John Conlee

John Wayne Conlee (born August 11, 1946) is an American country music singer.

Between 1978 and 2004, Conlee charted a total of 32 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and recorded 11 studio albums. His singles include seven number-one hits: "Lady Lay Down", "Backside of Thirty", "Common Man", "I'm Only in It for the Love", "In My Eyes", "As Long as I'm Rockin' with You", and "Got My Heart Set on You". In addition to these, Conlee had 14 other songs reach the top 10.

Conlee has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1981.

Early life Conlee was born on a tobacco farm in Versailles, Kentucky. By age 10, Conlee had begun singing and playing guitar, and later sang tenor in a barbershop quartet.

Conlee did not immediately take up a musical career, instead becoming a licensed mortician, and at WLAC in Nashville.

Music career

In pursuit of a music career, Conlee moved to Nashville, Tennessee, by 1971. He signed to ABC Records in 1976.

Conlee's 1982 album Busted led off with a cover of the Harlan Howard song of the same name. The album's last single, "Common Man", returned him to the top of the charts in 1983.

Blue Highway in 1984, his last studio album for MCA, produced another number two with "Years After You". A year later, a second Greatest Hits album produced his last MCA single with the number-five "Old School", before he moved to Columbia Records. Conlee's first Columbia release, Harmony, gave him his last number-one hit with "Got My Heart Set on You" in 1986. A second and final album for Columbia, American Faces, reached the top 10 for the last time with "Domestic Life". This was followed by "Mama's Rockin' Chair" at number 11 (his last top-40 hit). From there, Conlee moved to 16th Avenue Records, releasing Fellow Travelers in 1989.

Discography

Studio albums Rose Colored Glasses (1978) Forever (1979) Friday Night Blues (1980) With Love (1981) Busted (1982) In My Eyes (1983) Blue Highway (1984) Harmony (1986) American Faces (1987) Fellow Travelers (1989) Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (2004)

Awards and nominations Academy of Country Music Awards 1979 John Conlee Top New Male Vocalist Country Music Association Awards

Rose Colored Glasses Album of the Year

1980