Tommy Overstreet
| Tommy Overstreet | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | T.O. |
| Born |
September 10, 1937 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA |
| Origin | Abilene, Texas, USA |
| Died |
November 2, 2015 (aged 78) Hillsboro, Oregon, USA |
| Genres | Country, Nashville sound |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1968–1986 |
| Labels | Dot Records |
Tommy Overstreet (September 10, 1937 – November 2, 2015) was an American country singer. Often known simply as "T.O." by fans and radio disc jockeys, Overstreet had five top five hit singles in the Billboard country charts and 11 top 10 singles. His popularity peaked in the 1970s. He lived in Hillsboro, Oregon.[1]
Early life
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Overstreet grew up in both Houston and Abilene, Texas. He decided on a singing career when he was very young, influenced largely by his cousin, "Uncle" Gene Austin.[2][3] Austin was a singing star of the 1920s and 1930s.
Career
Overstreet's musical career started when he was 17, singing on country and western star Slim Willet's television show in Abilene.[4] In the late 1950s, Overstreet started a group called "The Shadows."
He first recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico, along with Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs. In 1960, Overstreet recorded in New York City at Roulette Records, with Doc Severinsen on trumpet, Sam "The Man" Taylor on saxophone and the Ray Charles Singers singing backup.
In 1967, Overstreet was hired to manage Dot Records in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1970, he decided to pursue a recording career, quickly establishing himself as a country hit maker that very year with a top five hit, "Gwen (Congratulations)", which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard country music chart.
Overstreet made frequent guest appearances on the TV variety show Hee Haw.[5][6] His highest charting Billboard hit was 1972's "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')", which went to No. 2.
His other top-20 hits were "I Don't Know You Anymore" (#5 in 1971), "Heaven is My Woman's Love" (#3 in 1972), "Send Me No Roses" (#7 in 1973); "I'll Never Break These Chains" (#7 in 1973), "(Jeannie Marie) You Were a Lady" (#7 in 1974), "If I Miss You Again Tonight" (#8 in 1974), "I'm a Believer" (#9 in 1975), "That's When My Woman Begins" (#6 in 1975), "If Love was a Bottle of Wine" (#11 in 1976), "Don't Go City Girl on Me" (#5 in 1977), "Yes, Ma'am" (#12 in 1978, and "Fadin' In, Fadin' Out" (#11 in 1978).
Overstreet died at his home in Oregon on November 2, 2015. He had been suffering from a variety of undisclosed ailments in recent years.[7]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Gwen (Congratulations) | 33 | Dot |
| 1972 | This Is Tommy Overstreet | 22 | |
| Heaven Is My Woman's Love | 9 | ||
| 1973 | My Friends Call Me T.O. | 23 | |
| 1974 | Woman, Your Name Is My Song | 41 | |
| 1975 | I'm a Believer | 38 | ABC/Dot |
| Greatest Hits Vol. One | 18 | ||
| The Tommy Overstreet Show Live from the Silver Slipper |
36 | ||
| 1976 | Turn On to Tommy Overstreet | 46 | |
| 1977 | Vintage '77 | 26 | |
| Hangin' 'Round | 44 | ||
| 1978 | Better Me | — | |
| 1979 | I'll Never Let You Down | — | Elektra |
| 1980 | The Real Tommy Overstreet | — | |
| 1982 | The Best of Tommy Overstreet | — | |
| Dream Lover | — | Intercord | |
| 1983 | Good Lovin' Feelin' | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN Country | |||
| 1968 | "Every Day I Fall More in Love with You" | — | — | — | singles only |
| 1969 | "Watching the Trains Go By" | — | — | — | |
| "Games People Play" | — | — | — | ||
| "Rocking a Memory (That Won't Go to Sleep)" | 73 | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "Painted by the Wine" | — | — | — | |
| "Good Day Sunshine" | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | "If You're Looking for a Fool" | 56 | — | — | Gwen (Congratulations) |
| "Gwen (Congratulations)" | 5 | 123 | 2 | ||
| "I Don't Know You (Anymore)" | 5 | — | 3 | ||
| 1972 | "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')" | 2 | — | 1 | This Is Tommy Overstreet |
| "A Seed Before the Rose" | 16 | — | 12 | Heaven Is My Woman's Love | |
| "Heaven Is My Woman's Love" | 3 | 102 | 3 | ||
| 1973 | "Send Me No Roses" | 7 | — | 10 | My Friends Call Me T.O. |
| "I'll Never Break These Chains" | 7 | — | 10 | ||
| 1974 | "(Jeannie Marie) You Were a Lady" | 3 | — | 3 | Woman, Your Name Is My Song |
| "If I Miss You Again Tonight" | 8 | — | 2 | I'm a Believer | |
| 1975 | "I'm a Believer" | 9 | — | 9 | |
| "That's When My Woman Begins" | 6 | — | 4 | The Tommy Overstreet Show Live from the Silver Slipper | |
| "From Woman to Woman" | 16 | — | 8 | single only | |
| 1976 | "Here Comes That Girl Again" | 15 | — | 23 | Turn On to Tommy Overstreet |
| "Young Girl" | 29 | — | 37 | ||
| 1977 | "If Love Was a Bottle of Wine" | 11 | — | 12 | Vintage '77 |
| "Don't Go City Girl On Me" | 5 | — | 5 | ||
| "This Time I'm in It for the Love" | 20 | — | — | Hangin' 'Round | |
| 1978 | "Yes Ma'am" | 12 | — | 15 | |
| "Better Me" | 20 | — | 34 | Better Me | |
| "Fadin' In, Fadin' Out" | 11 | — | 18 | ||
| 1979 | "Tears (There's Nowhere Else to Hide)" (w/ The Nashville Express) |
91 | — | — | single only |
| "Cheater's Kit" | 45 | — | 32 | Better Me | |
| "I'll Never Let You Down" | 27 | — | — | I'll Never Let You Down | |
| "What More Could a Man Need" | 23 | — | — | The Real Tommy Overstreet | |
| "Fadin' Renegade" | 36 | — | — | ||
| 1980 | "Down in the Quarter" | 41 | — | — | |
| "Sue" | 47 | — | — | The Best of Tommy Overstreet | |
| "Me and the Boys in the Band" | 72 | — | — | ||
| 1983 | "Dream Maker" | 69 | — | — | Dream Maker |
| "Heart of Dixie" | 84 | — | — | ||
| 1984 | "I Still Love Your Body" | 87 | — | — | singles only |
| 1986 | "Next to You" | 74 | — | — | |
References
- ↑ Bray, Kari (June 23, 2013). "Hillsboro fire destroys barn and property of country singer Tommy Overstreet". The Oregonian. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ↑ Gene Austin Biography
- ↑ Tommy Overstreet Biography on VH1
- ↑ Tommy Overstreet Biography on CMT
- ↑ Hee Haw Musical Guestlist on Hee Haw
- ↑ Tommy Overstreet Biography on CMT
- ↑ Dauphin, Chuck (November 3, 2015). "Tommy Overstreet, 1970s Country Hitmaker, Dies at Age 78". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2015.