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Hank Locklin
Lawrence Hankins Locklin (February 15, 1918 – March 8, 2009) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He had 70 chart singles, including two number-one hits on Billboard's country chart. His biggest hits included "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" and his signature "Please Help Me, I'm Falling". The latter also went to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard's 100th anniversary issue listed it as the second-most successful country single of the rock and roll era. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Locklin was born and raised in Florida. He developed a fondness for country music following an accident in his childhood. He learned to play the guitar during his recovery and began performing locally, as well. In his early adulthood, he formed his own band called the Rocky Mountain Playboys, which played gigs and performed on local radio. Locklin was heard singing during one of these gigs, which led to his first recording contract in 1949. He had his first major hit on the Billboard country chart the same year. His 1953 single "Let Me Be the One" was his first to top the country chart.
In 1955, Locklin signed with RCA Victor Records and under the production of Chet Atkins, he had his biggest success as a country artist. He had a string of major hits during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry and remained a member for nearly 50 years. He became a major concert attraction internationally, as well, touring overseas in Europe beginning in the 1960s and '70s. Locklin also recorded a handful of concept albums during this period, which made him among the genre's first artists to release albums centered around a theme. He later recorded for other labels, including MGM, Plantation, and Coldwater. Despite his country success, Locklin never lived in Nashville, choosing to stay in Florida. Locklin died in 2009 at the age of 91.
Locklin was born and raised in McLellan, Florida. He was the youngest of four children born to a musically inclined family. Although he had a fondness for music in his early years, he became more interested following an accident. At age 9, he was hit by a school bus. "It almost mashed me flatter than a fritter," he recalled. He learned to play the guitar during his recovery and continued pursuing music through his teenaged years. He also won several talent contests and performed at a radio station in Pensacola, Florida. To pursue his music full-time, Locklin dropped out of high school. However, working as a musician amounted to a small income. In one instance, he recalled being paid $2 for working a gig at a Florida roadhouse. To make ends meet, he worked odd jobs, including working on a farm and a shipyard.
During the early 1940s, Locklin was dismissed from participating in World War II due to the bus accident in his childhood (which still affected his leg). Instead, he continued performing. Locklin performed in nearby states, including regular gigs with bands in Mobile, Alabama. He also began composing his own material, largely influenced by the music of Ernest Tubb. He then joined the band of country musician Jimmy Swan and made regular concert appearances. Locklin formed his own backing band in 1947 named the Rocky Mountain Playboys. The group performed regularly on radio stations. Their sponsor was businessman Elmer Laird, who intended to form a record label to get Locklin's music recorded. He was killed in a stabbing incident, though, shortly after his proposal. Instead, Locklin's association with producer Pappy Daily helped him sign with 4 Star Records.
Locklin secured a contract with 4 Star Records through his association with Pappy Daily. Daily brought him to the attention of Bill McCall of 4 Star, where he signed his first recording contract in 1949. Also in 1949, Locklin joined the cast of the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana. He had his first major hit in 1949 with a self-penned single titled "The Same Sweet Girl". The song reached the top 10 of the Billboard country singles chart, peaking at number eight. Despite having a hit, Locklin did not see many royalties from its success. Because his recording contract allowed for McCall to gain all of the publishing rights, McCall also made all the money from its success. "I never made no money with him. My understanding was that he liked to go to Vegas. I guess Bill was just a guy who liked to take everything," Locklin recalled in 2001.
Locklin's follow-up singles did not become hits, which caused further financial difficulties. He even recorded the original version of his future hit "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On". Although it was not a hit, Locklin did recall the song getting a warm reception after he performed it live on a radio show. By this time, McCall had arranged for Locklin's material to be leased to Decca Records, which was headed by Owen Bradley. With this partnership, he had his second major hit in 1953 titled "Let Me Be the One". The single became his first to reach the number-one position on the Billboard country chart. "Let Me Be the One" spent a total of three weeks at the country chart summit. His follow-up 4 Star releases were unsuccessful. Furthermore, Locklin still was receiving little royalties from his success with the label. For McCall to not claim them as his own, he started composing songs under his wife's name. Cuts such as "These Ruins Belong to You" were written under the pen name Willa. After an argument with McCall, he left 4 Star Records.
In 1955, Locklin switched to the larger RCA Records. Collaborating with producer Chet Atkins, Locklin developed a simpler musical style. His recordings often included heavy acoustic guitar and piano production. These styles were individualized by that of the Nashville A-Team, a group of studio musicians who included Floyd Cramer and several others. In 1956, he had his first hit with RCA titled "Why Baby Why". The single reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country and Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys chart, becoming his first major hit in three years. It was followed in 1957 by "Geisha Girl". The song reached number five on the Billboard country chart, and was his first to reach the pop chart, climbing to number 66. The hit was included on his debut studio album Foreign Love. Marketed toward overseas servicemen, the record was one of several concept albums released by Locklin during his career. In 1958, Locklin had major hits with "It's a Little More Like Heaven" and a remake of "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On".
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Hank Locklin
Lawrence Hankins Locklin (February 15, 1918 – March 8, 2009) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He had 70 chart singles, including two number-one hits on Billboard's country chart. His biggest hits included "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" and his signature "Please Help Me, I'm Falling". The latter also went to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard's 100th anniversary issue listed it as the second-most successful country single of the rock and roll era. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Locklin was born and raised in Florida. He developed a fondness for country music following an accident in his childhood. He learned to play the guitar during his recovery and began performing locally, as well. In his early adulthood, he formed his own band called the Rocky Mountain Playboys, which played gigs and performed on local radio. Locklin was heard singing during one of these gigs, which led to his first recording contract in 1949. He had his first major hit on the Billboard country chart the same year. His 1953 single "Let Me Be the One" was his first to top the country chart.
In 1955, Locklin signed with RCA Victor Records and under the production of Chet Atkins, he had his biggest success as a country artist. He had a string of major hits during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry and remained a member for nearly 50 years. He became a major concert attraction internationally, as well, touring overseas in Europe beginning in the 1960s and '70s. Locklin also recorded a handful of concept albums during this period, which made him among the genre's first artists to release albums centered around a theme. He later recorded for other labels, including MGM, Plantation, and Coldwater. Despite his country success, Locklin never lived in Nashville, choosing to stay in Florida. Locklin died in 2009 at the age of 91.
Locklin was born and raised in McLellan, Florida. He was the youngest of four children born to a musically inclined family. Although he had a fondness for music in his early years, he became more interested following an accident. At age 9, he was hit by a school bus. "It almost mashed me flatter than a fritter," he recalled. He learned to play the guitar during his recovery and continued pursuing music through his teenaged years. He also won several talent contests and performed at a radio station in Pensacola, Florida. To pursue his music full-time, Locklin dropped out of high school. However, working as a musician amounted to a small income. In one instance, he recalled being paid $2 for working a gig at a Florida roadhouse. To make ends meet, he worked odd jobs, including working on a farm and a shipyard.
During the early 1940s, Locklin was dismissed from participating in World War II due to the bus accident in his childhood (which still affected his leg). Instead, he continued performing. Locklin performed in nearby states, including regular gigs with bands in Mobile, Alabama. He also began composing his own material, largely influenced by the music of Ernest Tubb. He then joined the band of country musician Jimmy Swan and made regular concert appearances. Locklin formed his own backing band in 1947 named the Rocky Mountain Playboys. The group performed regularly on radio stations. Their sponsor was businessman Elmer Laird, who intended to form a record label to get Locklin's music recorded. He was killed in a stabbing incident, though, shortly after his proposal. Instead, Locklin's association with producer Pappy Daily helped him sign with 4 Star Records.
Locklin secured a contract with 4 Star Records through his association with Pappy Daily. Daily brought him to the attention of Bill McCall of 4 Star, where he signed his first recording contract in 1949. Also in 1949, Locklin joined the cast of the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana. He had his first major hit in 1949 with a self-penned single titled "The Same Sweet Girl". The song reached the top 10 of the Billboard country singles chart, peaking at number eight. Despite having a hit, Locklin did not see many royalties from its success. Because his recording contract allowed for McCall to gain all of the publishing rights, McCall also made all the money from its success. "I never made no money with him. My understanding was that he liked to go to Vegas. I guess Bill was just a guy who liked to take everything," Locklin recalled in 2001.
Locklin's follow-up singles did not become hits, which caused further financial difficulties. He even recorded the original version of his future hit "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On". Although it was not a hit, Locklin did recall the song getting a warm reception after he performed it live on a radio show. By this time, McCall had arranged for Locklin's material to be leased to Decca Records, which was headed by Owen Bradley. With this partnership, he had his second major hit in 1953 titled "Let Me Be the One". The single became his first to reach the number-one position on the Billboard country chart. "Let Me Be the One" spent a total of three weeks at the country chart summit. His follow-up 4 Star releases were unsuccessful. Furthermore, Locklin still was receiving little royalties from his success with the label. For McCall to not claim them as his own, he started composing songs under his wife's name. Cuts such as "These Ruins Belong to You" were written under the pen name Willa. After an argument with McCall, he left 4 Star Records.
In 1955, Locklin switched to the larger RCA Records. Collaborating with producer Chet Atkins, Locklin developed a simpler musical style. His recordings often included heavy acoustic guitar and piano production. These styles were individualized by that of the Nashville A-Team, a group of studio musicians who included Floyd Cramer and several others. In 1956, he had his first hit with RCA titled "Why Baby Why". The single reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country and Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys chart, becoming his first major hit in three years. It was followed in 1957 by "Geisha Girl". The song reached number five on the Billboard country chart, and was his first to reach the pop chart, climbing to number 66. The hit was included on his debut studio album Foreign Love. Marketed toward overseas servicemen, the record was one of several concept albums released by Locklin during his career. In 1958, Locklin had major hits with "It's a Little More Like Heaven" and a remake of "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On".