Tommy Overstreet

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Tommy Overstreet (born September 10, 1937 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a "Nashville Sound"-style country music singer whose popularity peaked in the 1970s. Overstreet, often known simply as "T.O." by fans and radio disc jockeys, has eleven top ten singles in the Billboard country charts and five top five hits.

[edit] Early Life

Overstreet grew up in both Houston, Texas and Abilene, Texas. He decided on a singing career when he was very young, influenced largely by his uncle, Gene Austin.^{[citation needed]} Austin was a singing star of the 1920s and 1930s.

[edit] Career

Overstreet's musical career started when he was seventeen years old, singing on country-western star Slim Willet's television show in Abilene.^{[citation needed]} In the late 1950s, Overstreet started a group called "The Shadows." They entertained at various venues throughout western Texas, including Air Force bases and movie theaters.^{[citation needed]}

Overstreet first recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico, along with Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} But the recordings never saw the light of day, due to the payola scandal of 1960.

In 1967, Overstreet was hired to manage Dot Records in Nashville, TN. In 1971, he decided to pursue a recording career, quickly establishing himself as a country hitmaker that very year with a top five hit, "Gwen (Congratulations)," which peaked at #5 on the Billboard country music chart. Overstreet's highest charting Billboard hit was 1972's "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')," which went to #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 1976), "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).

As a songwriter, Overstreet has written over 500 songs. At the beginning of his career, famed pop singer Pat Boone recorded some of Overstreet's songs.^{[citation needed]}

Overstreet remains active as a concert performer and is still an occasional recording artist, including recording gospel and big band music.^{[citation needed]} He is extremely popular in Europe and has toured there many times.