Stoney Edwards | |
---|---|
Birth name | Frenchie Edwards |
Born | December 24, 1929 |
Origin | Seminole County, Oklahoma |
Died | April 5, 1997 67) | (aged
Genres | Country |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1970–1992 |
Labels | Capitol Music America |
Stoney Edwards was an American country singer. He was one of the first African-American singers to have a significant presence in country music. He is best known for the song, "She's My Rock," a Top 20 country hit that was later a hit song for Brenda Lee and then for George Jones.
Born Frenchie (or Frenchy) Edwards on December 24, 1929 [1] [2] He was one of the youngest of seven children born to Rescue Edwards (known as "Bub"), a farmer from North Carolina and his wife, Ollie (known as "Red"). [2] [3]
From an early age, Edwards dreamed of performing at the Grand Ole Opry. After moving to the San Francisco area and raising a family there, Edwards would play music in his spare time. However, in 1968, a job-related accident would change his life forever. While working as a forklift operator in a steel refinery, Edwards got trapped in a sealed-up tank and suffered severe carbon dioxide poisoning. He was sidelined for the next two years in either a coma, a near-coma, or in a state bordering on insanity. [2]
As his condition improved, Edwards found work in odd jobs while at the same time devoting more of his energy to music. He sang in a honky tonk style reminiscent of Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard. [4] In 1970, while performing at a benefit for his hero, Bob Wills in Oakland, California, Stoney was spotted by a local attorney, Ray Sweeney. In the wake of Charley Pride's breakthrough success, the attorney knew that most labels were looking for a black country singer. Just six months after recovering from his accident, Edwards signed a contract with Capitol Records. [2] [5] [6]
Backed by a then little-known Wills tribute band called Asleep at the Wheel, Edwards entered the studio to record some songs. "A Two Dollar Toy," his first single at Capitol, was inspired by an incident in which his plans to leave his family were aborted by the sound of a child's toy. Having refused to sue the steel company, Edwards would also not allow his wife to accept welfare. Unable to support his family due to his disability, Edwards planned to sneak out of the house so that there would be one less mouth to feed. However, as he was leaving, he stepped on a toy, waking his daughter, Janice. [2] [7] [5]
Edwards released five albums at Capitol which included two singles to make the Top 20. While his chart success never reached the heights of Charley Pride, Edwards had a devoted following. One of his biggest hits, "She's My Rock," which peaked at No. 20 in 1973, was a No. 6 single for Brenda Lee in 1975 (as "He's My Rock") and a No. 2 hit for George Jones in 1984. [5] On at least one occasion, Jones invited Edwards on stage to sing it.
Another one of his popular songs was "Hank and Lefty Raised My Country Soul," a tribute to Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell. It hit the Top 40 in 1973.
In 1976, one of his last chart singles created the most controversy. Many stations would not play, "Blackbird (Hold Your Head High)" because it contained the line "just a couple of country niggers" despite the song's affirmative message. [2] [4]
By the early 1980s, both his health and his career began to decline. He died on April 5, 1997, of stomach cancer. [1] [2] [5] [6]
Year | Album | US Country | Catalogue # |
---|---|---|---|
1971 | Stoney Edwards, A Country Singer | 36 | Capitol ST-741 |
Down Home in the Country | — | Capitol ST-834 | |
1972 | Stoney Edwards | — | Capitol ST-11090 |
1973 | She's My Rock | — | Capitol ST-11173 |
1975 | Mississippi, You're on My Mind | 46 | Capitol ST-11401 |
1976 | Blackbird | 36 | Capitol ST-11499 |
1981 | No Way to Drown a Memory | — | Music America 10021 |
1991 | Just For Old Time's Sake | — | RBR 1000 |
1998 | The Best of Stoney Edwards: Poor Folks Stick Together | — | Razor & Tie RE-8 |
Year | A-Side | B-Side | Chart Positions | Catalogue # | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country | CAN Country | ||||
1970 | "A Two Dollar Toy" | "An Old Mule's Hip" | 68 | — | Capitol 3005 |
1971 | "Poor Folks Stick Together" | "Mama's Love" | 61 | — | Capitol 3061 |
"The Cute Little Waitress" | "Please Bring a Bottle" | 73 | — | Capitol 3131 | |
"Odd-Job Dollar Bill Man" | "Fishin' Song" | — | — | Capitol 3191 | |
1972 | "Daddy Did His Best" | "I Bought the Shoes" | — | — | Capitol 3270 |
"All She Made of Me" | "You Can't Call Yourself Country" | — | — | Capitol 3347 | |
"She's My Rock" | "I Won't Make It Through the Day" | 20 | 43 | Capitol 3462 | |
1973 | "You're a Believer" | "She's Helping Me Get Over You" | 54 | — | Capitol 3550 |
"Hank and Lefty Raised My Country Soul" | "A Few of the Reasons" | 39 | 54 | Capitol 3671 | |
"Daddy Bluegrass" | "It's Raining on My Sunny Day" | 85 | — | Capitol 3766 | |
1974 | "I Will Never Get Over You" | "Honey (Stoney's Yodel Blues)" | — | — | Capitol 3878 |
"Our Garden of Love" | "Talk About a Woman" | — | — | Capitol 3949 | |
1975 | "Clean Your Own Tables" | "Do You Know the Man" | 77 | — | Capitol 4015 |
"Mississippi You're On My Mind" | "A Two Dollar Toy" | 20 | 17 | Capitol 4051 | |
"Moon Over Morocca" | "Partners on the Road" | — | — | Capitol 4124 | |
"Blackbird (Hold Your Head High)" | "Picking Wildflowers" | 41 | 35 | Capitol 4188 | |
1976 | "Love Still Makes the World Go Round" | "Real Thing" | 51 | — | Capitol 4246 |
"Don't Give Up on Me" | "July 12, 1939" | 90 | — | Capitol 4337 | |
1977 | "Yankee Lady" | "Picking Wildflowers" | — | — | Capitol 4433 |
1978 | "If I Had to Do It All Over Again" | "I Feel Chained" | 60 | — | JMI 47 |
1979 | "My Oklahoma" | "Someone Like You" | — | — | JMI 49 |
1980 | "Lean On Me" | "Too Much of Too Little" | — | — | Music America MA-105 |
"No Way to Drown a Memory" | "Reverend Leroy" | 53 | — | Music America MA-107 | |
"One Bar at a Time" | "Stranger in My Arms" | 85 | — | Music America MA-109 | |
1982 | "All-Around Cowboy" | "Reverend Leroy" | — | — | Power 1 |
"Our Little Christmas Tree" | "Silent Night" | — | — | Hill Country 901 |
Merle Ronald Haggard was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler.
A honky-tonk is both a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons and the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano used to play such music. Bars of this kind are common in the South and Southwest United States. Many prominent country music artists such as Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Tubb, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Horton and Merle Haggard began their careers as amateur musicians in honky-tonks.
Frederick Segrest, known professionally as Freddie Hart, was an American country musician and songwriter best known for his chart-topping country song and lone pop hit "Easy Loving," which won the Country Music Association Song of the Year award in 1971 and 1972.
William Orville "Lefty" Frizzell was an American country and honky-tonk singer-songwriter.
"Long Black Veil" is a 1959 country ballad, written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin and originally recorded by Lefty Frizzell.
Aubrey Wilson Mullican, known professionally as Moon Mullican and nicknamed "King of the Hillbilly Piano Players", was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and pianist. He was associated with the hillbilly boogie style which influenced rockabilly. Jerry Lee Lewis cited him as a major influence on his own singing and piano playing.
Donald Hugh Helms was a steel guitarist best known as the steel guitar player of Hank Williams's Drifting Cowboys group. He was a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (1984).
Stone Poneys were a folk rock trio formed in Los Angeles, consisting of Linda Ronstadt on vocals, Bobby Kimmel on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Kenny Edwards on lead guitar. Their recordings include Ronstadt's first hit song, a cover of Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum". The group featured Ronstadt showcasing an eclectic mix of songs, often from under-appreciated songwriters, requiring a wide array of backing musicians.
Nole Floyd "Nokie" Edwards was an American musician and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was primarily a guitarist, best known for his work with The Ventures, and was known in Japan as the 'King of Guitars'. Edwards was also an actor, who appeared briefly on Deadwood, an American Western drama television series.
Country USA was a 23-volume series issued by Time-Life Music during the late 1980s and early 1990s, spotlighting country music of the 1950s through early 1970s.
David Frizzell is an American country music singer. He is the younger brother of country musician, Lefty Frizzell. His career started in the late 1950s, but his biggest success came in the 1980s.
Hillbilly Deluxe is the second studio album by American country music singer-songwriter, Dwight Yoakam. Released in 1987, it was Yoakam's second consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Four tracks were released as singles with each becoming Top 10 hits on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Country & Western Music is an album by American country music artist George Jones released in 1965 on the Musicor Records label.
Sanger D. Shafer, better known as Whitey Shafer, was an American country songwriter and musician. He wrote numerous hits for stars such as George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, and George Strait. He was also a recording artist. His highest single "You Are a Liar", under the name Whitey Shafer, reached No. 48 on the Billboard country chart, in 1981.
"Always Late (with Your Kisses)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Lefty Frizzell. It was the fifth single released from his 1951/1952 album Listen to Lefty. It peaked at number one in 1951 and became his fourth release to hit the top.
A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today is a studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard and the Strangers, released in 1977. Even though Haggard had moved to the MCA label, Capitol created this release from tracks previously recorded in 1975 and 1976.
Arthur Leo "Doodle" Owens was an American country music songwriter and singer. He had a long songwriting partnership with Dallas Frazier, with whom he wrote "All I Have to Offer You " (1969), "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again" (1969), "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me" (1970) and "Then Who Am I" (1974), all number-one country hits for Charley Pride. In the 1980s, Owens wrote many songs with fellow songwriter Dennis Knutson for George Jones and other artists.
Jerry Crutchfield was an American country and pop record producer, songwriter, and musician. He was a publishing and record label executive. He recorded for RCA Victor Records with vocal group The Country Gentlemen, later known as The Escorts. He received multiple Country Music Association's (CMA) "Song of the Year" award nominations for his work as producer, winning the award twice as well as having been a co-producer of a CMA Album of the Year. He was also nominated for the Dove Award for three Gospel/Christian albums, having won the award for Traditional Gospel Record of the Year by The Hemphills. Crutchfield has served as a member of the national board of trustees for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), along with the board of directors of the Nashville chapter of NARAS, the Country Music Association, and the Gospel Music Association.
Blue & Lonesome is a compilation album by American country music artist George Jones released in 1964 on the Mercury Records label.
Hank Wilson Vol. II is an album by singer and songwriter Leon Russell singing as Hank Wilson. The album was recorded in 1981 at Russell's Paradise Studios in Burbank, California. The album was produced by Russell.