Conway Twitty | |
|---|---|
 Promotional photo, c. 1980s | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | "The High Priest of Country Music" |
| Born | Harold Lloyd Jenkins[1] (1933-09-01)September 1, 1933 |
| Origin | Helena, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | June 5, 1993(1993-06-05) (aged 59) Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1955–1993 |
| Labels | |
Harold Lloyd Jenkins (September 1, 1933 – June 5, 1993), better known by his stage nameConway Twitty, was an American singer and songwriter. Initially a part of the 1950srockabilly scene, Twitty was best known as acountry music performer. From 1971 to 1976, Twitty received a string ofCountry Music Association awards for duets withLoretta Lynn. He was inducted into both theCountry Music andRockabilly Halls of Fame.
Twitty was known for his frequent use of romantic and sentimental themes in his songs. Due to his following being compared to a religious revival, comedianJerry Clower nicknamed Twitty "The High Priest of Country Music", the eventual title ofhis 33rd studio album. Twitty achieved stardom with hit songs like "Hello Darlin'", "You've Never Been This Far Before", and "Linda on My Mind". Twitty toppedBillboard'sHot Country Songs chart 40 times in his career, a record that stood for two decades until it was surpassed byGeorge Strait. He also topped theBillboard Hot 100 chart with "It's Only Make Believe”, a song he wrote, along with 11 of hisBillboard Hot Country Songs chart-topping hits.[3]
Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins on September 1, 1933 inFriars Point, Mississippi. The Jenkins family was ofWelsh descent.[4] He was named by his great-uncle, after his favoritesilent movie actorHarold Lloyd. The Jenkins family moved toHelena, Arkansas, when Jenkins was 10 years old. In Helena, Jenkins performed on radio when he was 10, and he formed his first singing group, thePhillips County Ramblers when he was 12,[5] and they had their own show on the local radio stationKFFA every Saturday morning.[6] He preached at church revivals when he was a teenager.[6]
Twitty was a baseball player with abatting average of .450 when he graduated from high school, and he was offered a contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies.[6] He worked for a few months forInternational Harvester before accepting the Phillies offer.[6] However, he was drafted into theU.S. Army and served in theFar East, during which time he organized a group called the Cimmarons to entertain his fellow soldiers.[7] The Phillies renewed their offer when he returned home, but Twitty had by then become more interested in pursuing a music career.[6]
Jenkins adopted astage name in 1957.[6] InThe Billboard Book of Number One Hits,Fred Bronson states that the singer named himself after two towns on a map;Conway, Arkansas, andTwitty, Texas, and chose the name Conway Twitty.[6][8] Twitty himself confirmed this while appearing on theDavid Letterman Show on March 30, 1989.[9] His manager, Don Seat, however, said that his girlfriend came up with the name long before Jenkins used it.[10] After Twitty had some success with rock and roll songs, he had considered using his original name Harold Jenkins for his country music releases while keeping the name Conway Twitty for his rock and roll songs; however, he abandoned rock music for country music in 1965 and kept his stage name.[6]
Soon after hearingElvis Presley's song "Mystery Train", Jenkins began writing rock and roll material. Presley was a strong influence, and Jenkins tried to sound like him. He formed a band called The Rockhousers and wrote a song called "Rockhouse". He went to theSun Studios inMemphis, Tennessee, a few times to record withSam Phillips, the owner and founder. None of Jenkins's Sun recordings was released at the time, butRoy Orbison did record his composition "Rockhouse" (given to Orbison by Phillips without Jenkins's approval), which was issued on SUN 251 (flipside "You're My Baby") in 1956.[10]
In 1957, under his new name, Twitty he recorded briefly forMercury Records. He released two unsuccessful singles, "I Need Your Lovin'"/"Born to Sing the Blues" and "Shake It Up"/"Maybe Baby". "I Need Your Lovin'" reached only number 93. Although he recorded three more songs with Mercury, his contract was soon terminated.[10]
In 1958, Twitty's fortunes improved when an Ohio radio station had an inspiration, refraining from playing "I'll Try" (an MGM single that went nowhere in terms of sales, radio play, andjukebox play), instead playing the B-side, "It's Only Make Believe", a song written between sets by Twitty and drummer Jack Nance when they were in Hamilton, Ontario, playing at the Flamingo Lounge.[11] The record took several months to reach and stay at thetop spot on theBillboard pop music charts in the United States and number one in 21 other countries, becoming the first of nine top-40 hits for Twitty. It sold over four million copies and was awarded agold disc by theRIAA.[12] That same year, country singer Tabby West of ABC-TV'sOzark Jubilee heard Twitty and booked him to appear on the show.[7]
When "It's Only Make Believe" was first released, because of vocal similarities, many listeners assumed that the song was actually recorded by Elvis Presley, using "Conway Twitty" as a pseudonym. Twitty went on to enjoy rock-and-roll success with songs including "Danny Boy" (pop number 10) and "Lonely Blue Boy" (pop number 6). "Lonely Blue Boy", originally titled "Danny", was recorded by Presley for the filmKing Creole, but was not used in the soundtrack. This song led to him naming his band the Lonely Blue Boys. They subsequently became the Twitty Birds.[8] As his recording career continued, Twitty's music shifted from rockabilly torock and roll, and Twitty also recorded somerhythm and blues andblues singles.[2]
By 1965, Twitty had become disillusioned with rock and roll, particularly with the behavior of the fans,[13] and walked out of a show in the middle of a performance in New Jersey.[6] He sued his manager to be released from his contract, and moved to perform country music inOklahoma City.[13]
Twitty always wanted to record country music, and beginning in 1965, he did just that. Disc jockeys on some country-music radio stations refused to play his first few country albums, because he was known as a rock and roll singer. However, he had his first top-five country hit, "The Image of Me", in July 1968, followed by his first number-one country song, "Next in Line", in November 1968. Few of his singles beginning in 1968 ranked below the top five.
In 1970, Twitty recorded and released his biggest country hit, "Hello Darlin'", which spent four weeks at the top of the country chart and is one of Twitty's most recognized songs. In 1971, he released his first hit duet withLoretta Lynn, "After the Fire Is Gone". It was a success, and many more followed, including "Lead Me On" (1971), "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (1973), "As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone" (1974), "Feelins'" (1975), "I Still Believe in Waltzes", "I Can't Love You Enough", and many others. Together, Conway and Loretta (as they were known in their act) won four consecutiveCountry Music Association awards for vocal duo (1972–1975) and a host of other duo and duet awards from other organizations throughout the 1970s.[citation needed]
In 1973, Twitty released "You've Never Been This Far Before", which was number one in country for three weeks that September and also reached number 22 on the pop charts. Some more conservative disc jockeys refused to play the song, believing that some of the lyrics were too sexually suggestive.[citation needed]
In 1978, Twitty issued the single "The Grandest Lady of Them All" honoring theGrand Ole Opry. (Somewhat ironically, Twitty was never inducted into theOpry during his lifetime; he remains one of the more prominentNashville country artists never to have been an Opry member.) The single reached the top 20, peaking at number 16, but it was well below expectations; it was the first time since 1967 that a single of his failed to reach the top 10, as some radio stations refused to play a song honoring the property of a competitor (broadcast byWSM-AM).[citation needed]
Twitty soon renewed his image with a new hairstyle, changing from the slicked-backpompadour style to the curlier style he would keep for the rest of his life. His next 23 consecutive singles all made it into the top 10, with 13 reaching number one, including "Don't Take It Away", "I May Never Get to Heaven", "Happy Birthday Darlin'", and remakes of major pop hits such as "The Rose", "Slow Hand", and "Tight Fittin' Jeans", a song written by Michael Huffman, released in June 1981 as the first single from the albumMr. T. The song was Twitty's 26th number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of 10 weeks on the country chart. In 1985, going by all weekly music trade charts, the song "Don't Call Him a Cowboy" became the 50th single of his career to achieve a number-one ranking. He had six more through 1991, giving him a total of 56 number-one country hits in the USA.George Strait matched the feat of 50 number-one hits in 2002 with his single "She'll Leave You with a Smile" and then reached number one for the 56th time in 2007, when the single "Wrapped" hit the top on the Media Base 24/7 list.[citation needed]
Throughout much of Twitty's country music career, his recording home was Decca Records, later renamedMCA. He signed with the label in late 1965, but left in 1981, when MCA appeared to be marketing and promoting newer acts; management at the label had changed, in addition to other factors that brought on the decision. He joined Elektra/Asylum in 1982. That label's country music unit merged with sister labelWarner Bros. Records in 1983. He stayed with Warner Bros. through early 1987, but then went back to MCA to finish his career. In 1993, shortly before he died, he recorded a new album,Final Touches.[citation needed]
Twitty recorded cover versions of numerous songs, notably "Slow Hand", a major pop hit forthe Pointer Sisters; "Rest Your Love on Me", a top-40 country hit for theBee Gees; "The Rose", a major pop hit forBette Midler; and "Heartache Tonight", a major pop hit for theEagles. Twitty's songs have also been covered numerous times, including four notable covers,George Jones's rendition of "Hello Darlin",Blake Shelton's "Goodbye Time",the Misfits' andGlen Campbell's[14] versions of "It's Only Make Believe", and Elvis Presley's version of "There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)".[citation needed]
Twitty had a short career in films, appearing in a fewB-movies in 1960 in which he acted and sang, starting withPlatinum High School, followed byCollege Confidential andSex Kittens Go to College.[15][16]
Twitty also played baseball, his second passion. He received an offer to play with the Philadelphia Phillies after high school, but he was drafted into theU.S. Army before he could sign the contract. Twitty joined the entrepreneurLarry Schmittou and other country musicians, such asCal Smith andJerry Reed in 1977 as investors in theNashville Sounds, aMinor League Baseball team of theDouble-ASouthern League, which began playing in 1978.[17] Twitty threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the team's inaugural home opener atHerschel Greer Stadium on April 26, 1978.[18] Twitty also hosted celebrity softball games for charity, frequently playing against a team put together byBarbara Mandrell.[19]
Twitty lived for many years inHendersonville, Tennessee, just north of Nashville, where he built a country music entertainment complex namedTwitty City at a cost of over $3.5 million.[20] Twitty and Twitty City were once featured on the TV seriesLifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and were also seen in the Nashville episode of the BBC seriesEntertainment USA, presented byJonathan King. Opened in 1982, Twitty City was a popular tourist stop throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s; it was shut down in 1994 following a year-long tribute show called Final Touches, when fans and peers in the music business dropped by. The complex was auctioned off and bought by the Trinity Broadcasting Network in June 1994.[21]
Twitty made Oklahoma City his home during most of his recording career, from 1963 to 1972. He also lived in nearby Norman. He performed at theDiamond Ballroom after its opening in 1964. Conway Twitty opened one of his Twitty Burger restaurants at 7200 S. Western Avenue in Oklahoma City.[22]
In 1981, Twitty was exiting his tour bus when he slipped on the steps and fell, hitting his head against the steps.John Hughey, who was Twitty's steel guitar player, found him on the ground. Many people, including family members, said that Twitty underwent a change in personality after the accident.[citation needed]
Twitty was married four times, to three different women. His first marriage, to Ellen Matthews, lasted from 1953 to 1954. They had married because Ellen was pregnant with their son, Michael. His second, and longest, marriage was to Temple "Mickey" Medley. They were married in 1956 and had three children: Kathy, Joni Lee, and Jimmy Twitty. The couple divorced in early 1970, but they remarried quietly by the end of 1970. By 1984, after 28 years of marriage on and off, the stress of Twitty's frequent absences took its toll on Mickey, and Conway and she divorced again. Mickey Twitty died in 2021. In 1987, Twitty married his 36-year-old office secretary, Delores "Dee" Henry, who became his widow in June 1993.[23]
Twitty's success in country music was a key factor in his winning the 1983 caseHarold L. Jenkins (a/k/a Conway Twitty) v. Commissioner in United States Tax Court. The Internal Revenue Service allowed Twitty to deduct from his taxes, as an "ordinary and necessary" business expense, payments that he had made to repay investors in a defunct fast-food chain called Twitty Burger; the chain disestablished in 1971. The general rule is that the payment of someone else's debts is not deductible. Twitty alleged that his primary motive was "protecting his personal business reputation." The court opinion contained testimony from Twitty about his bond with country music fans.[24] The tax court ruled in Twitty's favor and allowed him to deduct these repayments.[citation needed]
On June 4, 1993, Twitty became ill while performing at the Jim Stafford Theatre in Branson, Missouri.[25] He collapsed on his tour bus after the show and was rushed to a hospital. He was rushed into surgery, but died of anabdominal aortic aneurysm, in the early hours of the following morning at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 59.[26] Loretta Lynn, who frequently was his chart-making duet partner, was at the hospital because her husband, Mooney "Doo" Lynn, was recovering from heart surgery, and saw Twitty briefly as he entered the hospital.[27] His last studio album,Final Touches, was released two months later. Four months after Twitty's death,George Jones included a cover version of "Hello Darlin'" on his albumHigh-Tech Redneck.
A memorial service was held which was attended by Reba McEntire among others.[28] Twitty was buried at Sumner Memorial Gardens inGallatin, Tennessee, in a red granite vault under his birth name Harold L. Jenkins.[29]
After Twitty's death, his estate became entangled in a lengthy court saga between the estate and family members, heirs, employees, and others that lasted over a decade.[29][30][31][32][33] In one instance, the estate sued his two daughters, claiming loans were due to be repaid. Five years after his death, the Tennessee Appeals Court referred to that case in its opening sentence with, "This is yet another chapter in the administration of the estate of Harold L. Jenkins, a popular entertainer whose stage name was 'Conway Twitty'." The court sided with the daughters finding that the accountants and controllers of Twitty's books while he was alive, who later became the executors of the estate, kept "limited and sketchy information" when it came to the family members.[34] In other instances, employees sued because of oral promises "to be taken care of" by Twitty and often were successful. The court found Twitty rarely, if ever, memorialized contracts with family members, contractors, and employees in writing. Oral promises included bonuses of $1000 per year of employment. The estate attempted to reduce that to $100 per year.[35]
Twitty's widow, Delores "Dee" Henry Jenkins, and his four grown children from the previous marriages, Michael,Joni, Kathy, and Jimmy Jenkins, engaged in a public dispute over the estate. Twitty's will had not been updated to account for the fourth marriage, but Tennessee law reserves one-third of any estate to the widow. After years of probate, the four children received the rights to Twitty's music, name, and image. The rest of the estate went to public auction, where much of the property and memorabilia were sold after his widow rejected the appraised value.[citation needed]
In 2008, controversy erupted again when Twitty's four remaining children suedSony/ATV Music Publishing over an agreement that Twitty and his family signed in 1990. The suit alleged that the terms of the agreement were not fully understood by the children, although they were all adults at the time. It sought to recover copyrights and royalty revenue that the document assigned to the company.[36]
Twitty's son Michael and grandson Tre have carried on his musical legacy. Conway's most recent appearance on the country charts was a duet withAnita Cochran, "(I Want to Hear) A Cheating Song" (2004), which was made possible by splicing Twitty's vocal from old recordings and interviews, recorded over the years. As a result, Twitty's isolated vocal track was transferred to a digital multitrack and digitally reassembled into the new performance. Like the electronic duets ofPatsy Cline andJim Reeves,Hank Williams andHank Williams Jr., orNat King Cole andNatalie Cole, Cochran added her vocal to backing tracks that had already been produced along with Twitty's reconstructed vocals.[citation needed]
Bear Family Records offers the single-disc collectionConway Rocks, featuring 30 songs, andThe Rock 'n' Roll Years, a comprehensive eight-disc box set showcasing his complete early recordings as a rock artist.[37]
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame
