Jerry Wallace

Jerry Wallace
Born December 15, 1928
Origin Guilford, Missouri
Died May 5, 2008 (aged 79)
Genres Country
Easy listening
Traditional popular music
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1951–1980
Labels Allied
Challenge
Mercury
Liberty
Decca
MCA
MGM
BMA
4 Star
Door Knob

Jerry Wallace (December 15, 1928 May 5, 2008) was an American country and pop singer. Between 1958 and 1964, Wallace charted nine hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 8 "Primrose Lane" that was later used as the theme song for the television series The Smith Family. He made his debut on the country music charts in 1965, entering it thirty-five times between then and 1980. In that timespan, Wallace charted within the country Top Ten four times. His only number one song was "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry," a song which gained popularity after it was used in an episode of the 1970s TV series Night Gallery.

Biography

Wallace was born in Guilford, Missouri.

From June 1957 through June 1958, Hollywood, Calif. based Challenge Records, founded by Gene Autry, issued three discs with songs by Wallace. Half of the songs have been evaluated as being done in a style now known as rockabilly.[1][2]

His better-known songs include "How the Time Flies" (1958), "Primrose Lane" (1959, written by Wayne Shanklin and George Callender), "Shutters and Boards" (1963, written by American Movie actor Audie Murphy and Canadian song producer Scott Turner), "In the Misty Moonlight" (1964) and "Otoko no Sekai" (男の世界, lit. "The World of the Man", English title: "The Lovers of the World") (1970, his biggest selling single that was released in Japan only). "Primrose Lane" was his biggest hit, reaching No. 8 pop and No. 12 R&B in the US, selling over one million copies and awarded a gold disc.[3] After his song "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" was featured in the 1972 Night Gallery episode "The Tune in Dan's Cafe," and the song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart that August, spending two weeks at the top of the chart, crossing to No. 38 pop.[4] "How The Time Flies" was Wallace's first big hit, reaching No. 11 pop and No. 11 R&B.

In 1972, he gained nomination for the Country Music Association Award as Male Vocalist of the Year, and his song "To Get To You" gained nomination for Single of the Year.

Wallace died on May 5, 2008 in Corona, California, after suffering congestive heart failure.[5] A United States Navy veteran of World War II, Wallace was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.[6]

Discography

Albums

Year Album Chart Positions Label
US Country US
1959 Just Jerry Challenge
1961 There She Goes
1962 Shutters and Boards
1964 In the Misty Moonlight 96
1968 This One's On the House 35 Liberty
Another Time, Another World 31
Sweet Child of Sunshine 35
1972 This Is Jerry Wallace 7 Decca
To Get to You 1
1973 Do You Know What It's Like to Be Lonesome? 6 179 MCA
Primrose Lane / Don't Give Up On Me 1
1974 For Wives and Lovers 31
I Wonder Whose Baby (You Are Now) /
Make Hay While the Sun Shines
45
1975 Greatest Hits 39 MGM
1976 Jerry Wallace 41

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Album
US Country US
[7]
US R&B CAN Country CAN
1958 "How the Time Flies" 11 11 Just Jerry
"Diamond Ring" 78
1959 "A Touch of Pink" 92 single only
"Primrose Lane" 8 12 There She Goes
1960 "Little Coco Palm" 36 single only
"You're Singing Our Love Song to Somebody Else" 115 There She Goes
"Swingin' Down the Lane" 79
1961 "There She Goes" 26
"Life's a Holiday" 91 Shutters and Boards
"Lonesome" 110 single only
1963 "Shutters and Boards" 24 Shutters and Boards
1964 "In the Misty Moonlight"A 19 35 In the Misty Moonlight
"Even the Bad Times Are Good" 114
"Spanish Guitars" 132 singles only
"It's a Cotton Candy World" 99
1965 "Life's Gone and Slipped Away" 23
1966 "Diamonds and Horseshoes" 45
"Wallpaper Roses" 43
"Not That I Care" 44
1967 "This One's On the House" 36 This One's On the House
1968 "Another Time, Another Place, Another World" 69 Another Time, Another World
"Sweet Child of Sunshine" 22 Sweet Child of Sunshine
1969 "Son" 69
"Swiss Cottage Place" 71 singles only
1970 "Even the Bad Times Are Good" 74
1971 "After You" 22 This Is Jerry Wallace
"She'll Remember" 51
"The Morning After" 19 39
1972 "To Get to You" 12 48 8 To Get to You
"If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" 1 38 3 38
"Thanks to You for Lovin' Me" 66 single only
1973 "Do You Know What It's Like to Be Lonesome" 2 4 Do You Know What It's Like to Be Lonsome?
"Sound of Goodbye" 21 16
"The Song Nobody Sings" flip
"Don't Give Up on Me" 3 12 Primrose Lane / Don't Give Up On Me
1974 "Guess Who" 18 44 For Wives and Lovers
"My Wife's House" 9 3
"I Wonder Whose Baby (You Are Now)" 20 47 I Wonder Whose Baby (You Are Now) /
Make Hay While the Sun Shines
1975 "Comin' Home to You" 32 single only
"Wanted Man" 41 Jerry Wallace
"Georgia Rain" 70
1977 "I Miss You Already" 26 singles only
"I'll Promise You Tomorrow" 28
1978 "At the End of a Rainbow" 24
"My Last Sad Song" 64
"I Wanna Go to Heaven" 38
1979 "Yours Love" 67
"You've Still Got Me" 68
1980 "Cling to Me" 56
"If I Could Set My Love to Music" 80

References

  1. http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/label.php?key=211 RCS database retrieved 9.2011
  2. http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=wall3800 RCS database retrieved 9.2011
  3. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 120. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 446. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  5. Singer Jerry Wallace Dies in California, Country Music Television, May 8, 2008.
  6. Jerry Wallace at Find a Grave
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 951. ISBN 0-89820-188-8.

External links