Joe Dowell
Joe Dowell (January 23, 1940 – February 4, 2016) was an American pop singer.
Career
He was born in Bloomington, Indiana, but moved to Bloomington, Illinois, as a child. He first performed at a ninth-grade talent show, and later attended the University of Illinois. At his first recording session (backed by organist Ray Stevens), he sang the tune "Wooden Heart", which had been a hit for Elvis Presley in Europe, but which was never released as a single stateside. "Wooden Heart", became the first single released on Smash Records to shoot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] In the wake of his success, Dowell wanted to become a songwriter in his own right, but due to contractual obligations, he was required to sing music owned by Smash's parent company, Mercury Records.[2] He had two further hits, "The Bridge of Love" (US #50) and "Little Red Rented Rowboat" (US #23),[3] but after struggles with his management he was dropped from the label.
Dowell went on to record one single for Monument Records and a folk album in the 1960s, and a number of singles and a gospel album for his own Journey label in the 1970s and 1980s. He also recorded a bicentennial EP for the Boy Scouts of America and radio jingles.[4]
Bear Family Records released a CD on Joe Dowell's music, including unreleased recordings. He died on February 4, 2016 in Bloomington, Illinois after suffering a heart attack in the prior weekend. He was 76.[5]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | US Hot 100 |
US Easy Listening |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | "Wooden Heart" / "Little Bo Peep" | 1 | 1 | Smash 1708 |
| 1961 | "The Bridge Of Love" / "Just Love Me" | 50 | 10 | Smash 1717 |
| 1962 | "Little Red Rented Rowboat" / "The One I Left For You" | 23 | -- | Smash 1759 |
| 1962 | "Poor Little Cupid" / "No Secrets" | -- | -- | Smash 1786 |
References
- ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 134. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ↑ Joe Dowell at Allmusic.com
- ↑ Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com
- ↑ "Joe Dowell: An insanely complete post-Smash/Mercury discography". MusicWeird.com. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
- ↑ "Joe Dowell, had No. 1 hit with 'Wooden Heart," dies at 76". Retrieved 2015-02-04.