Darrell Clanton

Darrell Clanton
Birth name Darrell Puckett
Born August 10, 1956
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Origin South Pasadena, Florida, U.S.
Genres Country
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1983 – present
Labels Audiograph, Warner Bros.
Associated acts Hawkshaw Hawkins

Darrell Puckett (born August 10, 1956), known professionally as Darrell Clanton, is an American country music artist. In the mid-1980s, he recorded for Audiograph and Warner Bros. Records, charting three singles on the Billboard country charts. The highest of the three was "Lonesome 7-7203," which reached No. 24 on the country charts in 1984.

Contents

Biography

Puckett was born in Indianapolis, Indiana[1][2] and raised in South Pasadena, Florida.[3] He attended Boca Ciega High School and toured the area as a member of several bands.[3]

He moved to Nashville, Tennessee at age 22, where he found work as an assistant to Pete Drake, a session musician.[2] He also began working as a songwriter for material recorded by B.J. Thomas, Charlie Louvin and Bobby Vinton.[3] Puckett also recorded a demo for Justin Tubb, who encouraged him to pursue a career as a recoring artist.[3] After Puckett signed to Warner Bros. Records, label executives then suggested that he change his surname to Clanton, after the town of Clanton, Alabama.[2]

Clanton released his debut single, a cover version of Hawkshaw Hawkins's "Lonesome 7-7203" (written by Justin Tubb) in late 1983. By February 1984, Clanton's version peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard country singles charts[1] and No. 21 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts.[4]

In 1984, Clanton was nominated for Top New Male Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music.[2] In March 1984, he charted his second single, "I'll Take as Much of You as I Can Get", which peaked at No. 75, followed by "I Forgot that I Don't Live Here Anymore" at No. 56.[1] The latter song was boycotted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving,[2] and he exited the label.

Clanton performed at the Grand Ole Opry three times in 1984, and was booked to open for Lynn Anderson and Hank Williams, Jr.. He found work as a music producer, but returned to Florida with his fiancee in 2003.[2]

Clanton's 2005 self-released album is titled Someplace Sunny.[5] Several of his songs were included in a collection of albums titled Stars of the Grand Ole Opry, including the Wilburn Brothers and Jean Shepard. Since the 2000s, he has resumed playing at local bars in the Tampa Bay area area (he lives in Clearwater).[2]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
Someplace Sunny
  • Release date: June 29, 2005
  • Label: Splattermouth

Singles

Year Single Peak chart
positions
US Country
[1]		 CAN Country
1983 "Lonesome 7-7203" 24 21
1984 "I'll Take as Much of You as I Can Get" 75 —
1985 "I Forgot that I Don't Live Here Anymore" 56 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 94. ISBN 0-89820-177-2. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Cristina Silva (22 May 2007). "Floridian: Off the Charts". St. Petersburg Times. http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/22/Floridian/Off_the_charts.shtml. Retrieved 25 March 2010. 
  3. ^ a b c d Dave Shelton (30 March 2005). "'One-hit wonder' roams area beaches: Darrell Clanton returns to Tampa Bay after making it big in the music industry.". Largo Leader. http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/largo_leader/content_articles/033005_lle-02.txt. Retrieved 25 March 2010. 
  4. ^ "RPM Country Tracks listing for February 4, 1984". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4453&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=6u1j3l4c8opd62r399v83q86v5. Retrieved 25 March 2010. 
  5. ^ "Biography". The Dune Doctor. http://www.thedunedoctor.com/-.html. Retrieved 25 March 2010. 

External links