Billie Jo Spears
| Billie Jo Spears[1] | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Billie Jean Spears[1] |
| Also known as | Billie Jean Moore |
| Born | January 14, 1938[1] Beaumont, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 2011 (aged 73) Vidor, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1950–2011 |
| Labels | Abbot Records Capitol United Artists |
| Associated acts | Margo Smith, Tanya Tucker, Philomena Begley |
Billie Jo Spears (January 14, 1938 – December 14, 2011) was an American country music singer. She reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being "Blanket on the Ground", which, in 1975, became her only number one.[1] She was known for her bluesy voice.
Born Billie Jean Spears, although she had her biggest country hits in the 1970s, she sounded more earthy and more grounded on records than other country music singers during that time.[citation needed] This was because during the height of Spears' career in the 1970s, country's sound moved more pop-sounding. This new type of Country was called countrypolitan, and the popular singers of this genre at the time were Crystal Gayle, Lynn Anderson, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, and Mac Davis. However, Spears, unlike so many of her contemporaries, did not follow the trends of the day, and proved to Nashville that country music can still have a more earthy sound.[citation needed]
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[edit] Early life and rise to fame
Spears was born in Beaumont, Texas, United States. She made her professional debut at age 13 at a country music concert in Houston, Texas. She cut her first single, called "Too Old For Toys, Too Young For Boys," while she was still a teenager. It was released by the independent record label, Abbot Records, under the name 'Billie Jean Moore'. She also performed on the Louisiana Hayride at 13.[1] After graduating from high school, she sang in nightclubs and sought a record deal. Spears' early career was orchestrated by the country/rockabilly songwriter, Jack Rhodes. Working out of his makeshift recording studio, Rhodes took it upon himself to provide Spears with material and clout in her early years. Spears moved from Texas to Nashville, Tennessee in 1964. She gained her first recording contract with United Artists Records, and worked with producer Kelso Herston. Her first singles brought her little success. Soon her producer moved over to Capitol Records and Spears followed. She was placed under contract by the label in 1968.
[edit] Height of her recording career
Spears' first hit came in 1969, when her "Mr. Walker It's All Over" reached number 4 on the Country chart.[1] It also reached the Pop charts at #80. The song told of a secretary who resigned a job where she was discriminated against. She gained four more top 40 country hits during the next two years and then went four years without a hit.[1] During this time at Capitol, Spears recorded some cover versions of popular Country hits, like "Ode to Billie Joe" (originally by Bobbie Gentry) and "Harper Valley PTA" (originally by Jeannie C. Riley). She also recorded novelty songs, like "Get Behind Me Satan and Push". According to the book Country Music: The Rough Guide, her vocals in that song sounded similar to that of Loretta Lynn. However, she decided she would have more success if she switched record labels.
In 1975, Spears returned to United Artists Records, which was now the home to some of country music's pop-based acts, like Kenny Rogers. She returned to the charts in 1975 with "Blanket on the Ground".[1] The song had been previously turned down by Nashville producers who feared controversy with the chorus line "slipping around", even though the tune was not about adultery.[2] The expected controversy never materialized, and it became her only number-one song. In the United Kingdom the song climbed into the top ten of the UK Singles Chart in August 1975, reaching #6. An album of the same name was released that year, which was also a success.
Spears followed up "Blanket on the Ground" with the Top Ten "What I've Got In Mind." The track did even better across the Atlantic, turning out to be a #4 hit in September 1976. Spears had successes with "Sing Me An Old Fashioned Song", "Misty Blue" (a song covered by numerous other artists, including Wilma Burgess in the 1960s, who made the song a Top ten Country hit), "'57 Chevrolet," "Love Ain't Gonna Wait For Us," "If You Want Me," and others. 1981's cover version of Tammy Wynette's 1960s hit, "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad," was Spears' last voyage into America's country top 20. Her Greatest Hits album was a Top Ten best seller, and furthered her fan base.
[edit] Later career and life
Spears continued releasing albums in the United States into the 1980s. However, by the late 1980s, the number of recording projects dropped dramatically. By the mid 1980s, her overall success in the United States had tapered off. However, she retained a following in the UK, and remained a popular live performer there. Spears recorded a number of albums for the British market that had limited or even no release in the US. This level of fame in the UK was summed up by the magazine, Country Music People, during the 1990s when their article described Spears as "The Queen Mother of country music."
In 1990, Broadland Records produced an ill fated experimental album where 'wannabe performers' could, for a fee, record the second part of the duet. She told BBC Radio Merseyside personality, Spencer Leigh, in 1994, "The album never got finished and I don't know what happened to the money. It's pathetic and I'm very disappointed." [3]
She recovered from triple bypass surgery in 1993. She continued to tour for more than 16 years.
In 2005, Spears released the album I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.
Spears was still touring with Irish country singer, Philomena Begley, earlier in 2011.[4] In later years, she made her home in Vidor, Texas, near her hometown of Beaumont, where she died of cancer on December 14, 2011, at age 73.[4]
[edit] Discography
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits, p.303-304. ISBN 0-8230-7632-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1991). The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits, p.139. ISBN 0-8230-7553-2.
- ^ Spencer Leigh (16 December 2011). "Billie Jo Spears: Country singer who scored her biggest hit with 'Blanket on the Ground'". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/billie-jo-spears-country-singer-who-scored-her-biggest-hit-with-blanket-on-the-ground-6277683.html.
- ^ a b "Country singer best known for 'Blanket on the Ground' hit". irishtimes.com. 24 December 2011. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/obituaries/2011/1224/1224309470029.html.
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 19th Edition - ISBN 1-904994-10-5
