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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 176-200 of 503 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 11653 8/16/1961 Heart over mind Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11654 8/16/1961 Hello walls Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11655 8/16/1961 Wooden heart Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11656 8/16/1961 Am I that easy to forget Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11657 8/16/1961 Everybody's somebody's fool Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11658 8/16/1961 Slowly Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11677 8/25/1961 Moody river Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11678 8/25/1961 A fallen star Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11679 8/25/1961 What am I living for Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11680 8/25/1961 White Christmas Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11817 11/30/1961 Paul's ministry Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11818 11/30/1961 Do you expect a reward from God Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11962 3/21/1962 Will your lawyer talk to God Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11963 3/21/1962 We missed you Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11964 3/21/1962 The big let down Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11965 3/21/1962 Wicked world Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11966 3/22/1962 Singing on Sunday Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11967 3/22/1962 The footsteps of my Lord Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11968 3/22/1962 Wait a little longer, please Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11969 3/22/1962 I'll reap my harvest in heaven Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11970 3/23/1962 How can I believe in you Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11971 3/23/1962 Too far from God Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11972 3/23/1962 That glory bound train Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11973 3/23/1962 Sinner, kneel down and pray Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 11974 3/26/1962 The wings of a dove Kitty Wells vocalist  
(Results 176-200 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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