Del Reeves

Franklin Delano Reeves (July 14, 1932 – January 1, 2007) was an American country music singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty songs of the 1960s including "Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell". He is also known for his 1968 trucker's anthem, "Looking at the World Through a Windshield", which demonstrated he was capable of more than just novelty songs. He became one of the most successful male country singers of the 1960s, becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1966 and remaining a regular performer for 40 years, until his death.

Early life Reeves was born in Sparta, North Carolina, in July, 1932, the youngest of 11 children. He was named after U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

After high school, Reeves briefly attended Appalachian State Teachers College. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force, stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Reeves made his first rockabilly recordings with Capitol Records from 1957 to 1958.

1960s–2000s In 1961, Reeves signed with Decca Records and recorded the song that would become his first charting single, "Be Quiet Mind". Reeves became known as "the Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo Kid" for the sound effect he added to his songs.

Under United Artists, he had his first number-one hit with "The Girl on the Billboard" in 1965.

1961 "Be Quiet Mind"

1962 "He Stands Real Tall"

1963 "The Only Girl I Can't Forget"

1964 "Talking to the Night Lights"

"Girl on the Billboard"A

"The Belles of the Southern Bell"

"Women Do Funny Things to Me"

Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo

"One Bum Town"

Special Delivery "Gettin' Any Feed for Your Chickens"

Gettin' Any Feed for Your Chickens "This Must Be the Bottom"

Struttin' My Stuff

"Blame It on My Do Wrong"

Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other "The Private"

The Best of Del Reeves "A Dime at a Time"

"I Just Wasted the Rest" (with Bobby Goldsboro)

"Wild Blood"

Running Wild "Looking at the World Through a Windshield"

Looking at the World "Good Time Charlie's"

"Be Glad"

"There Wouldn't Be a Lonely Heart in Town"

Big Daddy Del "Take a Little Good Will Home" (with Bobby Goldsboro)

Our Way of Life

"A Lover's Question" (with the Goodtime Charlies)

The Best 2 "Son of a Coal Man"

Friends and Neighbors "Landmark Tavern" (with Penny DeHaven)

"Bad, Bad Tuesday"

"Right Back Loving You Again"

"Bar Room Talk"

"Workin' Like the Devil for the Lord"

"The Philadelphia Fillies"

"Dozen Pairs of Boots"

"The Best Is Yet to Come"

"No Rings, No Strings"

Before Goodbye "Crying in the Rain" (with Penny DeHaven)

single only "Before Goodbye"

Before Goodbye

"Trucker's Paradise"

Trucker's Paradise "Mm-Mm Good"

single only "Lay a Little Lovin' on Me"

The Very Best of Del Reeves

"What a Way to Go"

"Prayer from a Mobile Home"

"She Likes Country Bands"

"Pour It All on Me"

"But I Do"

"Puttin' In Overtime at Home"

"You Comb Her Hair Every Morning"

single only

"I Ain't Got Nobody"

10th Anniversary "On the Rebound" (with Billie Jo Spears)

"Teardrops Will Kiss the Morning Dew" (with Billie Jo Spears)

"My Better Half"

1977 "Ladies' Night"

"When My Angel Turns into a Devil"

"Dig Down Deep"

"Take Me to Your Heart"

"What Am I Gonna Do?"

"Swinging Doors"

"Slow Hand"

1982 "Ain't Nobody Gonna Get My Body but You"

1986 "The Second Time Around"

Here's Del Reeves

APeaked at No. 96 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 31 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada.

Music videos Year Video 1994 "Girl on the Billboard"

Personal life Reeves married Ellen Schiell in 1956 at the Stanislaus County Fair in California; they had three children. Reeves died of emphysema on January 1, 2007, at age 74, at his home in Centerville, Tennessee.