Musician. She helped paved the way for other women to work in the early field of Rock and Roll music. In 1953, she appeared at the Tobacco Festival with Ernest Tubb and was invited to become a regular of the Old Dominion Barndance Show, Virginia. By the mid-1950s she was performing her own songs at shows and became a recording artist for RCA Victor at age fifteen. In 1956 she recorded her biggest hit, "Drugstore Rock And Roll"; it sold 750,000 copies and made her much in demand for appearances all over the United States and Europe. Elvis Presley and RCA were so impressed with her that she was given permission to use the title, "The Female Elvis Presley". She appeared on "The Tonight Show", "American Bandstand", "Grand Old Opry", and "Ozark Jubilee", and was voted "Most Promising Female Artist of 1956" by Billboard Magazine. By the early 1960s her career was slowing down mostly because of her gender and changing tastes in popular music. She withdrew from music except for appearances in her home state and a tour of Europe with her band The Variations in the 1970s. She is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Musician. She helped paved the way for other women to work in the early field of Rock and Roll music. In 1953, she appeared at the Tobacco Festival with Ernest Tubb and was invited to become a regular of the Old Dominion Barndance Show, Virginia. By the mid-1950s she was performing her own songs at shows and became a recording artist for RCA Victor at age fifteen. In 1956 she recorded her biggest hit, "Drugstore Rock And Roll"; it sold 750,000 copies and made her much in demand for appearances all over the United States and Europe. Elvis Presley and RCA were so impressed with her that she was given permission to use the title, "The Female Elvis Presley". She appeared on "The Tonight Show", "American Bandstand", "Grand Old Opry", and "Ozark Jubilee", and was voted "Most Promising Female Artist of 1956" by Billboard Magazine. By the early 1960s her career was slowing down mostly because of her gender and changing tastes in popular music. She withdrew from music except for appearances in her home state and a tour of Europe with her band The Variations in the 1970s. She is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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