Aug 032014
Mark wasn’t all doom and gloom, though. Here’s a more upbeat number called “Top Forty, News, Weather and Sports.” Listen for some of the imitations he pulls off in this tune:
Most of his songs are more akin to this, a sublime version of “Lost Highway.”
Mark had one more hit in 1963, as a writer, when Johnny Mathis recorded his song “What Will Mary Say.” Eventually Mark’s sad struggles with alcoholism brought him a reputation of unreliability, his career cooled and he continued to perform but did not record any more. Apparently at some point he could be found working in the restaurant of a Best Western in Jefferson City, Missouri. At the age of 52, Mark suffered a fatal heart attack while driving, leaving behind at least one child, a son.
Interesting and informative. Thanks for doing all that research and broadening our horizons.
Shelby Singleton is actually the name of a country music label owner who bought the rights to Sun Records from Sam Phillips in the late 60s, as well as putting out records by Orion, who was alleged to Elvis performing under a mask. Great article.
Interesting story. Will we see a book in the future?
Definitely a book. Simply print this post, then staple the pages together!
Standing ovation. Outstanding work, formidable research, quite a story or set of stories. Very impressive.
THAT is some musical family roundup! Thanks, and thanks for reminding me of “Teen Angel,” a song I always dug as a kid.
cher, I meant to ask you what spurred your deep interest in this family? Did you connect the dots starting at the beginning of the story, or did that Mystery Date clip lead you to work from the middle out?
Not sure how it began – I knew one song by the sisters, kind of at random. One day I had the songs “The Streets of Laredo” and “El Paso” in my head and while surfing around, came across “Teen Angel” and I wondered about the connection.
The sisters’ wikipedia page also connects the dots. Everything I wrote here is really semi-unsubstantiated hearsay of the internet. I think they are still local heroes in Missouri and so I have a feeling that anybody over the age of 60 in MO could tell you more than what I wrote here.
Yeah, but I want more details. Besides my printer is having a tough time with those You Tube clips.