Rattlesnake Annie

Rattlesnake Annie (born Rosan Gallimore, December 26, 1941) is an American country singer and songwriter. She earned her nickname as a child from her respect of snakes. Rattlesnake began recording music in 1959 and achieved success in Europe. She became the first female country blues musician to tour the Eastern Bloc countries in Europe and released an album with a country singer Michal Tučný from Czechoslovakia. In 1989, she became the first American country performer to sign a recording contract with Sony Music Japan.

Early years She was born and raised near Puryear, Tennessee, United States, on a cotton and tobacco farm.

Rattlesnake's father had been a country and blues musician, singer, guitar and fiddle and she learned to play guitar at an early age. At the time, it was also rare for a woman to produce her own songs. Rattlesnake reminisced of those early days: "I was breaking down barriers. If I could work like a man in the fields, why couldn't I play a guitar and produce my own records?"

Personal life In the early 1960s she moved to Texas, where she met and married Max McGowan.

Music Rattlesnake has recorded music and performed live on every continent except Oceania In her career, she has recorded in over ten languages, including Czech, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Maya, German, Chinese, Arabic and English. Many of her songs contain a political message. She says that "Songs are so important to make a statement on issues, and that's how I have used my music. Life is just full of objections, especially when you are a woman." In this vein, she has recorded songs for the Civil Rights Movement, for women's rights, and against the Vietnam War.

Albums Rattlesnakes and Rusty Water (1980) Anka Chřestýš & Poslední Kovboj (with Michal Tučný; 1983, Supraphon, Czechoslovakia) Country Livin' (1985) Rattlesnake Annie (1987) Indian Dreams (1989) Rattlesnake Annie Sings Hank Williams (1990) Painted Bird (1992) Crossroads (1992) Adios Last Cowboy (1995, by Sony Czech Republic) Troubadour (1995) Some Stories Never End (1997) Jak to doopravdy bylo (2001, with Michal Tučný, recorded live in 1982) Southern Discomfort (2002) I Ride Alone (2002) Rattlesnake Annie Sings Willie Nelson (2004) The Best of Rattlesnake Annie (2006) International Fusion Project (2009) featuring Caroline Perry World Full of Love (2012)

Charts discography Albums Year Album US Country Label 1987 Rattlesnake Annie 49 Columbia

Singles Year Single Chart Positions Album US Country CAN Country 1987 "Callin' Your Bluff" 79 51 Rattlesnake Annie 1988 "Somewhere South of Macon" 79 —

Footnotes