Hank Locklin

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Lawrence Hankins 'Hank' Locklin, 1918-2009, was an American country music singer-songwriter.

Locklin, a member of the Grand Ole Opry for nearly 50 years, had a long recording career with RCA Victor, and has had major hits with "Please Help Me, I'm Sinking," "Send Me the Pillow You Dream About," and "Geisha Girl" from 1957-1960.

His singles charted from 1949 to 1971. Locklin was one of country music's first honky tonk singers.

He first appeared on Royalty, a small label in northeast Texas, but soon moved to 4 Star Records, a regional country music label, before landing a long-term deal with RCA Victor.

He had 15 million worldwide, and his songs were released by many other artists, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Roy Rogers, Dwight Yoakam, and Dean Martin.

He appeared on the Grand Ole Opry regularly beginning in 1960 and his last appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 2007. Locklin had 70 chart singles, six of which were No. 67, including six that were on the top of the charts, with six of whom were No. Billboard's country chart is ranked 1st.

Locklin's biggest hits included "Send Me the Pillow You Dream About," "Geisha Girl," and his signature "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," which debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart.

Billboard's 100th anniversary issue ranked it as the second most profitable country single in the rock and roll period.

The RIAA awarded a gold disc for over a million copies and the RIAA awarded a gold disc.

"Fraulein" (1957), "Happy Journey" (1961), "Thank You" (1962), and "The Country Hall Of Fame" (1968) were among Locklin's hits.

Early life

Locklin was born and raised in McLellan, Florida. He was the youngest of four children born to a musically inclined family. Although he had a passion for music in his youth, he became more interested after an accident. He was struck by a school bus at the age of nine. "It's almost mashed me flatter than a fritter," he recalled. He learned to play the guitar during his recovery and continued to play music into his teenage years. He has also won numerous talent competitions and appeared at a radio station in Pensacola, Florida. Locklin dropped out of high school to pursue his music full time. However, working as a musician resulted in a modest income. In one instance, he recalled being paid two dollars for doing a job at a Florida roadhouse. He did odd jobs, including working on a farm and a shipyard, to make ends meet.

Locklin was refused from participating in World War II as a result of his childhood school bus accident (which also affected his leg). Rather, he kept performing. Locklin appeared in Alabama, including regular gigs with bands. He began composing his own songs, much influenced by Ernest Tubb's music. Jimmy Swan, a country singer, followed him and made regular concert appearances. Locklin formed the Rocky Mountain Playboys in 1947, and he later formed his own backing band. On radio stations, the group appeared on radio stations regularly. Elmer Laird, a businessman from Elmer Laird, was the sponsor of the group. To get Locklin's music recorded, Laird was planning to create his own record label. However, he was killed in a stabbing attack right after his plan was announced. Locklin's relationship with producer Pappy Daily aided him in signing with Four Star Records.

Personal life and death

Locklin was married twice before being chuffed. Willa Jean Murphy's first marriage began in 1938 but ended in divorce. In 1970, he married Anita Crooks of Brewton, Alabama. He had two sons and four daughters, 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a few close relatives and nephews. Hank Adam Locklin, a producer and singer, is one of his children. Locklin's son helped with his work and spawned some of his later successes. Locklin designed "The Singing L" in the 1960s, locating in McClellan, where he had picked cotton as a child. He was later named town honorary mayor of the area.

Locklin never lived in Nashville, Tennessee, despite being involved in country music. Rather, he remained on the Gulf Coast of the United States. In the early morning on March 8, 2009, he moved to Brewton, where he lived through his later years, and died there at home. He is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, which is located in Jay, Florida. Sandy Wyatt, a longtime friend, said, "Not only was (Hank) a brilliant artist, he was the nicest guy you'll ever meet."

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Career

Locklin obtained his Pappy Daily employment through his relationship with Four Star Records. Bill McCall of Four Star, where he first signed his first recording deal in 1949, brought him to his attention. Locklin appeared in 1949 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was also a member of the Louisiana Hayride. With a self-penned single titled "The Same Sweet Girl," he achieved his first big success in 1949. The song debuted at number ten on the Billboard country singles chart, peaking at number eight. Despite being hit, Locklin did not get much royalties from the company's success. McCall's recording deal enabled him to obtain all of the publishing rights, but McCall still earned all of the money from the event's success. "I never made no money with him." From what I heard, he loved to go to Vegas. Bill was just a guy who liked to take everything," Locklin said in 2001.

Locklin's follow-up singles were not well-received, causing more financial difficulties. "Send Me the Pillow You Dream About" was also recorded on his first album, "Send Me the Pillow You Dream About." Locklin did recall the song receiving a warm reception after it was on a radio show that it wasn't a hit. By this time, McCall had arranged for Locklin's work to be leased to Decca Records, which was headed by Owen Bradley. "Let Me Be the One" was his second major hit in 1953 with this new partnership. The single was the first to reach the top of the Billboard country charts. A total of three weeks on the country chart summit was spent on "Let Me Be the One." The Four Star Wars' sequels were ineffective. In addition, Locklin was still receiving no royalties from his brand's success. McCall began writing songs under his wife's name in order to not claim them as his own. The pencil name "Willa" was written on a cut that read "These Ruins Belong to You." He left Four Star Records after an altercation with McCall.

Locklin converted to the larger RCA Records in 1955. Locklin created a more straightforward musical style while working with producer Chet Atkins. His albums featured a lot of acoustic guitar and piano. These styles were further developed by The Nashville A-Team, a group of studio musicians that included Floyd Cramer and several others. He had his first encounter with RCA in 1956, entitled "Why Baby Why." The single debuted in the top ten of Billboard's Most Played By Folk Jockeys chart, his first major hit in three years. "Geisha Girl" was the first female to follow it in 1957. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard country chart, but it was also his first to reach the pop chart, rising to number 66. The hit was included on his debut studio album, Foreign Love. The album, which is targeted at overseas servicemen, will be one of several concept albums that Locklin would have released during his career. Locklin had two more major hits in 1958, "It's a Little More Like Heaven" and a version of "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On."

Locklin's singles over the next two years will be unsuccessful. He was alerted by Hal Blair and Don Robertson's song in 1960. Both writers had the desire to write a "cheating song" that revolved around a man's conscience. To write the poem, Blair used real life elements from his own marital struggles. "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" was their finished product. The song was first offered to Jim Reeves, but it was turned down. Locklin considered it to be a hit and decided against it being cut in the studio. "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," a 1960 single, debuted as a single on the Billboard country songs chart in May. It spent a total of 14 weeks at the top of the country charts before slowing down. Locklin's greatest hit on the Billboard pop chart in August 1960, reaching the top ten position. The song in the United Kingdom ranked in the top ten of the national charts as well. "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" became Locklin's best seller and highest-selling to date. The group's success led to an invitation to the Grand Ole Opry, which he accepted in 1960. He was with the program for 49 years.

Locklin did not make it to the top of the country charts again, but RCA Victor also had commercial success. "One Step Ahead of My Past," "From Here to You," and "You're the Reason," he had three top 20 hits in 1961. On the Billboard country songs chart, the single "Happy Birthday to Me" (written by Bill Anderson) reached number seven in November 1961. In February 1962, "Happy Journey" was followed by "Happy Journey," which ranked ten on the country singles list. In 1962, an album of the same name appeared on top 20 songs, "We're Gonna Go Fishin" was also included in the top 20 singles. The song has also become a big hit in the United Kingdom. "Followed Closely by My Teardrops," Robert Frost's 1964 hit "Followed Closely by My Teardrops," would be his last big hit for many years.

Locklin began recording concept albums in the 1960s. This was the start of a tribute to Roy Acuff: The King of Country Music. It featured "Wabash Cannonball" and "Once More," two of Acuff's best-known songs. Billboard magazine praised the album in 1962. Writers expressed their delight at Locklin's decision to perform Acuff's songs in their own style rather than copy. Allmusic rated the album three out of five stars in later years. Locklin recorded 1963's Irish Songs, Country Style, in Ireland, with an increasing fan base. He released an album of Hank Williams songs in the following year. Locklin is "a good yodeler [who] seems to fail a little," Allmusic's Greg Adams only gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars, according to Allmusic's Greg Adams, who rated it 2.5 out of 5 stars. In comparison, My Kind of Country Music, 1965, did well with analysts. Thom Owens, a reviewer, praised his "gift for tear-jerking ballads and pure traditional country" at the time. The Girls Get Prettier, Locklin's 1966 studio album, will be his first to chart the Billboard Top Country Albums list, debuting at number 26.

Locklin's first top ten hit in many years, "The Country Hall of Fame," in 1968. Its corresponding studio campaign of the same name was also fruitful, ranking 20th on the country albums chart. In their review, Allmusic gave it a warm reception, calling it "one of his best albums of the late 1960s." Locklin's radio success in the United States fell following its debut on the American country charts. "Where the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day," Robert's last top-40 single on the Billboard country music poll. He began touring and performing in Europe, where he became more popular. He was one of Europe's first artists to appear at military bases and clubs. In the early 1970s, he toured with producer Chet Atkins in Japan. Locklin was with RCA Victor until 1974. Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass in 1970 produced a collaborative record, which was one of the highlights in his remaining RCA years. It featured re-recordings of some of his most popular hits. The Mayor of McLellan, Florida, 1972, was his last album for the brand.

Locklin debuted on RCA Victor Records, and he went on to various other companies, beginning with MGM Records. His self-titled studio album was released on the label in 1975 and featured a set of ten songs. Mel Tillis, a fellow country musician, made the album. Three singles were born from the album but they were unable to become commercially successful. He then went to Plantation Records in 1977, where he set the studio record, "There Never Was a Time." Shelby Singleton produced it and also included ten tracks of new songs. Four singles were born from the album, but they were also unprofitable. During this time, he also turned his attention to other opportunities. Locklin held a handful of television shows in Dallas and Houston's Texas cities in the 1970s. He also performed in Ireland, especially in Ireland. He also performed on the Grand Ole Opry as a regular performer. He was appointed the honorary mayor of McLellan, Florida, during this time. After being named by radio and television host Ralph Emery as the "Mayor of McLellan" he was regarded, the award was given to him.

Following the 1970s, Locklin's career began to slowed. His father, Henry Locklin, was compelled to return to the recording studio in the early 2000s. Generations in Song, Locklin's first album in decades, was released in 2001. The project was developed by his son and included session instrumentation of some of the original Nashville A-Team. It also included collaborations with Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, and many others. Following its introduction, writers and commentators raved about the album. "His voice sounds younger than it has the right to," Allmusic's Bruce Eder said, "His voice sounds at least three decades fresher than it should," Locklin's voice said, and the arrangements make this more than an exercise in nostalgia." No Depression returned the album a warm reception by demanding that its production be carried out in "clean settings" that enable his "clear voice to shine through." Country Standard Time's Ken Burke gave the album a favorable review. "The Florida-born tenor could not only point out of dire poverty but also created a musical legacy that he would share with his family," Burke said.

Locklin's last album, By the Grace of God: The Gospel Album, was released in 2006. The album was a collection of gospel songs starring collaborations with The Oak Ridge Boys and The Jordanaires. On Yell Records, the record was released. Larry Stephens of Country Standard Time, who praised Locklin's youthful voice and songwriting efforts, praised it warmly. Locklin appeared on PBS' Country Pop Legends in 2006, where he performed "Please Help Me" and "I'm Falling" and "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream About." Locklin's last years of appearances at the Grand Ole Opry continued to perform. He made his last appearance at the venue in September 2007.

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