Red Sovine facts for kids

Woodrow Wilson "Red" Sovine (born July 7, 1917 – died April 4, 1980) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He was best known for his songs about truck drivers. Many of these songs were like stories told with music, rather than just sung. His most famous songs were "Giddyup Go" (1965) and "Teddy Bear" (1976). Both of these songs became number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

About Red Sovine

Red Sovine was born in 1917 in Charleston, West Virginia. He got the nickname "Red" because of his reddish-brown hair. He had two brothers and two sisters. His mother taught him how to play the guitar.

Red started his music journey with his friend Johnnie Bailes. They performed as "Smiley and Red, the Singing Sailors." They were part of a country music show called Jim Pike's Carolina Tar Heels on a radio station called WWVA-AM. When their success was limited, Johnnie Bailes left to join The Bailes Brothers. Red got married and kept singing on the radio in Charleston. He also worked as a supervisor in a hosiery factory. With encouragement from Bailes, Red formed his own band called The Echo Valley Boys.

Red's Music Career

After performing in West Virginia for a year, Red Sovine moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. There, The Bailes Brothers were performing on a radio station called KWKH. Red's own early morning show was not very popular at first. However, he became more well-known by performing on the famous KWKH radio show, Louisiana Hayride.

One of his fellow performers on Louisiana Hayride was Hank Williams. Hank helped Red get a better time slot at a radio station in Montgomery, Alabama. He also helped Red get a contract with MGM Records in 1949. That same year, Red took Hank Williams' place on Louisiana Hayride when Hank moved to the Grand Ole Opry.

Big Hits and New Friends

Another country music star from Louisiana Hayride who helped Red was Webb Pierce. Webb convinced Red to lead his band, the Wondering Boys. He also helped Red get a contract with Decca in 1954. The next year, Red sang a duet with Goldie Hill called "Are You Mine?" This song became a Top 15 hit. In 1956, he had his first number one hit when he sang a duet with Webb Pierce. It was a cover of George Jones' song "Why Baby Why". Red had two more Top Five songs that year. He also became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, which is a very famous country music show.

After recording many songs with Decca, Red signed with Starday Records in 1959. He started touring and performing by himself. That same year, Red was in a serious car accident where two of his band members sadly passed away.

The 1960s and Helping Others

In 1961, a song Red Sovine co-wrote in 1955 became a big hit on the pop music charts. The song was a ballad called "Missing You". It was recorded by Ray Peterson. "Missing You" reached number 29 on the Billboard "Top 100" chart.

In 1963, Red Sovine helped a younger singer, just like others had helped him. He heard minor league baseball player Charley Pride sing and suggested he move to Nashville, Tennessee. Red opened doors for Charley Pride at Webb Pierce's music publishing company. Red's own career had slowed down a bit. His song "Dream House For Sale" reached number 22 in 1964, which was almost eight years after his last big hit.

Famous Truck-Driving Songs

In 1965, Red Sovine found his special style of music when he recorded "Giddyup Go". Like most of his other truck driver hits, he wrote this song with Tommy Hill. This song is spoken like a story, not sung. It's about an older long-distance truck driver who finds his son, who he hasn't seen in a long time, driving another truck on the same highway. This song was a number one hit for six weeks!

Other popular truck-driving country songs followed, including:

• "Phantom 309": This song tells the story of a hitchhiker who gets a ride from a truck driver. But it turns out the driver is the ghost of a man who died years ago. He gave his life to save a school bus full of children from a terrible crash with his truck.
• "Teddy Bear": This is the story of a boy who uses a wheelchair. He lost his truck driver father in a highway accident. The boy keeps his CB radio as his only friend. He talks to truck drivers on it.
• "Little Joe": This song is about a truck driver and his loyal dog friend. It was Red's last hit song. In this story, the "Teddy Bear" character from the earlier song can now walk.

Red's Later Life and Passing

Red Sovine was married to Norma Searls. She passed away on June 4, 1976.

On April 4, 1980, Red Sovine had a heart attack while driving in Nashville. He died shortly after arriving at the hospital.