Skeeter Davis (1931-2004), originally Mary Frances Penick, was an American country music singer. Among her most remembered songs is "The End of The World" from 1962. She was one of the first women to acquire significant fame in the country genre.
Personal life
Skeeter Davis was born on December 30, 1931, on a farm in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, the first of seven children in the family of Sarah and William Penick.
Her grandfather, impressed by the energy of her character, was the one who nicknamed her "Skeeter", which is a local term for mosquitoes. Around that time, while still a child, Skeeter chose country music as one of her personal passions.
Davis married three times, the first being to Kenneth Depew. From 1960 to 1964, Davis was married to renowned WSM radio and television personality Ralph Emery. Skeeter received strong criticism later from her ex-husband, in Emery's autobiography.
In 1987, she married Joey Spampitano of NRBQ, which would also end in divorce by 1996.
After their third separation, Davis decided to settle in a several hundred acre colonial-style mansion in Brentwood, Tennessee. She spent her time surrounded by dogs, Siamese cats, a pigeon locked in a golden cage and an ocelot named Fred.
Her extreme religious beliefs caused her to refuse to appear in places that sold toxic drinks. She even stopped tobacco production on her farm, explaining that "as a Christian, I think it hurts my body."
In 1993 she wrote her autobiography called "Bus Fare To Kentucky", referring to her 1971 song. In 1988 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and on September 19, 2004 she died of this cause at the age of 73 years in a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.
Musical career
The Davis Sisters
Skeeter Davis' musical life began when in 1947 he met Betty Jack Davis at a singing session at his high school. It was from that relationship that the duo The Davis Sisters (The Davis Sisters) was born.
After months of travel and public appearances, they managed to sign a contract for RCA Victor. The first single was called "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" (I forgot more than you'll ever know) and it became a hit, being ranked as the best country song in 1953.
Success was coming for The Davis Sisters, but her path to fame was cut short by the tragic death of Betty Jack in a road accident that left Davis in serious condition.
Soloist
After months of recovery, Skeeter managed to make her first solo performance and in a short time had become one of the greatest country music singers of 1957.
Two years later he managed to enter as a regular member of the "Grand Ole Pry", home of the best performers in the industry of his musical genre.
During the 1960s, Skeeter was one of RCA's most successful artists. He managed to enter 38 country hits to the lists of the most listened to and even 13 of them managed to make their place also in the lists of the pop genre.
Among these songs was "The End Of The World" (The End Of The World), a song that would become the most popular in his repertoire and a millionaire hit.
This hit reached the second place of the best songs of both country and pop in 1963, remaining in the tenth place for the consolidated of the year. It also managed to position itself on the UK charts, reaching position 18.
Musical tours
Davis did quite a few music tours during the 1960s and 1970s, not only in the United States and Canada but also in Europe, where he was very popular.
His studio career slowed somewhat during the 1970s, but his hits included "I'm A Lover (Not A Fighter)," "Bus Fare To Kentucky" and "One Tin Soldier."
By 1973, he had a small hit with the Bee Gees called "Don't Forget To Remember" and a country song called "I Can't Believe That It's All Over."
Only two more singles made it to the charts, the last one being Mercury Records' "I Love Us" in 1976. Two years prior to this, Davis had abandoned his long contract with RCA.
Tribute albums
Davis subsequently recorded several tribute albums, including one for artist Buddy Holly, featuring Waulon Jennings on guitar and also with Dolly Parton, one of her closest friends. She also rerecorded "May You Never Be Alone," a hit of its time on "The Davis Sisters" with NRBQ in 1985.
In 1973, Skeeter was suspended from her appearances on "Grand Ole Pry" for controversial statements against the Nashville Police Department that did not sit well with the conservative side of the show's directives.
However, due to her Jean Shepard interceding, Davis was reinstated on the show two years after the act, where she remained until shortly before her death in 2002.
In an interview with Country Music Beat in January 1975, she said the following when asked about her suspension from the Grand Ole Pry:
“I would love to sing there again. In 1959, when I signed with the Opry, no one ever said to me, "Skeeter, now you won't be allowed to sing gospel music or religious songs, or ever say anything about being a Christian." In other words, there was never anyone who told me that, there was never anything said about it. "
References
- Ronstadt-Linda. Skeeter Davis. February 18, 2013..
- Goodreads. Bus Fare to Kentucky: The Autobiography of Skeeter Davis. Cited on: December 22, 2016.
- Bilboard. Opry Star Skeeter Davis Dies. September 9, 2004.
- CMT Artists. About Skeeter Davis.
- Dicogs. Skeeter Davis.
- Oldies. Skeeter Davis.
- Ronstadt-Linda. An Interview with Skeeter Davis.