Claude King
Claude King (born 5 February 1923, Keithville, Louisiana, near the city of … Read Full Bio ↴Claude King (born 5 February 1923, Keithville, Louisiana, near the city of Shreveport) is an American country music singer and songwriter.
[edit] Career
At a young age, he was interested in music but his primary interest was athletics. He purchased a guitar at the age of 12 and although he learned to play it, most of his time was devoted to sport. This eventually resulted in being offered a baseball scholarship to the University of Idaho at Moscow.
King later returned to Shreveport and joined the Louisiana Hayride, a popular TV and radio show broadcast in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, produced in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Louisiana Hayride ranked second only to the Grand Ole Opry in terms of television and radio importance in the early 1950s to the 1960s and King was frequently billed on the same shows with other famous legends such as Elvis Presley, John Ritter's father, Tex Ritter, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Kitty Wells, Jimmie Davis, Slim Whitman, Faron Young, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, George Jones and Lefty Frizzell, among many others who became big music stars in the 1960s.
King recorded a few songs for Gotham Records, although none were successful. In 1961, he became more serious about a musical career and signed with the Nashville, Tennessee division of Columbia Records. He struck immediately, cutting "Big River, Big Man", a country Top 10 and even a small pop crossover success. He soon followed with "The Comancheros" inspired by the movie of the same title, starring John Wayne. It was a Top 10 country hit in late 1961, also crossing over to the pop charts.
King made his "career" recording in the spring of 1962. "Wolverton Mountain", written with Nashville veteran Merle Kilgore, was based on a real character, Clifton Clowers, who lived on Wolverton Mountain in Arkansas. The song became an immediate hit, going to No.1 for nine weeks during its 26-week run on the Billboard Country charts. It was also a pop Top 10.
King followed up that year with an American Civil War song, "The Burning Of Atlanta" which also went Top 10 on the country charts and again generated a lot of interest on the pop lists. In late 1962, he recorded "I've Got The World By The Tail" which narrowly missed the country Top 10.
He had another good year in 1963, scoring three solid country hits with "Sheepskin Valley", "Building a Bridge" and "Hey Lucille!". The hits continued in 1964 with "Sam Hill" and in 1965 he was back in the Top 10 with "Tiger Woman", co-written by Merle Kilgore. King also did well that year with "Little Buddy". His smooth country style continued to find a flavor throughout the decade, especially songs like "Catch a Little Raindrop" and the Top 10 "All For The Love Of A Girl" in 1969. His singles continued to hit the country charts through 1972. He left the label in 1973 after having accomplished 29 hits.
Besides a successful career recording and touring, King also performed as an actor in several movies, and like his nephew, Chris Aable, King is also among a minority of actors who are members in both the Screen Actors Guild and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He appeared in the 1982 television miniseries The Blue and the Gray and appeared in several feature films. King is no relation to another actor by the same name, born in 1875 in England.
In 1981, Arkansas Governor Frank D. White paid tribute to King and his big 1962 hit by declaring August 7 "Wolverton Mountain Day". By that time, King had almost retired from recording.
After being absent from recording for over 20 years, King recently released a new CD called Cowboy in the White House. Most of the songs were written or co-written by him. Elvis Presley's guitarist, James Burton performed guitar for the release.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_King"
[edit] Career
At a young age, he was interested in music but his primary interest was athletics. He purchased a guitar at the age of 12 and although he learned to play it, most of his time was devoted to sport. This eventually resulted in being offered a baseball scholarship to the University of Idaho at Moscow.
King later returned to Shreveport and joined the Louisiana Hayride, a popular TV and radio show broadcast in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, produced in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Louisiana Hayride ranked second only to the Grand Ole Opry in terms of television and radio importance in the early 1950s to the 1960s and King was frequently billed on the same shows with other famous legends such as Elvis Presley, John Ritter's father, Tex Ritter, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Kitty Wells, Jimmie Davis, Slim Whitman, Faron Young, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, George Jones and Lefty Frizzell, among many others who became big music stars in the 1960s.
King recorded a few songs for Gotham Records, although none were successful. In 1961, he became more serious about a musical career and signed with the Nashville, Tennessee division of Columbia Records. He struck immediately, cutting "Big River, Big Man", a country Top 10 and even a small pop crossover success. He soon followed with "The Comancheros" inspired by the movie of the same title, starring John Wayne. It was a Top 10 country hit in late 1961, also crossing over to the pop charts.
King made his "career" recording in the spring of 1962. "Wolverton Mountain", written with Nashville veteran Merle Kilgore, was based on a real character, Clifton Clowers, who lived on Wolverton Mountain in Arkansas. The song became an immediate hit, going to No.1 for nine weeks during its 26-week run on the Billboard Country charts. It was also a pop Top 10.
King followed up that year with an American Civil War song, "The Burning Of Atlanta" which also went Top 10 on the country charts and again generated a lot of interest on the pop lists. In late 1962, he recorded "I've Got The World By The Tail" which narrowly missed the country Top 10.
He had another good year in 1963, scoring three solid country hits with "Sheepskin Valley", "Building a Bridge" and "Hey Lucille!". The hits continued in 1964 with "Sam Hill" and in 1965 he was back in the Top 10 with "Tiger Woman", co-written by Merle Kilgore. King also did well that year with "Little Buddy". His smooth country style continued to find a flavor throughout the decade, especially songs like "Catch a Little Raindrop" and the Top 10 "All For The Love Of A Girl" in 1969. His singles continued to hit the country charts through 1972. He left the label in 1973 after having accomplished 29 hits.
Besides a successful career recording and touring, King also performed as an actor in several movies, and like his nephew, Chris Aable, King is also among a minority of actors who are members in both the Screen Actors Guild and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He appeared in the 1982 television miniseries The Blue and the Gray and appeared in several feature films. King is no relation to another actor by the same name, born in 1875 in England.
In 1981, Arkansas Governor Frank D. White paid tribute to King and his big 1962 hit by declaring August 7 "Wolverton Mountain Day". By that time, King had almost retired from recording.
After being absent from recording for over 20 years, King recently released a new CD called Cowboy in the White House. Most of the songs were written or co-written by him. Elvis Presley's guitarist, James Burton performed guitar for the release.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_King"
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Claude King Lyrics
All for the Love of a Girl Well today I'm so weary today I'm so blue Sad and…
Almost Persuaded Last night all alone in a barroom Met a girl with…
Ancient History Just walk on out the door it's all over forgiving…
Anna This old house is falling down the board is rotten…
Battle of New Orleans In eighteen-fourteen we took a little trip Along with Colon…
Beertops and Teardrops You can find me anytime that you want to But I've…
Big Ole Shoulder I got a big ole shoulder to cry on So bring…
Big River Big Man Way down on Mississippi big river came a mighty big…
Catch a Little Raindrop Catch a little raindrop (uh huh catch a little raindrop)…
Chip & Dale's Place Tu du dup to do do do do too do…
Comancheros The Comancheros're takin' this land the Comancheros're takin…
Come On Home Oh you tell me that you're leavin' and tomorrow you'll…
First Train Headin' South I didn't know my baby love me so until that…
Four Roses She's up there in the cheap hotel I'm down here…
Friend Lover Woman Wife She's a friend, she's a lover, she's a woman, she's…
Give Me Your Love and I'll Give You Mine Just at the close of a bright summer day just…
Great Big Tears I have thought I was a big big man much…
Green Green Grass of Home It's good to touch the green green grass of home The…
Green Mountain At the bottom of Green Mountain William Deacon stands and…
He Ain't Country Laura hold these hands count my fingers Laura touch these li…
Heart Heart don't get your hopes up eyes now don't you…
Help Me Make It Through the Night Take the ribbon from your hair Shake it loose and let…
Highway Lonely Well I'm trapped in web of my own makin' all…
Hold That Tiger Hold that tiger Hold that tiger Hold that tiger Hold that ti…
Honky Tonk Man I'm a honky tonk man and I can't seem to…
House of the Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans they call the…
I Backed Out Thought about goin' back to you thought about holdin' you…
I Can I can't get over the way you got over me…
I Think of You and Me Just at the close of a bright summer day just…
I Won't Be Long in Your Town Nobody knows where I came from nobody even knows my…
I'm Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail I'm not in your town to stay said a lady…
It's Good to Have My Baby Back Home I can wait for the train to come in sight…
Laura Laura hold these hands count my fingers Laura touch these li…
Little Bitty Heart The strangest thing in all the world is a heart…
Little Things That Every Girl Should Know Decent girls let me being your dear there's some things that…
Mary's Vineyard The grapes in Mary's vineyard are the sweetest on the…
North to Alaska Big Sam left Seattle in the year of ninety-two With George…
Ole Slew Foot High up on the mountain tell me what you see Bear…
Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town You have painted up your lips and rolled and curled…
She Knows Why I have a story I'd like to tell broken heart's…
She's My Baby I can wait for the train to come in sight…
Sweet Love on My Mind I wake up every the morning I go to bed…
Sweet Lovin' Sweet lovin' sweet lovin' can't you hear my pleadin' You kn…
Tell Me Darlin Would you care if I should leave you would you…
That Don't come around me with those sweet lies I don't…
The Battle Of New Orleans In eighteen-fourteen we took a little trip Along with Colone…
The Burning of Atlanta Back in 1864 On a cold November's morn The burning of Atlant…
The Comancheros The Comancheros are taking this land The Comancheros are tak…
The Comancheros 1961 The Comancheros are takin' this land The Comancheros are tak…
The House Of The Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans they call the…
The Juggler He's got a heart in each hand and two in…
The Right Place We're in the right place at the right time and…
There Ain't Gonna Be No More Oh there ain't gonna be no more no there ain't…
This Land of Yours and Mine I have seen the warships on Manila Bay watched the…
Tiger Woman Tiger woman I heard that you were back in town…
Turn It Around in Your Mind Turn it around in your mind turn it around and…
When It's Springtime in Alaska I mushed from Point Barron through a blizzard of snow Been…
When You Gotta Go One of these days I'm gonna take me a trip I…
When You're 21 As I look around me at unfamiliar faces my mind…
Whispering Pines The snowflakes fall as winter calls and time just seems…
Wolverton Mountain They say don't go on Wolverton Mountain If you're looking fo…
Would You Care Would you care if I should leave you would you…
You're Breaking My Heart (You're treating me wrong you're breaking my heart) The clot…