September 1st marks the date of Conway Twitty's Birthday (9/1/33)!
So I thought... how better to begin the 'Legends of Country Music' series, than with the "High Priest of Country Music" himself?
Let's get the record straight, Conway Twitty is one of the most successful Traditional Country Music singers of all time! To date, Conway Twitty has sold over 50 million records, and has won 100+ major awards, as well as 2 Grammy's, and has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
40 of Conway Twitty's singles ranked #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart.
Take a look at the list below, in chronological order by release date.
| YEAR | SONG | WEEKS ON CHART |
| 1968 | Next In Line | 17 |
| 1969 | I Love You More Today | 17 |
| 1969 | To See My Angel Cry | 14 |
| 1970 | Hello Darlin' | 20 |
| 1970 | Fifteen Years Ago | 18 |
| 1971 | How Much More Can She Stand | 17 |
| 1971 | Lead Me On | 17 |
| 1971 | After The Fire Is Gone | 14 |
| 1972 | I Can't Stop Loving You | 15 |
| 1972 | (Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date | 15 |
| 1973 | You've Never Been This Far Before | 19 |
| 1973 | She Needs Someone To Hold Her (When She Cries) | 15 |
| 1973 | Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man | 14 |
| 1974 | I See The Want To In Your Eyes | 17 |
| 1974 | As Soon As I Hang Up The Phone | 15 |
| 1974 | There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In) | 15 |
| 1975 | Feelins' | 16 |
| 1975 | Linda On My Mind | 14 |
| 1975 | Touch The Hand | 13 |
| 1976 | This Time I've Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me | 14 |
| 1976 | The Games That Daddies Play | 13 |
| 1976 | After All The Good Is Gone | 13 |
| 1977 | Play Guitar Play | 16 |
| 1977 | I've Already Loved You In My Mind | 15 |
| 1977 | I Can't Believe She Gives It All To Me | 14 |
| 1979 | I May Never Get To Heaven | 15 |
| 1979 | Happy Birthday Darlin' | 14 |
| 1979 | Don't Take It Away | 13 |
| 1980 | I'd Love To Lay You Down | 13 |
| 1981 | Tight Fittin Jeans | 16 |
| 1981 | Rest Your Love On Me/I Am The Dreamer (You Are The Dream) | 14 |
| 1982 | Red Neckin Love Makin Night | 18 |
| 1982 | The Clown | 17 |
| 1982 | Slow Hand | 16 |
| 1983 | The Rose | 19 |
| 1984 | I Don't Know A Thing About Love (The Moon Song) | 19 |
| 1984 | Somebody's Needin' Somebody | 19 |
| 1985 | Ain't She Something Else | 21 |
| 1985 | Don't Call Him A Cowboy | 20 |
| 1986 | Desperado Love | 21 |
If you'd like to hear these hit singles, LISTEN to my Spotify Playlist of Conway Twitty's #1 Hits
Conway Twitty was born in Friars Point, Mississippi, by the real name of Harold Lloyd Jenkins. Right out of High School, Harold walked on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, and he could have gone on to be a legendary baseball player, if it weren't for being drafted into the US Army. While stationed in Japan, Harold kept his dreams alive by forming a band and playing on the Army baseball team. They called themselves the 'Fuji Mountain Boys' and won the 1954 All-Army Talent Competition.
Harold did't think his real name was memorable enough. So, in 1957 he created his stage name by pointing at a road map and finding Conway, Arkansas, and Twitty, Texas, together creating Conway Twitty.
Conway Twitty's first moment of musical inspiration came after hearing Elvis Presley's song "Mystery Train". He saddled up and rode out to Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, to record at the same studio as Elvis, with the same producer Sam Phillips, just to get the right sound.
Take a moment to listen to "Mystery Train" if you have never heard it before.
The similarities between Elvis and early Conway are uncanny. When his first hit "It's Only Make Believe" was released, most people assumed that the song was actually recorded by Elvis Presley.
Elvis ended up covering one of Conway's songs, called Danny Boy. Here they are side by side.
Elvis Presley - Danny Boy
Conway Twitty had his first top 5 country hit, "The Image of Me", in July 1968. Followed by his first number one country song, "Next in Line", in November 1968. Below is a Live video from 1969 where Conway Twitty opens his set with these two songs.
Much of Conway Twitty's success, and acceptance as a Country artist, was attributed to the string of Duets performed with Loretta Lynn. They recorded 11 albums together, with 5 #1 hit songs, and was awarded a grammy for "Country Performance by a Duo" for "After the Fire is Gone".
The pair seemed like the quintessential Country Music couple, although they were never a romantic item. Due to their undeniable stage presence together and lyrical content, their non-existent relationship off stage perplexed most people. Conway was actually married to 3 different women, Ellen Matthews (1953-1954), Temple Medley (1955-1985) and Dolores Henry (1987-1993).
Conway Twitty's biggest country hit was "Hello Darlin'", which spent 20 weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and is one of Twitty's most recognized songs. Just watch the chemistry between these two as he sings to Loretta Live on TV.
Some of Conway Twitty's hits came from a handful of covers, including:
"Slow Hand" - Pointer Sisters
"Rest Your Love on Me" - The Bee Gees
"The Rose" - Bette Midler
"Heartache Tonight" - The Eagles.
Many artist have covered Conway Twitty's music and seen success, for example:
"Hello Darlin" - George Jones
"Goodbye Time" - Blake Shelton
"It's Only Make Believe" - The Misfits and Glen Campbell
"There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)" - Elvis Presley's
"I'd Love to Lay You Down" - Kenny Chesney
On June 4, 1993, at the age of 59, Twitty collapsed while performing at the Jim Stafford Theatre in Branson, Missouri. He was rushed to a hospital for surgery, but passed away the next morning of an aneurysm.
Twitty was buried at Sumner Memorial Gardens in Gallatin, Tennessee, in a red granite vault.
Conway Twitty aka Harold Jenkins, you are a true legend and pioneer of Country Music and without your existence, the world would be a darker place.
Thanks for joining me to look back at the Legend of Country Music, Conway Twitty!
Steemians, please let me know what you think and/if you have recommendations for future Legends of Country Music!