Skeeter Davis
b. Mary Frances Penick, 30 December 1931, Dry Ridge, Kentucky, USA, d. 19 September 2004, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Penick was raised on a farm and as a child knew that she wanted to be a country singer. She acquired the nickname of "Skeeter" (a local term for a mosquito) from her grandfather because she was always active and buzzing around like the insect. In her mid-teens, she formed a bluegrass duo with schoolfriend Betty Jack Davis (b. 3 March 1932, Corbin Kentucky, USA, d. 2 August 1953, USA) and together they began to sing in the Lexington area. In 1949, they appeared on local radio WLAX and later were featured on radio and television in Detroit, Cincinnati, and eventually on the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree in West Virginia. They first recorded for Fortune Records in 1952 but the following year they successfully auditioned for RCA Records and their recording of "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" quickly became a number 1 US country and number 18 US pop hit. On 2 August 1953, the duo's car was involved in a collision with another vehicle, resulting in the death of Betty Jack and leaving Davis critically injured.
Listen to Skeeter Davis
at Finetune.
Albums
- (2001) Skeeter Davis: RCA Country Legend
- (1995) The Essential Skeeter Davis
- (1985) She Sings, They Play
Top Tracks
- The End of the World
- I Can't Stay Mad At You
- Silver Threads and Golden Needles
- (I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too
- My Last Date (With You)
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