Porter Wagoner

Porter Wayne Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour.

In 1967 he introduced singer Dolly Parton on his television show, The Porter Wagoner Show. She became part of a well-known vocal duo with him from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.

Known as Mr. Grand Ole Opry, Wagoner charted 81 singles from 1954 to 1983. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

Biography Early life and career Wagoner was born in West Plains, Missouri, United States, His first band, the Blue Ridge Boys, performed on radio station KWPM-AM from a butcher shop in his native West Plains, where Wagoner cut meat. This led to a contract with RCA Victor. He also won three Grammy Awards for gospel recordings.

Television series Wagoner and Dolly Parton in 1971The shows usually featured opening performances by Wagoner with performances by Norma Jean, or later Dolly Parton, Each episode also featured a guest who would usually perform one or two songs. A spiritual or gospel performance was almost always featured toward the end of the show, generally performed by either Wagoner, Parton, or the show's guest star, or occasionally the entire cast. After Parton left the show, Porter began taping the show at Opryland USA in various locations around the park.

The shows had a friendly, informal feel, with Wagoner trading jokes with band members (frequently during songs) and exchanging banter with Dolly Parton and Don Howser. In 1974 Parton's song "I Will Always Love You", written about her professional break from Wagoner, went to number one on the country music chart.

Wagoner's stage alter ego was Skid Row Joe. The cast included: Singer Norma Jean (1960–1965) Singer Jeannie Seely (1965–1966) Singer Dolly Parton (1967–1974) Singer Barbara Lea (1974–1976) Singer Linda Carol Moore (1976–1978) Singer Mel Tillis (1968 regular) Comedian/stand-up bass Curly Harris (1960–mid 1960s) Announcer Don Howser

The Wagonmasters 1961 Don Warden on steel guitar "Little" Jack Little on fiddle Benny Williams on banjo and guitar (1961) Speck Rhodes Comedian/stand-up bass

Mid-1960s Buck Trent on banjo and guitar George McCormick on rhythm guitar Mack Magaha on fiddle Ray Downs on rhythm guitar and vocal Michael Treadwell on bass guitar Shannon Randolph Porter on lead guitar

After 1974 Bruce Osborn on lead guitar Fred Newell on banjo/guitar/mandolin Dave Kirby on guitar Stu Basore on steel guitar/dobro Bobby Dyson on bass Jerry Carrigan on drums Mack Magaha on fiddle Colene Walters on vocals/harmonica Mike Pearson on lead guitar

Later work

Wagoner brought James Brown to the Grand Ole Opry, produced a rhythm and blues album for Joe Simon, and appeared in the Clint Eastwood film Honkytonk Man. During the mid 1980s, Wagoner formed an all-girl group, the Right Combination, named after one of his hit records with Parton, and toured with them for several years.

Wagoner, a heavy smoker, died from lung cancer in Nashville on October 28, 2007, with his family and Dolly Parton at his side. His funeral was held November 1, 2007, at the Grand Ole Opry House. He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville.

Legacy Dolly Parton performed a concert at her theme park Dollywood in Wagoner's memory after his death.

Porter Wagoner Boulevard, a road in his native West Plains, Missouri, is named in his honor.

In 2013 the television show Drunk History presented a brief summary of Wagoner's relationship with Parton.

Dan Cooper at AllMusic noted, "As for his music, after signing with RCA in 1952 he produced a wealth of superb hard country, and just as much of the most wretchedly oversentimentalized tripe you'll ever want to hear. The latter, of course, is half the reason he's loved".

Discography

Studio albums

Satisfied Mind (1957) A Slice of Life: Songs Happy 'n' Sad (1962) Porter Wagoner and Skeeter Davis Sing Duets (1962) Y'all Come (1963) The Bluegrass Story (1964) The Thin Man from West Plains (1965) The Grand Ole Gospel (1966) Confessions of a Broken Man (1966) Soul of a Convict and More Great Prison Songs (1967) The Cold Hard Facts of Life (1967) More Grand Ole Gospel (1967) Just Between You and Me (1968) The Bottom of the Bottle (1968) Just the Two of Us (1968) In Gospel Country (1968) The Carroll County Accident (1969) Always, Always (1969) Me and My Boys (1969) You Got-ta Have a License (1970) Porter Wayne and Dolly Rebecca (1970) Once More (1970) Skid Row Joe Down in the Alley (1970) Two of a Kind (1971) Simple as I Am (1971) Porter Wagoner Sings His Own (1971) The Right Combination • Burning the Midnight Oil (1972) What Ain't to Be, Just Might Happen (1972) Ballads of Love (1972) Together Always (1972) Experience (1972) We Found It (1973) Love and Music (1973) I'll Keep on Lovin' You (1973) The Farmer (1973) Tore Down (1974) Porter 'n' Dolly (1974) Highway Headin' South (1974) Sing Some Love Songs, Porter Wagoner (1975) Say Forever You'll Be Mine (1975) Porter (1977) Today (1979) When I Sing for Him (1979) Porter & Dolly (1980) Porter Wagoner's Greatest (1981) Natural Wonder (1982) Viva (1983) Porter Wagoner (1986) The Best I've Ever Been (2000) Unplugged (2002) 22 Grand Ole Gospel 2004 (2003) Something to Brag About (2004) 18 Grand Ole Gospel 2005 (2005) Gospel 2006 (2006) The Versatile Porter Wagoner (2006) Wagonmaster (2007) Best of Grand Ole Gospel 2008 (2007)

Awards Year Award Awards Notes 1966 Best Sacred Recording (Musical) Grammy Awards with The Blackwood Brothers 1967 Best Gospel Performance Grammy Awards with The Blackwood Brothers 1968 Vocal Duet of the Year Music City News Awards with Dolly Parton Vocal Group of the Year CMA Awards with Dolly Parton 1969 Best Gospel Performance Grammy Awards with The Blackwood Brothers Vocal Duet of the Year Music City News Awards with Dolly Parton 1970 Vocal Duo of the Year CMA Awards with Dolly Parton Vocal Duet of the Year Music City News Awards with Dolly Parton 1971 Vocal Duo of the Year CMA Awards with Dolly Parton 1998 Living Legend TNN/Music City News Country Awards 2002 Inductee Country Music Hall of Fame 2007 WagonMaster Award Americana Music Association