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Kitty Wells

Ellen Muriel Deason (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012), known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a barrier for women in country music with her 1952 hit recording "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", which also made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts and turned her into the first female country superstar. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” would also be her first of several pop crossover hits. Wells is the only artist to be awarded top female vocalist awards for 14 consecutive years. Her chart-topping hits continued until the mid-1960s, paving the way for and inspiring a long list of female country singers who came to prominence in the 1960s.

Wells ranks as the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of the Billboard country charts, according to historian Joel Whitburn's book The Top 40 Country Hits. In 1976, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1991, Wells became the third country music artist, after Roy Acuff and Hank Williams, and the eighth woman to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Wells' success and influence on country music garnered her the title "Queen of Country Music".

Birth and Death Data: Born August 30, 1919 (Nashville), Died July 16, 2012 (Nashville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1972

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 503 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 10923 12/7/1959 My happiness Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 10924 12/7/1959 When the moon comes over the mountain Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 10925 12/8/1959 Bonaparte's retreat Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 10926 12/8/1959 Jealous heart Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 10927 12/8/1959 Seven lonely days Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 10928 12/8/1959 Beautiful brown eyes Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11124 5/5/1960 Leave all the heartache to me Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11125 5/5/1960 If I had the night to do your work Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11126 5/5/1960 Carmel by the sea Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11127 5/5/1960 Fickle fun Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11128 5/5/1960 Bring the pieces back to me Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11129 5/5/1960 The only one I ever loved Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11130 5/7/1960 Triangle Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11131 5/7/1960 I'll be all smiles tonight Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11132 5/7/1960 I hope I can do as much for you Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11133 5/7/1960 The man I used to know Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11134 5/9/1960 Send me the pillow you dream Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11135 5/9/1960 Most of all Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11136 5/9/1960 The ring (that should have been) Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11137 5/9/1960 [Unknown title(s)] Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11188 7/13/1960 Seasons of my heart Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11189 7/13/1960 Heartbreak U.S.A. Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11190 7/13/1960 There must be another way to live Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11191 7/13/1960 The other cheek Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11216 8/10/1960 Another chance to fall in love Roy Drusky ; Kitty Wells vocalist  
(Results 126-150 of 503 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wells, Kitty," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/350416.

Wells, Kitty. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/350416.

"Wells, Kitty." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/350416

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