Skeeter Davis
Skeeter Davis never received much critical attention, but in the '50s and '60s, she recorded some of the most accessible crossover country music, occasionally skirting rock & roll. Born Mary Penick, Davis took her last name after forming a duo with Betty Jack Davis, the Davis Sisters. Their 1953 single "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" was a big country hit; its B-side, the remarkable "Rock-a-Bye Boogie," foreshadowed rockabilly. That same year, however, the duo's career was cut short by a tragic car accident in which Betty Jack was killed and Skeeter was severely injured. Skeeter did attempt to revive the Davis Sisters with Betty Jack's sister but was soon working as a solo artist.
In the early '60s, Davis followed the heels of Brenda Lee and Patsy Cline to become one of the first big-selling female country crossover acts, although her pop success was pretty short-lived. The weepy ballad "The End of the World," though, was a massive hit, reaching number two in 1963. "I Can't Stay Mad at You," a Top Ten hit the same year, was downright rock & roll; penned by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, it sounded like (and was) an authentic Brill Building girl group-styled classic. Goffin and King also wrote another successful girl group knockoff for her, "Let Me Get Close to You," although such efforts were the exception rather than the rule. Usually she sang sentimental, country-oriented tunes with enough pop hooks to catch the ears of a wider audience, such as "I Will."
Davis concentrated on the country market after the early '60s, although she never seemed too comfortable limiting herself to the Nashville crowd. She recorded a Buddy Holly tribute album in 1967, when Holly wasn't a hot ticket with either the country or the rock audience. But she certainly didn't reject country conventions either: She performed on the Grand Ole Opry and recorded duets with Bobby Bare, Porter Wagoner, and George Hamilton IV. In the 1980s, she had a mild comeback with the rock crowd after recording an album with NRBQ; she also married NRBQ's bass player, Joey Spampinato. Davis passed away September 19, 2004 after a long struggle with cancer.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
Similar artists
-
-
The Essential Skeeter Davis
Country - Released by RCA Records Label Nashville on Apr 24, 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Singin' in the Summer Sun
Country - Released by RCA - Legacy on Aug 26, 2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
-
Let Me Get Close To You (With Bonus Tracks)
Country - Released by Legacy Recordings on Jan 1, 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Skeeter Davis
Country - Released by RLG - Legacy on Oct 2, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tunes For Two
Country - Released by RLG - Legacy on Feb 22, 1965
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Skeeter Davis: RCA Country Legend
Country - Released by Buddha Records on Jan 12, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Skeeter Sings Standards
Country - Released by Legacy Recordings on May 29, 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
She Sings, They Play
Rock - Released by Red Rooster on Jan 17, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Your Husband, My Wife
Country - Released by RLG - Legacy on Apr 17, 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Written by the Stars
Country - Released by Legacy Recordings on May 29, 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Skeeter Davis: The Pop Hits Collection, Volume 1
Pop - Released by Legacy Recordings on Mar 21, 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The End of the World
Country - Released by Back Sheep Music on Jun 21, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Here's the Answer
Pop - Released by Rockabilly Records on Mar 21, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Takes a Lot of My Time
Country - Released by RCA - Legacy on Aug 1, 1971
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Best Of Skeeter Davis
Country - Released by Entertain Me Ltd on Jun 21, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The End Of The World
Country - Released by Country Harvest on Jan 1, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Skeeter Davis: Studio 102 Essentials
Country - Released by Suite 102 on May 27, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo