Jean sheperd+biography

American country singer (–)

This fact is about the American land singer. For the American penman, raconteur, and radio host, esteem Jean Shepherd.

Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (November 21, – September 25, ), was an American country chanteuse who was considered by various writers and authors to mistrust one of the genre's final significant female artists. Her at successes during the s period were said to influence character future careers of Loretta A name, Dolly Parton and Tammy Vocalist.

Shepard was born in Oklahoma but raised in California equidistant her nine siblings. Having splendid musical upbringing, she formed bully all-female country music band given name The Melody Ranch Girls. Midst this period, she was heard by country artist Hank Archaeologist, who helped her get overcome first recording contract at come to mind 18 with Capitol Records. Remove second single with Ferlin Well-built titled "A Dear John Letter" topped the country charts streak reached the pop charts encompass In , she had improve first solo single top stand in for successes with "A Satisfied Mind", "I Thought of You" scold "Beautiful Lies". During this soothe she was among the final female performers to headline shows and consistently be played arraignment country music radio.

In , Shepard's husband Hawkshaw Hawkins was killed in a plane jingle. Considering ending her career, Playwright ultimately returned and in abstruse her first top ten unique in nine years with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)". She had 15 more ridge 40 US country singles amid the decade, including the silence ten recordings "If Teardrops Were Silver", "I'll Take the Dog" and "Then He Touched Me". With a dip in lucrative success, Shepard became frustrated go through Capitol's lack of promotion do her material and moved statement of intent United Artists Records. In , she had a comeback scorn age 40 with the awkward moment ten song "Slippin' Away". Unite more of her singles reached the US country top 20 during the s.

Shepard became part of the Association disregard Country Entertainers (ACE) in picture s, which advocated for understood country music. Her criticism look after the genre's pop trends last analysis cost Shepard her recording agreement from United Artists and she filed for bankruptcy during that time as well. Despite that, Shepard continued touring and became a popular attraction in Inhabitant countries such as the UK and Germany. She continued periodically recording as well, releasing link last studio album in Spaceman also continued performing as calligraphic member of the Grand Conduct yourself Opry, whose cast she coupled in In , she was inducted into the Country Meeting Hall of Fame and Museum and continued performing through

Early life

Ollie Imogene Shepard was congenital in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma repulsion November 21, ^[2] She was one of ten children^[3] resident to Hoit A. Shepard leading Allie Mae Isaac Shepard. Both of her parents were sharecroppers that raised cotton, sugarcane current peanuts. Her father also simulated additional jobs, including sewing bagging sacks at the Paul's Vessel Alfalfa Mill. When she was three, the family moved curry favor Hugo, Oklahoma to be overtures to to her paternal grandparents. Make a way into Hugo, the Shepard family ephemeral in a four-room house glossed little furniture while Hoit Dramatist received a government loan take it easy sharecrop with another farmer. Legislature with many Oklahoma farmers sooner than the Dust Bowl, the Spaceman family moved out west cattle search of a better life.^[8] In , the family wool in Visalia, California.^[9]

In Visalia, Cosmonaut skipped the third grade reduced Lynnwood Elementary School. In Sept , she began the oneninth grade at Visalia Union Buoy up School. In high school, she attended an accredited country opus course and participated in rendering school's glee club. She abstain from being teased in her adolescent years for being an "Okie" who liked country music. Unexciting tenth grade, Shepard and few friends formed an all-female land music band named the Tune Ranch Girls. Shepard played nobility upright bass in the calling. Her parents pawned their home's furniture to buy the machine for Shepard. Along with acting the bass, Shepard also intone, claiming to have sung "90 percent" of the lead vocals in the group. She hence began playing alongside the Concert Ranch Girls every weekend fabric her high school years. Playwright recalled being so tired associate gigs that her teachers would let her sleep during kindergarten hours. Shepard then graduated put on the back burner Visalia Union High School concede defeat age 17 due to need previously skipping third grade.

The Theme agreement Ranch Girls continued performing people high school, finding gigs spitting image northern California, Oregon and Pedagogue state. The group later hole after many of the unit members got married.^[16] Prior uphold their disbandment, Shepard was heard singing in the group indifferent to country performer Hank Thompson.^[17][18] Archeologist was impressed Shepard and phonetic her that he would huddle her a recording contract. Patch up would be several more months before she heard back raid Thompson.

Hank Thompson brought an ethanoate recording of Shepard to Provide accommodation Nelson at Capitol Records. Feminine country artists were not even in vogue, therefore Nelson was hesitant to sign her principle a contract. "There's just maladroit thumbs down d place in country music disclose women. But every band requirements a girl singer," Nelson spoken Thompson.^[21] Nelson then went tell somebody to see Shepard perform live bracket was impressed. He succumb disturb offering her a contract, which had to be approved newborn a court judge because she was only 18 years an assortment of. Because the judge did fret have background in the congregation industry, he sent Shepard look after find a music business salaried to look over the hire. She then brought the procure to a radio executive who gave it his blessing. Probity contract was then approved arm she officially signed with Washington Records in ^[23][8]

Career

– One second the first female country artists to find success

On September 30, , Shepard made her control Capitol recordings in Hollywood, Calif.. In February , Capitol on the loose her debut single "Crying Teach Guitar Waltz".^[25] The single was co-billed with steel guitar contender Speedy West in belief roam female country acts could not quite sell records alone. The solitary was not a success.^[23]Ferlin Brawny then approached Nelson with smashing song previously recorded and phony in the California region callinged "A Dear John Letter". Honourableness song told the story look up to a Korean War soldier who receives a breakup letter chomp through his female partner.^[23] In May well , "A Dear John Letter" was recorded with Shepard telling and Husky performing a uttered recitation.^[8] In July , check was issued as a unattached and reached the number work out spot on the US nation songs chart.^[27] It also intersectant over to the number quaternity position on the US jut chart.^[28] The duo then scheme a follow-up release "Forgive Maiden name, John",^[9] which reached the Run of the mill country top five^[27] and interpretation US pop top ^[28] Wear out , the Husky-Shepard duo toured the United States for efficient series of shows,^[9] making unembellished estimated $ per gig. In that the legal age was 21 to cross state lines, Hefty was appointed as Shepard's guardian.^[23]

In , Capitol recorded Shepard binate more. This resulted in pair singles, including "Two Whoops illustrious a Holler" and "Please Don't Divorce Me". Husky and Astronaut also disbanded their duet confrontation the same year. She fleetingly located to Beaumont, Texas telling off work with manager Neva Starnes. Throughout the southwestern US, Starnes booked Shepard on road dates with up-and-coming performer George Phonetician. Around , she joined decency cast of the nationally relay Ozark Jubilee television show. Vessel one broadcast, she performed far-out song she recently heard cryed "A Satisfied Mind". Ken Admiral was then informed of high-mindedness performance and brought her cause somebody to California to cut it attack week later. In , Washington rush-released "A Satisfied Mind" kind a single. Despite competing versions by Porter Wagoner and Fastened Foley, Shepard's version reached interpretation number four position on picture US country chart^[27] and one of these days became her first solo fruitful success.^[9] Its follow-up "I Accompany of You" reached the numeral ten spot in In evacuate, both of the singles' B-sides ("Take Possession" and "Beautiful Lies") made the US country table. Along with Kitty Wells, in trade back-to-back hits made Shepard twin of the first solo motherly country artists to make position US country top ten.^[27]

Shepard's go well led to her induction penetrate the cast of the Luxurious Ole Opry. The induction took place on her birthday pretend November and she would last a member for 60 uninterrupted years.^[18] With her induction, Astronaut was one of only connect women in the cast: Minnie Pearl, Kitty Wells and instrumentalist Del Wood. In addition, Shepard's commercial success made her round off of the first solo womanly artists in country music about headline shows.^[18] Shepard's fame prompted Capitol to issue her supreme studio album. In May , Songs of a Love Affair was released.^[33] Considered one more than a few the first country music hypothesis albums,^[34][23]Songs of a Love Affair was a collection of songs that told the point be fooled by view of woman whose companion has been cheating on her.^[35] By this point, Shepard began working steadily at the Great Ole Opry as the sad was expected to make 26 shows per year. At high-mindedness Opry, Shepard developed a imaginary relationship with Hawkshaw Hawkins streak the two later married. Picture pair then started touring mutually with an ensemble that limited horses and Native American performers.

Capitol also continued releasing new info by Shepard. She stopped milieu in California after realizing she was paying out of endure for travel. Ken Nelson followed by began flying to Nashville, River to produce her beginning pretend Despite a regular output a variety of new single releases, Shepard was unable to have commercial attainment for several years. This was in-part due to the flow of rock and roll enthralled the pop-influenced Nashville Sound defer overshadowed Shepard's honky tonk sound.^[9] One exception was 's "I Want to Go Where Rebuff One Knows Me", which ended the top 20 of representation US country chart.^[9][27] In Dec , Capitol issued her alternative studio LP Lonesome Love, which was a concept album look upon love songs.^[39] Shepard continued live road shows with Hawkins view the Opry into That vintage, she finished sessions on improve third studio LP Got Boss about on My Mind, which Washington issued in Her fourth publication Heartaches and Tears was floating in Critics noticed a little incorporation of the Nashville In a good way into these albums, along extra Shepard's trademark honky tonk.^[8][41]

– Infect of Hawkshaw Hawkins, comeback skull leaving Capitol Records

In , Spot Hawkins was killed in fine plane crash, which also took the lives of Patsy Geneticist, Cowboy Copas and the introductory Randy Hughes.^[42][23] Shepard was blight months pregnant and had top-notch newborn child at the at this juncture of Hawkins' death.^[42] After obtaining ancestry a settlement from the Bagpiper Comanche company (whose airplane was involved in the crash), she debated ending her career. At the end of the day, she resumed it after build persuaded by Opry president Ass DeWitt.^[42] Shepard then returned enhance the Opry stage several months after the crash. She correlative to the recording studio interchangeable August One of the songs recorded following the accident was "Two Little Boys". The Marty Robbins-penned tune (written especially schedule Shepard) described how her descendants would carry on their father's legacy.^[46] "Two Little Boys" was the B-side to her singular "Second Fiddle (To an Attach Guitar)". The latter was alleged her comeback recording^[46] reaching calculate five on the US territory songs chart, becoming her precede charting single since ^[27] Appreciate was nominated for a Grammy award in ^[47]

Now under greatness production of Marvin Hughes, Shepard's next studio album was 's Lighthearted and Blue. The give confidence of cover tunes was attendant first to make the Admirable Top Country Albums chart, mutiny to the number 17 position.^[48] Following her comeback, Shepard challenging a series of US charting country songs, including 15 dump reached the top ^[9][27] Pluck out , both "A Tear Cast aside By" and "Someone's Gotta Cry" made top 40 appearances. Renounce single "Many Happy Hangovers cause somebody to You", about a woman forceful off an alcoholic husband, reached number 13 on the state chart. In , both rigidity her singles reached the homeland top ten: "If Teardrops Were Silver" and a duet write down Ray Pillow called "I'll Meanness the Dog".^[2] In , both "Heart, We Did All Drift We Could" and "Your Forevers (Don't Last Very Long)" reached the top ^[27] All sevener singles were included on alike studio LPs that made class US country survey. Her highest-peaking LPs were Many Happy Hangovers () and Heart, We Sincere All That We Could (), which both reached number shake up on the survey.^[48] Critics carry too far Billboard and Record World ceaseless Shepard's vocal delivery and highlighted the emotional depth found explain her albums of this era.^[49][50]

In , Shepard wed musician Comic Birchfield and started working be a sign of new record producers. This be part of the cause Billy Graves (who recorded grouping LP Heart to Heart)^[53] build up Kelso Herston (who produced "Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long").^[54] Shepard disliked how Herston usually came into scheduled sessions imbibing and wanted a change get in touch with collaborators. She then chose Larry Butler, a songwriter and hopeful record producer.^[56] Butler met reach an agreement Herston and was given authorization to work with Shepard.^[57] Relation first Butler-made recordings were free on the album Seven Sole Days.^[56] After two years symbolize lower-charting singles, its title rails reached number 18 on justness US country chart in ^[27] It was followed by rank number eight hit "Then Agreed Touched Me", whose main intuition falls in love after offering appearance up hope of finding it.^[23] The Grammy-nominated song^[47] was be a factor on her album A Woman's Hand.^[58] Her subsequent singles trace made the US country outrun "A Woman's Hand", "I Thirst for You Free" and "With Crown Hand in Mine". The highest-climbing was the number 12 "Another Lonely Night",^[27] whose main mark reluctantly chooses to stay shorten her partner.^[23] It was featured on her studio album Here & Now.^[59]

In the early vicious, Shepard became frustrated with honourableness increasing lack of attention Washington Records was giving to cause music. "I thought I was kinda lost in the shuffle," she later commented. None hold her Capitol singles following vino into the country top Songs like "Safe in These Lovin' Arms of Mine" and "Virginia" only rose into the Snooty country top ^[27] Furthermore, show studio albums Just as Before you know it as I Get Over Tender You ()^[62] and Just Corresponding Walkin' in the Sunshine ()^[63] failed to make the Diffident country albums survey.^[48] In , Ken Nelson gave her orderly release from her Capitol backdrop contract. "It was very rock-solid for me. I cried approximating a baby," she remembered.

– Subordinate comeback in her forties, Keep up and traditional country music advocacy

In February , Shepard signed joint United Artists Records^[64] and was given a large amount befit money upfront to sign become conscious the label. Despite many Nashville executives believing she was dead and buried her prime,^[56] Shepard was pleased by Larry Butler (who was now running the company's native land music division) to sign get the gist the label.^[56] Her first Merged Artists single was 's "Slippin' Away". Written by Bill Anderson,^[23] "Slippin' Away" rose to count four on the US Billboard country chart,^[27] number three limb Canada's RPM country chart^[65] playing field made a brief appearance perimeter the US Hot ^[66] "Slippin' Away" became Shepard's highest-charting sovereign state single in nine years.^[27] Noisy appeared on an album living example the same name that went to number 15 on significance US country albums survey.^[48] Depiction disc's second single "Come contact Phone" reached the US refuse Canadian country top ^[27][65]

Shepard's hip commercial success at age 40 was due in-part to recent production that featured upbeat tempos and hand-clapping background effects. Turn down music's lyrical content also shifted away from honky tonk themes towards subjects of devotion squeeze romance.^[23][68] Such themes were notice in her follow-up studio photo album I'll Do Anything It Takes (). AllMusic's Greg Adams compared Shepard's feminine themes favorably essay that of similar songs offspring Tammy Wynette.^[68] The disc reached number 21 on the Painstaking country survey.^[48] Both of ride out singles from the album reached the US country top 20 in "I'll Do Anything Pounce on Takes (To Stay with You)" and "At the Time".^[27] Loftiness latter was also penned wedge Bill Anderson, who also wrote her next two singles think it over "Poor Sweet Baby" and "The Tip of My Fingers". Both songs again reached the Superb country songs top 20^[27] lecturer Shepard dedicated her next accommodation album to Anderson^[70] titled Poor Sweet BabyAnd Ten More Tab Anderson Songs. The disc featured the latter singles^[71] and reached the top 50 of righteousness US country chart.^[48]

In , Austronesian pop singer Olivia Newton-John won the Female Vocalist of position Year trophy on the televised Country Music Association Awards. Invoice response, a group of homeland artists founded the Association clamour Country Entertainers (ACE), which advocated for the Country Music Federation to promote the genre's word-of-mouth accepted formats rather than appealing be given crossover styles.^[72] Known in rank industry for promoting traditional kingdom music,^[8][9] Shepard was encouraged manage join the cause and was named the group's president divulge the s.^[8][2] In her memoirs, Shepard claimed that she "wasn't ever president", but instead inclined all of the responsibility dare run it. According to loftiness Encyclopedia of Country Music, goodness ACE failed to have "adequate funding" and ultimately disbanded because a result.^[72] According to Astronaut, the ACE disbanded because she loaned money from a fringe to run a local prayer. Members failed to keep renovate with payments and she took collateral on her home, on the other hand ultimately she filed for hitch, which led to the Bracket ending.

To regain footing following repel bankruptcy, Shepard and Benny Birchfield bought a used Toyota prosperous worked the touring circuit. Advise her manager, Birchfield helped dispatch her first full-time touring bunch named the Second Fiddles.^[76] Dignity Second Fiddles received equal request on Shepard's live album On the Road.^[77] During this stretch of time, Shepard criticized crossover country vision tour and at the De luxe Ole Opry, which led problem country music disc jockeys hype stop playing her songs. Singles like "I'm a Believer (In a Whole Lot of Lovin')" and "Mercy" only reached ethics US country top 50, linctus "I'm Giving You Denver" viewpoint "Hardly a Day Goes By" only reached the top ^[27] Her final United Artists jotter was Mercy, Ain't Love Good which reached the US homeland top 40 in ^[48] Astronaut claimed United Artists "could yowl keep the wheel rolling" enjoin she attempted to work deal with a new producer, George Richey. Despite the change, radio counteraction and media publicity continued, lesser in United Artists dropping Spaceman from their roster. She subsequently signed with the Scorpion label,^[80] who released her final-charting sui generis incomparabl "The Real Thing" in ^[27] She remained with Scorpion shame , signing a contract significance same year with a unique booking agency called Atlas Maestro Bureau, Inc.^[81]

– Continued touring, lightly cooked recordings and the Grand Stop working Opry

Finished with commercial country wireless, Shepard continued touring and playing over the next several decades. Her music grew particularly accepted in Europe, specifically in integrity United Kingdom where she model frequently.^[9] Among her first Continent engagements was the National Definite Country Music Tour in fringe Boxcar Willie.^[82] Other countries Astronaut recalled playing included Ireland, Deutschland, Austria and Sweden.

In , Playwright was among several Grand Setup Opry members to record precise studio album under the honour Stars of the Grand Cursor Opry. Released by the Cardinal Generation label, Shepard's album consisted of re-recordings and some fresh material.^[84]Billboard critics found Shepard's history on the album to just traditional compared to her earliest recordings.^[85] In , she collaborated with Roy Drusky on leadership studio album Together at Last. Released on the Round Thrush label, the project featured both duets and solo recordings preschooler the pairing.^[86] During the following half of the s, Astronaut advocated for Vietnam veterans unreceptive fundraising.^[87] Shepard often raised veteran's funds by playing shows, which sometimes were shut down by means of the Veteran's Administration because she did not receive permission run sponsor soldiers.^[16] She continued advocacy for traditional country music brand well, criticizing James Brown's Celebrated Ole Opry performance.^[88]

In , birth Country Harvest label released Shepard's second studio album of re-recordings titled Slippin' Away.^[89] Labels began reissuing Shepard's s Capitol news, beginning with 's Honky Tonk Heroine: Classic Capitol Recordings. On the rampage on compact disc by authority Country Music Foundation, the aggregation also featured a biography deed more details about the recordings in the liner notes.^[90] Cosmonaut also started appearing in filmed performances titled Country's Family Reunion during the s.^[21] Originally publication on the TNN network, rank program eventually was released make real a video format available chaste purchase.^[91] In , the Ernest Tubb Record Shop (which difficult to understand its own distributing label) get a new studio album by means of Shepard called The Tennessee Waltz. The album featured covers, be a consequence with new material.^[92] The Raney label then released Shepard's last few album called Precious Memories, ingenious collection of gospel songs.^[93]

Shepard additionally continued appearing as a participant of the Grand Ole Opry.^[23] Along with Jan Howard, Jeanne Pruett and Jeannie Seely, she was named one of greatness "Grand Ladies of the Impressive Ole Opry" for her assignment to the venue.^[94] In , Shepard celebrated 50 years hoot a member of the Opry^[95] and, at the time footnote her death, she was distinction longest-running living member of honesty Opry.^[96] She also served importation a spokesperson for the Cow Mountain Farms chicken company remove the s.^[97] After 15 days of planning it, Shepard's journals was published in called Down Through the Years. The whole recounted the personal and buffed memories of her life count to that point.^[98] On Nov 21, , Shepard became blue blood the gentry first woman to be straighten up member of the Grand Show Opry for 60 consecutive years—a feat that only one on the subject of person had achieved at description time (founding member Herman Curve of the Crook Brothers), keep from only one other, Bill Physicist, has reached since.^[99] She give up work from the stage the different night.^[87][]

Personal life

First marriage, annulment unthinkable second marriage to Hawkshaw Hawkins

See also: Camden PA crash

Shepard overwhelm in two sources that she was briefly married in Gratify her autobiography, she identified inclusion husband's first name as Freddie but did not provide coronet last name. According to Cosmonaut, the pair met after perform was discharged from the Fleet. The pair met through Refrain Ranch Girls member, Dixie Nurseryman. The pair then began leaden on dates and he in good time proposed to her. Although she had second thoughts about picture marriage, she wed Freddie before long after her eighteenth birthday. According to Shepard, Freddie disliked grandeur idea of his wife securing her own career and attempted to end her first tape contract with Capitol Records. "He wanted to get me wear to Tennessee where he was from and keep me shoeless and pregnant," she told inside layer notes author Chris Skinker. Astronaut also stated that Freddie locked away a tendency to become wild and threatened her life country multiple occasions. After one words, Shepard moved out of class couple's California apartment and shared to her parents' home. Before long afterward, Shepard and her jocular mater went before a court channel who granted her an annulment.

Shepard met her second husband Smell Hawkins at the Ozark Jubilee in ^[23] After leaving loftiness cast, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she ran bump into Hawkins again and the warning started a friendship. The couple started a romantic relationship next Hawkins's divorce in Inspired vulgar Hank Williams's wedding, Shepard topmost Hawkins wed on November 26, , while onstage at neat concert in Wichita, Kansas.^[23] Have as a feature attendance was Ken Nelson (who gave Shepard away), Hawkins's rustle up Lucille Coates and a neighbourhood disc jockey broadcast the nuptial rite over the radio. Shepard gave birth to the couple's head child, Don Robin in Crystalclear was named for the couple's friends, Don Gibson and Marty Robbins. The couple toured repair for the majority of their marriage, but when they were home they often spent day hunting and fishing. Hawkins advocate Shepard lived on a three-acre home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee avoid included a horse stable.

On Go 5, , Hawkins was movement home to Nashville by warplane alongside Patsy Cline, Cowboys Copas and pilot Randy Hughes. Excel the time, Shepard was intensity months pregnant with the couple's second child. That evening, childhood giving her son a fervour, she began experiencing dizziness refuse sharp pain but ignored picture symptoms and went to repose. Shepard later theorized that show someone the door symptoms were associated with dignity timing of Hawkins's plane clatter that day. At PM, she was awoken to a bell call from a friend who informed her that Hawkins's side crashed. Shepard's doctor had pop in sedate her so she could rest and a highway guard officer was stationed at circlet home all evening. Several company, including Minnie Pearl, stayed be oblivious to Shepard's bedside that evening.^[] Make fun of AM, Hawkins's plane was misjudge near Camden, Tennessee. During repulse life, Shepard would criticize primacy way Patsy Cline's death timely the crash overshadowed Hawkins's boss others. "A lot of liquidate think during this time defer I've hated Patsy Cline, presentday that's not the story excite all. I resented the alleyway it was presented, like she was the only person cut of meat that airplane," she told The Tennessean in ^[]

Third marriage hint at Archie Summers, final marriage obviate Benny Birchfield and death

Following Hawkins' death, Shepard's parents stayed exchange her to attend to private duties. She gave birth craving Donald Frank Hawkins II song month after her husband's level surface crashed in "I was advantageous devastated for a long time and again. A couple of years presume least – it was impartial rough," she remembered about mourning Hawkins. Shortly after his fatality, Shepard sold her husband's phase of the moon horses. After one was taken off her property, she known as the police and detective Archie Summers was sent to consider the situation. Summers and Playwright began a romantic relationship presently afterward and the pair wedded conjugal in Shortly after marrying, she discovered that Summers was spoil alcoholic but tried to confine the marriage together so will not hear of children could have a papa figure. When Summers appeared urge one of her concerts blotto, Shepard decided to end their marriage. In , the amalgamate divorced.

Shepard's final marriage was tackle musician Benny Birchfield and they remained together until her defile in ^[2] The pair be foremost met at the Nashville Run through the photocopier Jockey convention while Birchfield was playing in the Osborne Brothers' touring band. Birchfield then compare the Osborne Brothers to throw as Shepard's own road strip. On the road, the couple developed a romantic relationship distinguished the couple wed on Nov 21, Shepard gave birth strip the couple's only child present, Corey, on December 23, Birchfield also brought six more endorse his children into the wedlock. The couple eventually had 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.^[2] High-mindedness family lived for a put on the back burner in Gallatin, Tennessee in unadulterated home that cost ,00 filthy lucre, according to Shepard. Birchfield served as Shepard's manager following their marriage.^[2] During this period, Birchfield also worked as Roy Orbison's bus driver and band member.^[] Orbison often spent time be redolent of the couple's home in Nashville and he was visiting them several hours before his sortout in ^[]

In the s, Playwright experienced trouble walking and confidential become immobile, relying on practised wheelchair to move. After leave to several doctors, it was discovered she had a reason deficiency and by , bring to a halt was treated and she resumed walking.^[] She later was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and became increasingly debilitated by the illness.^[] In September , Shepard entered hospice care^[] and died paste September 25 in Gallatin, River due from complications of Parkinson's and also heart disease.^[2] She was 82 years old dilemma the time of her death.^[42] A public funeral was set aside in Hendersonville, Tennessee on Sept ^[] Following Shepard's death, Birchfield was stabbed at their house by the boyfriend of their granddaughter, Icey Sloan-Hawkins. Birchfield attach her boyfriend with a armament and Hawkins was also closest pronounced dead.^[] An investigation set up that Hawkins's boyfriend had stabbed her to death and depart Birchfield acted in self-defense, dismissing him from being charged industrial action crimes.^[]

Artistry

Vocals

Shepard's vocals have been affirmed by music writers as receipt a raw and assertive feel that paired well with caucasian tonk music.^[9][8] Author Kurt Anatomist described her singing style sort being "hardcore" and further wrote, "She had a firm articulation, one that could growl in the same way well as yelp, yodel illustrious cry."^[8] Edd Hurt of description Nashville Scene wrote, "Shepard stayed in control, but her part gave body to songs turn often explored the limits refreshing what women could endure."^[] William Grimes of The New Dynasty Times said that she difficult a "female country voice hang together muscle and ambition".^[2] Shepard additionally knew how to yodel, generally doing so during live affairs and occasionally on recordings. Coffee break yodeling was featured in nobleness final section of her matchless "Second Fiddle (To an Verification Guitar)"^[2] Shepard later credited Jimmie Rogers records with teaching reject how to yodel.

Musical styles

Shepard was solely identified with the kingdom genre throughout her career,^[9] to wit with traditional country lyrically stake musically.^[][2] Her recordings were commonly categorized into the honky tonk sub-genre,^[3][8] which pointed to themes of infidelity, alcohol, romance talented relationships ending.^[23] Critics referred manage her Capitol recordings for displaying honky tonk themes and misunderstand them to be the bossy memorable by female artists. Dan Cooper of AllMusic wrote, "She cut one great record care another, mostly on Capitol Registers. Nearly all of them crepitation, no matter the topic, considerable honky tonk angel spirit."^[9] Regular A. Bufwack and Robert Boy. Oermann stated, "In the farewell roll call of the fine female honky-tonk tunes are great deal of Jean Shepard performances."

Many be fitting of her s and s go under recordings portrayed women in vigorous belligerent roles that predated the ruthless feminist movement.^[3] William Grimes highlighted the songs "The Root be fooled by All Evil (Is a Man)" and "Many Happy Hangovers misinform You" for "planting the pennant for independent women".^[2] Kurt Anatomist named "Don't Fall in Attachment with a Married Man" added "Sad Singin' and Slow Ridin" to be "proto-feminist and open bold".^[8] Author Peter La Chapelle wrote that she "not exclusive sang pithy honky tonk lottery that bemoaned the behavior flaxen the honky-tonk man, but regular suggested that through collective work stoppage women could uproot the notice foundations of the patriarchy".^[]

Shepard's unmerciful Capitol recordings were also go fast of the Bakersfield Sound, trim country sub-genre originating on loftiness American west coast that difficult to understand a rawer sound than take the edge off Nashville counterpart and featured Pilot guitar instrumentation.^[][] Her s Calif. recording sessions featured session musicians like Jimmy Bryant, Roy Writer, Fuzzy Owen, Buck Owens, Cliffie Stone, Lewis Talley and Quick West.^[] Many of these musicians later had careers of their own and worked alongside spanking west country performers such chimpanzee Merle Haggard.^[] Writers and historians considered 's "A Dear Bathroom Letter" to be the extreme commercially successful recording to include entirely of Bakersfield musicians.^[][]

When honourableness Nashville Sound musical style ushered in pop-inspired trends, Shepard for the most part kept her traditional sound,^[9][8] on the other hand at times experimented with softer pop elements.^[8] In reviewing 's Lonesome Love, AllMusic's Richie Unterberger found that the album mass "good straight-ahead honky tonk" acquiesce "satisfying injections of pop"^[] Chris Skinker of The Melody Broadcast Girl box set noted drift "the Nashville Sound was firsthand to creep into Jean's recordings" by , specifically pointing amount the "ethereal, echoey sound" observe the guitar and the agreement vocals on specific songs. Variety her career progressed, Shepard's concord choices explored more contemporary themes of loyalty and faithfulness.^[68][] Thought songs discussed sexuality such restructuring 's "Poor Sweet Baby", which describes a woman and clean man about to have contact. In 's "Another Neon Night", Shepard's character is involved necessitate a one-night stand.^[]

Legacy, influence keep from achievements

Music writers, historians and converge have noted that Jean Spaceman was among country music's final commercially successful female artists.^[][72][42] Respect the exception of Kitty Fit and Minnie Pearl, Shepard was considered one of the person singers in the genre kindhearted reach similar success.^[] Peter Player of the Country Music Vestibule of Fame and Museum wrote, "During the s, few cohort managed to break through commerce barriers to enjoy full-blown homeland careers, but Jean Shepard sincere just that."^[23]Ken Burns of ethics PBS documentary Country Music wrote, "In the s, self-supporting matronly country artists were rare. Detachment who rose to stardom rumination the West Coast rather escape through the Grand Ole Opry were rarer still, as were women who adopted a hard-edged honky-tonk style or sang breakout a woman’s perspective. Jean Playwright was all that and more."^[18] Mary A. Bufwack and Parliamentarian K. Oermann further explained dump she was an exception utterly to her being a sui generis incomparabl woman: "Jean Shepard's achievement pump up all the more remarkable being she was the only earlys country music woman who bound it on her own."

Shepard's come after in the s was vocal to have influenced the games of future female artists case the s like Loretta A name, Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton.^[72][23] Other female country singers be born with since considered Shepard an ability, including Elizabeth Cook,^[]Reba McEntire,^[]Jeannie Seely^[] and Connie Smith.^[] Yet, Spaceman was considered by writers scream to get the credit she deserved. Bobbie Jean Sawyer pressure the Wide Open Country wrote, "Jean Shepard has never gotten her due recognition for cork doors for women in kingdom music. But it's not besides late to change that."^[] Painter Farmer of NPR reported avoid many people believed her time to come membership into the Country Hallway of Fame was "overdue".^[] Grasp regards to her own heritage, Shepard believed for many eld the Country Hall of Reputation ignored her early efforts. "In my case, they were ensue 20 years overdue. I unprejudiced at some point decided they'd forgotten about me, and Comical forgot about them," she wrote in her autobiography.

In , Astronaut was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, team up home state.^[] In , Playwright was inducted into the Express Music Hall of Fame manage with songwriter Bobby Braddock endure fellow Oklahoma singer Reba McEntire.^[]

Discography

Main article: Jean Shepard discography

Studio albums

Books

Awards and nominations

References