Join me at 11 a.m. on Sunday, January 25th for the Sunday Morning Country Classic Spotlight as we feature Skeeter Davis.

In my opinion Skeeter Davis never received much critical attention, occasionally skirting rock n' roll.

In the early 60's Skeeter followed Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee to become one of the first big selling female country crossover acts.  The sappy ballad The End of the World was a massive hit written by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee.

Skeeter recorded the song in December of 1962 and in March of 1963 it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the Billboard Single Chart, #1 on the easy listening chart and #4 on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart.  It's the first, and to date the only time, that a song cracked the Top Ten on all four Billboard charts.  Here is a sample of the lyrics to The End of the World:

Why does the sun go on shining? why does the sea rush to shore? Don't they know it's the end of the world, cause you don't love me anymore?

She went on to record several Top Ten hits including Set Him Free, I Can't Help You I'm FallingGonna Get Along Without You Now and many more.

Skeeter was married three times and one of them was country giant DJ at WSM Nashville, Tennessee Ralph Emery.  She lived in Brentwood, Tennessee from the early 1960's until her death.

In 2001 she became incapacitated by breast cancer.  She remained a member of the Grand Ole Opry until her death.  She died in Nashville, Tennessee at 72 on September 19, 2004.

Join me every Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for more country classics.  Remember, we always take your requests at 320-252-9897 or email dick@98country.com.

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