Vern Gosdin photo courtesy of verngosdinthevoice.com.
Check in with Lew Jones for the latest on your favorite country legends!
Q: What classic country artist is known as The Voice?
(Kristy, Crowley, LA)
A: I've usually heard that applied to Vern Gosdin, Kristy. And he certainly has the vocal gift to justify it. With a career from the mid '70s through the '90s, three No. 1 songs and 19 trips into the Top 10, country fans seem to agree. From his early days singing in the Gosdin Family Gospel Quartet to his present inclusion in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Vern has come a long way.
Q: I am looking for a song by the late Conway Twitty. It is called "I Am The Dreamer (You Are The Dream)". I have looked everywhere.
(Angela, Hanceville, AL)
A: It is a bit hard to find, Angela. The only CD I was able to locate that includes it is A Bridge That Just Won't Burn, which came out in 1995. Maybe one reason record company executives don't tend to include it in the many Conway Twitty compilations they market is that it is the flip side of a bigger hit. "Rest Your Love On Me" was his early 1981 No. 1 hit, and — remembering the old days of the 45 rpm record — "I Am The Dreamer" was on the B side. Conway's songs that didn't make the top of the charts can be easy to overlook, since he had so many No. 1 hits. Until recently, he held the record for No. 1 songs at 40, according to Billboard magazine. And that's just on the country charts. If you add in "It's Only Make Believe," which was No. 1 on the pop charts, that gives him 41. Conway died in 1993, and was added to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
Q: I am looking for the artist that sings "Smooth Sailing." I thought that it may be Don Williams, but I am not sure. I would like to get a copy of that song.
(Crystal, Palestine, TX)
Q: I am trying to find all the information that I can on an old song titled "When Can We Do This Again," including who sang it. I would consider this song to be classic.
(Lloyd, Wichita Falls, TX)
A: The singer of both songs is T.G. Sheppard. "Smooth Sailin'" was a Top 10 hit for T.G. in 1980. Crystal, you can find it on T.G. Sheppard Super Hits, which came out in 2000. It also includes big hits such as "Party Time" and "Slow Burn". As for Lloyd's song, I can only find "When Can We Do This Again" on T.G.'s 1978 LP, Daylight. If you still have a record player, with a little luck, you can find it. In a recent radio interview, T.G. told me that he's back in the studio, working on a duets album with the working title Partners In Rhyme which will feature such other artists as Willie Nelson, Lorrie Morgan, Merle Haggard, and even Barry Gibb. No word yet on a label or release date. Also, congratulations are in order. T.G. and girlfriend Kelly Lang have announced a wedding date of August 20!
Q: Who is your favorite country singer?
(Sarha, Port Orchard, WA)
A: That's very hard to answer, Sarha. Playing the legendary singers and groups on the radio, and hearing feedback about them from the audience gives me a perspective beyond personal satisfaction. If a million listeners are enjoying The Oak Ridge Boys or Willie Nelson as I play them, and just a representative few let me know how much they appreciate it, then my "favorite" singer is the one I know the audience is enjoying with me at that moment. I guess this means I have about 300 favorite artists!
Q: I'm trying to find the name of a female singer named Hill (not Faith). LeAnn Rimes says she had a visit from this artist that passed away from a diabetic related illness.
(Liz, London, England)
A: I'll take a stab at it, Liz. I suspect you may be talking about Goldie Hill. She was a member of the Grand Ole Opry beginning in 1953. Her biggest hit was "I Let The Stars Get In My Eyes" which went to No. 1 as an answer song to "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes." She was married to Carl Smith after his marriage to June Carter ended. Goldie died of cancer at the age of 72, in early 2005.
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