Sharon Myers was born in Hazel, Kentucky and was singing songs on a local radio show by the age of six. When she was 11, Sharon hosted her own radio show. The family moved to Aurora, Illinois, before settling in Batavia, Illinois, where Sharon went to High School. She toured throughout the South and joined a band.
Sherry, as she was known then, appeared on local television in Batavia and continued to perform around the area. She left Batavia High School after her sophomore year to pursue a career in music.
Sharon recorded under several names, such as Sherry Lee, Jackie Dee and Jackie Shannon, without success. She signed a recording contract with Gone Records, who promoted her as a rockabilly artist. In 1957, she performed in New York City as part of Alan Freed's Big Rock 'n' Roll Show.
Eddie Cochran noticed her talent, and suggested she travel to California to work with his girlfriend, Sharon Sheeley. The songwriting partnership turned out the hit "Dum Dum" for Brenda Lee.
In 1960, Sharon adopted the name of Jackie Dee Shannon and signed with Liberty Records. Listeners heard it as DeShannon, and the name stuck. Jackie dated Elvis Presley and became friends with other stars such as the Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson. She starred with Bobby Vinton in the movie Surf Party.
But it wasn't until her 18th single that she even landed in the Top 100, and her 27th release that she found the Top 10. DeShannon got her big break in 1964 when she opened for the Beatles on their first U.S. tour. Jackie continued to write for artists such as the Byrds and Marianne Faithful and then formed a songwriting partnership with Jimmy Page.
Jackie switched to Atlantic Records in 1970 and recorded two acclaimed albums (Jackie and Your Baby is a Lady), but neither generated any commercial attention. She never hit the Top 10 again, but she did write what turned out to be one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.
In 1974, DeShanon wrote "Bette Davis Eyes" with Donna Weiss for Donna's album New Arrangement. Seven years later, Kim Carnes covered the song, turned it into a worldwide #1 smash and earned Weiss and DeShannon the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
In 2010, Jackie was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
DeShannon only had three Top 40 hits herself, but two were Top 10 smashes and have stood up very well to the test of time.
Sherry, as she was known then, appeared on local television in Batavia and continued to perform around the area. She left Batavia High School after her sophomore year to pursue a career in music.
Sharon recorded under several names, such as Sherry Lee, Jackie Dee and Jackie Shannon, without success. She signed a recording contract with Gone Records, who promoted her as a rockabilly artist. In 1957, she performed in New York City as part of Alan Freed's Big Rock 'n' Roll Show.
Eddie Cochran noticed her talent, and suggested she travel to California to work with his girlfriend, Sharon Sheeley. The songwriting partnership turned out the hit "Dum Dum" for Brenda Lee.
In 1960, Sharon adopted the name of Jackie Dee Shannon and signed with Liberty Records. Listeners heard it as DeShannon, and the name stuck. Jackie dated Elvis Presley and became friends with other stars such as the Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson. She starred with Bobby Vinton in the movie Surf Party.
But it wasn't until her 18th single that she even landed in the Top 100, and her 27th release that she found the Top 10. DeShannon got her big break in 1964 when she opened for the Beatles on their first U.S. tour. Jackie continued to write for artists such as the Byrds and Marianne Faithful and then formed a songwriting partnership with Jimmy Page.
In 1965, DeShannon released the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song "What The World Needs Now Is Love", which reached #1 in Canada and #7 in the United States.
DeShannon promoted the song with club tours and appearances on television shows such as Ready Steady Go! Jackie starred in the 1965 movie C'mon Let's Live a Little with Bobby Vee.
DeShannon continued to write and record, but it wasn't until 1969 that she enjoyed another big hit. Her self-written song "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" shot up to #4 and sold over one million copies. It became one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*.
Jackie switched to Atlantic Records in 1970 and recorded two acclaimed albums (Jackie and Your Baby is a Lady), but neither generated any commercial attention. She never hit the Top 10 again, but she did write what turned out to be one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.
In 1974, DeShanon wrote "Bette Davis Eyes" with Donna Weiss for Donna's album New Arrangement. Seven years later, Kim Carnes covered the song, turned it into a worldwide #1 smash and earned Weiss and DeShannon the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
In 2010, Jackie was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
DeShannon only had three Top 40 hits herself, but two were Top 10 smashes and have stood up very well to the test of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.