Porter Wagoner

Infobox musical artist
Name = Porter Wagoner

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Img_capt = Porter Wagoner performing at the Grand Ole Opry in 1999.
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Porter Wayne Wagoner
Alias = Mr. Grand Ole Opry
Born = birth date|1927|8|12
West Plains, Missouri, USA
Died = death date and age|2007|10|28|1927|8|12
Nashville, Tennessee, USA | | Instrument = Acoustic Guitar
Genre = Country Music
Occupation = Country music artist
Years_active = 1951 – 2007
Label = RCA Victor
(1956 – 1980)
Shell Point Records
(2000 – 2002)
TeeVee Records
(2003 – 2006)
Anti
(2007)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.porterwagoner.com/main.html www.porterwagoner.com] |
Current_members = Country Music Hall of Fame
The Grand Ole Opry
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = Acoustic Guitar

Porter Wayne Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an American country music singer. Famous for his flashy Nudie suits and blond pompadour, Wagoner introduced a young Dolly Parton to his long-running television show. Together, "Porter and Dolly" were a well-known duet team throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Parton wrote the song "I Will Always Love You" after Wagoner suggested she shift from story songs to focus on love songs. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/28/AR2007102801814.html?hpid=entnews]

Early career

His first band, The Blue Ridge Boys, performed on radio station KWPM from a butcher shop in his native West Plains, Missouri where Wagoner cut meat. Wagoner's big break came in 1951, when he was hired as a performer by radio station KWTO in Springfield, Missouri. This led to a contract with RCA Records. With lagging sales, Wagoner and his trio played schoolhouses for the gate proceeds.

In 1953, his song entitled "Trademark" became a hit for Carl Smith, followed by a few hits of his own on RCA. He was a featured performer on ABC-TV's "Ozark Jubilee" and moved to Nashville, joining the "Grand Ole Opry" in 1957.

Chart success

His 81 charted records include "Satisfied Mind" (#1, 1955), “Misery Loves Company” (#1, 1962), “I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand” (#7, 1962–1963), “Sorrow on the Rocks” (#5, 1964), “Green Green Grass of Home” (#4, 1965), “Skid Row Joe” (#3, 1965–1966), “The Cold Hard Facts of Life” (#2, 1967), and “The Carroll County Accident” (#2, 1968–1969). Among his hit duets with Dolly Parton were a cover of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind" (1967), "We'll Get Ahead Someday" (1968), "Just Someone I Used To Know" (1969), "Better Move it on Home" (1971), "The Right Combination" (1972), "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" (#1, 1974) and "Making Plans" (#2, 1980). He also won three Grammy Awards for gospel recordings.

Television show

"The Porter Wagoner Show" ran on syndicated television from 1960 to 1981. There were 686 thirty-minute episodes filmed, the first 104 being shot in black and white, the remainder in color. At its peak, it was featured in over 100 markets, with an average viewership of over three million.Fact|date=April 2008 Reruns of the program currently air on the rural cable network RFD-TV. Wagoner's stage alter ego was Skid Row Joe.

The regular cast included:
* Singer Norma Jean (Beasler) 1960-1967
* Singer Dolly Parton 1967-1974
* Singer Mel Tillis
* Comedian/Stand-up bass Speck Rhodes
* Announcer Don Howser
* The house band, The Wagonmasters: Buck Trent on banjo and guitar: George McCormick on rhythm guitar: Don Warden on steel guitar: "Little" Jack Little on drums: Mack Magaha on fiddle: Michael Treadwell on bass

After 1974:: Fred Newell on guitar/mandolin: Dave Kirby on guitar: Stu Basor on steel guitar/dobro: Bobby Dyson on bass: Jerry Carey on drums: Mack Magaha on fiddle: Linda Carol Moore vocals

The shows usually featured opening performances by Wagoner, with additional performances by Parton or Norma Jean and comedic interludes by Rhodes. During Parton's tenure, she and Wagoner usually sang a duet at some point each week (Wagoner had not previously duetted with Norma Jean).Fact|date=April 2008 Each episode also featured a guest performer, who would usually perform one or two songs. A spiritual or gospel performance was almost always featured toward the end of the show, and was generally performed by either Wagoner or Parton, or the show's guest star, or occasionally the entire cast.

The shows had a friendly, informal feel, with Wagoner trading jokes with band members (frequently during songs) and exchanging banter with Parton and Howser. During their duets, Parton and Wagoner both frequently changed lyrics on one another, in an attempt to throw the other off course.Fact|date=April 2008

Later career

Wagoner brought James Brown to the Grand Ole Opry, produced a rhythm & blues album for Joe Simon, and appeared in the Clint Eastwood film "Honkytonk Man". [Eng, Steve. (1998). "Porter Wagoner". In "The Encyclopedia of Country Music". Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 565-6.] During the mid 1980s, Wagoner formed an all girl group called The Right Combination, which was named after one of Porter and Dolly Parton's hit records. He also hosted "Opry Backstage" during the 1990s on The Nashville Network where he interviewed guests. Though Parton's departure caused some animosity on both sides, the two reconciled in the late 1980s and have appeared together a number of times in the years since; Parton inducted Wagoner into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

Wagoner made a guest appearance on the HBO comedy series "Da Ali G Show", being interviewed by the fictional character Borat, in its second season.Fact|date=April 2008

On July 14, 2006, Wagoner was hospitalized and underwent surgery for an abdominal aneurysm.Fact|date=April 2008

Wagoner was honored on May 19, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry for both his fifty years of membership and his 80th birthday. This was telecast on GAC's "Grand Ole Opry Live" that day with artists such as Stuart, Parton, and Patty Loveless. "Grand Ole Opry Live" host Nan Kelley was part of the birthday celebration as well.

On June 5, 2007, Wagoner released his final album called "Wagonmaster". The album was produced by Marty Stuart for the Anti-label. This album received the best reviews ever in Porter's career and briefly charted on the country charts.

Wagoner also toured during the summer of 2007 to promote the album. One of these was opening for the rock group The White Stripes at a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Last illness and death

Wagoner's publicist Darlene Bieber announced on October 19, 2007 that the singer had been hospitalized and was in very serious condition. WSMV-TV reported that Wagoner was admitted earlier that week for observation from an illness. Bieber gave no further information but said that the country star was asking for prayers from his family and fans.

On October 21, 2007, his publicist confirmed that Wagoner had been diagnosed with lung cancer. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/21/arts/NA-A-E-CEL-US-Wagoner.php Country music singer Porter Wagoner diagnosed with lung cancer - International Herald Tribune ] ]

On October 26, 2007, Porter was released into hospice care. [ [http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1572901/20071026/wagoner_porter.jhtml "Wagoner Released to Hospice Care"] from CMT.com, October 26, 2007.] He died two days later in Nashville, Tennessee. [ [http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1572922/20071028/wagoner_porter.jhtml "Country Music Hall of Fame Member Porter Wagoner Dies"] from CMT.com, October 28, 2007.] Wagoner's funeral was held on November 1, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry House followed by interment at the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville.

Up until his illness and death, he appeared regularly on the "Grand Ole Opry" and toured actively.

Porter Wagoner Boulevard

In his native West Plains, Missouri, Porter Wagoner Boulevard is named in his honor. Originally built as a bypass around West Plains, numerous businesses sprang up on it in the 1970s, making it the major north-south thoroughfare in West Plains. The northern terminus is at the intersection with Missouri Route 14. Porter Wagoner Boulevard is labeled as Business Route US 63 from this interchange until it reaches Broadway Street, where Business Route US 63 turns east to follow Broadway. Porter Wagoner Boulevard then continues for only three more blocks to its southern terminus at Main Street.

Discography

Awards

References

External links

* [http://www.porterwagoner.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/porterwagoner Official MySpace]
* [http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=195 at the Country Music Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/famousperson/wagoner/2662940 Porter Wagoner - Obituary]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/arts/music/30wagoner.html?ex=1351483200&en=22dfaaad3b537c03&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink Obituary] at the New York Times.

Persondata
NAME = Porter Wagoner
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Mr. Grand Ole Opry
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Country Music Artist
DATE OF BIRTH = August 12, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH = West Plains, Missouri, United States of America
DATE OF DEATH = October 28, 2007
PLACE OF DEATH = Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America