfield, archie leon summers and harold hawkshaw hawkins. Two people have been found dead at the tennessee home of the late country singer jean shepard, including her 18yearold granddaughter icie hawkins was. Country music hall of fame singer jean shepard was known for her. Today is one of the hardest days of my life, announced son harold. He never graduated from high school, but was one credit away from doing so. Sep 30, 2016 the endless battle between traditional country and country pop has been raging well over a half century. Shepard was one of the first female country stars along with patsy cline. A dmired by her peers and emulated by ever so many up and coming female country singers, jean shepard is a steadfast pillar of the compliment of grand performing ladies, who have graced the stage of the grand ole opry, as well as the country music stages all over the world. As a teenager, shepard played in an allfemale country band called the melody ranch girls.
A popular american country singer, featuring regularly on the country charts beginning in the 50s. William neal browder born july 20, 1944, humboldt, tennessee is an american country music singersongwriter, known professionally as t. Shepard married fellow grand ole opry star hawkshaw hawkins sr. These classic country lyrics with chords will help you enjoy playing and singing real country music. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Admired by her peers and emulated by ever so many up and coming female country singers, jean shepard is a steadfast pillar of the compliment of grand performing ladies, who have graced the stage of the grand ole opry, as well as the country music stages all over the world. He had 21 numberone hits on the us country charts between 1974 and 1986, including 8 consecutive number ones between 1980 and 1982.
Please watch larrys country diner on rfd for information on where to order my book. She was one of the first women to perform as a solo. Jean shepard new book down through the years whisnews21. July 26, 1921 october 16, 1999 was an american storyteller, humorist, radio and tv personality, writer and actor. Women who rose to stardom on the west coast rather than through the grand ole opry were rarer. Dec 19, 2016 jean shepard, who died in september at the age of 82 from parkinsons disease, was considered a pioneer for women in country music, releasing 70 singles during her illustrious career. Larry black, of larrys country diner and country family reunion, is going to be in charge of the promotion and distribution of my book. Shepard was a feisty, straightshooting singer who created a career in an industry where. Shepard, a country music hall of fame member and member of grand old opry for more than 60 years, got her start in the 1950s and emerged as a pioneer for women in country music. Jean shepards songs stream online music songs listen. Jun 29, 2014 jean shepard joins country music hall of fame. Miss sheppard talks about a lot of well known country music artists she knew over the years. Josh andersonassociated press she was born ollie imogene shepard on nov.
Jean shepard, a female country voice with muscle and ambition. Born in oklahoma, she grew up in southern california, where hank thompson discovered her. Country music hall of fame member jean shepards autobiography, down through the years took about 15 years to write. Country queen jean shepard releases longawaited autobiography. Jean shepard biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. She was born november 21, 1933, in pauls valley, oklahoma. Granddaughter of country star jean shepard murdered, singer s husband shoots attacker. Sep 26, 2016 jean shepard, a grand ole opry singer who had a long recording career and helped influence other women in country music, including loretta lynn, died sept. Nashville country music lost one of its sauciest song stylists, when jean shepard, 82, slipped away sept. Hall of famer jean shepard remembered nova books nashville. Jean shepard, a grand ole opry singer who had a long recording career and helped influence other women in country music, including loretta lynn, died sept. Opry legend jean shepard laid to rest the tennessean. Jean shepard biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. Jean shepard reflects on her life down through the years.
Exactly 64 years later, the singer was laid to rest in hendersonville. She had her first top ten hit in 1953, and her last almost exactly 20 years later. We use cookies to enhance the security, performance, functionality and for analytical and promotional activities. The official website of country music legend, tg sheppard.
She was discovered in southern california by band leader hank thompson, who put her together with record producer ken nelson buck owens, merle haggard, roy clark. A man appearing to be jean shepards 79yearold husband was hurt at the tennessee home. She was a bass player in the band melody ranch girls when she was a teenager in 1948 and, after being discovered by hank thompson, she signed to capitol records in 1952. A bona fide honkytonk singer, jean shepard was one of the first to release concept albums in country music with her groundbreaking 1956 release songs of a love affair. A shocking murder that occurred in tennessee over the weekend left the granddaughter of singer jean shepard dead, and the late country greats husband seriously injured. Country music hall of famer and grand ole opry star jean shepard took some time from her schedule to reflect on her country career and she chatted about her forthcoming book. Jean shepard, who died at 82, was a longtime member of the grand ole opry after starting. Jean shepard s book down through the years is finally available for order. Jean shepard passed away on september 25, 2016 at the age of 82.
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