Beverly Mae Wilson

Beverly Mae Wilson was a country singer who released some singles in the 1960s and 1970s. She was based in California. The unusual thing about her was her age. At the age of 13 she was already touring. She recorded the single "Til I Met You" bw "Lonesome Girl" which was released on the Impact label in 1963. She began her career as a teenager in the late 1950s. She had also appeared on television shows Connecticut and California, as well as radio broadcasts around the country during the 1960s.

Background

She was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on April 11, 1946 to parents Harry Leslie Wilson and Viola May Wilson (née Maloney).When she was three years old, the Wilson family moved to southern California. It's likely that her father a U.S. Marine and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California.^[1] She started playing guitar at seven years of age. Wilson had the nickname of "sweetheart" Of the Marines of Camp Pendleton.^[2]

Career

She was managed by her uncle Robert A. Sherwood who composed her material. The arrangements were handled by Gene LaMar.^[3]

1950s

On February 2, 1957, as one of the entertainment acts, she appeared a dinner event in California with Eddie Snyder, Jackie Golden, Bonnie Gay Smith and some rock'n roll singers.^[4] In July 1958 the age of 13, Wilson was undertaking a national tour to promote a single that was to be released in December that year. According to The Bridgeport Post it was to be released on the Shaston label in December of that year.^[5] Before completing the 8,000 mile tour which spanned 2 coasts, she had stopped in at her hometown Bridgeport and appeared on radio station WNAB, at the Ritz ballroom.^[6] By November that year, the teenaged Wilson had appeared on Cliffie Stone's show on KXLA in L.A. the previous month. Then she was set to appear on a new show called Smokey Rogers Western Caravan Show, shown on KFMB-TV in San Diego, California.^[7] In May 27, 1959, she was appearing at the Great Eastern San Diego County Fair. Also later that month to appear at the Bostonia Ballroom.^[8] Also around that time, she was appearing at the and Lee Harris were appearing at venues in Southern California backed by Smokey Rogers and his Western Caravan. She was booked to appear at the Melody Inn on June the 6th and then from the 3rd of July to begin a tour of the Pacific Northwest.^[9]

1960s

Along with Faron Young and Gordon Terry she appeared at the naval station in San Diego.^[10] By May, 1960 she had been appearing regularly at Smokey Rogers's Ballroom in El Cajon on Billy Guitar's Sunday sessions.^[11] In August she was in Arizona, Flagstaff's Museum Club on the 26th and 27th. Then it was off to Phoenix for a gig on the 28th.^[12] In October 1960, she and Tall Paul Charon were to perform Jamie Horton at San Diego's Tropical Gardens and Recreation Center, having appeared there previously.^[13]

In 1961, the January 16 issue of Billboard Music Week reported that she was one of the acts that included the Stratton Brothers and Patsy Montana and the Country Boys who moved into Los Angeles for a series of engagements.^[14] Around March, 1961, her management had to cancel several bookings due to a serious illness she was recovering from.^[15] By April 10, having recovered from her long illness, she was putting in appearances in L.A. over the Easter weekend.^[16] As of October 1961, her backing band was Andy Giordino and the Blue Flames.^[17] By December of that year she already had a record under her belt, had appeared at the Ritz Ballroom and had entered into a contract with the Impact record label.^[18]

In April, 1962, Billboard reported that she was to cut a record at Impact Records in California backed by The Shorty Bacon Band Her manager Sherwood had arranged for her to appear on several televised venues in Southern California.^[19][20] However, according to the October 30, 1961 issue of Billboard Music Week, advance copies of the single "Till I Met You" bw "Lonesome Girl" were available to radio stations by writing on their letterhead to her manager at 1151 Persimmon, El Cajon, California.^[21]

In early March, 1963, Billboard announced that she was to be joined by Dale Carter and his Country Swing Band to present live studio shows at Riverside station, KASE Radio on Saturday afternoons.^[22]

1970s

In 1975, she had a single released. It was "Lonely Fool" bw "My Secret". Both sides were written by Robert A. Sherwood.^[23]

Later years

In later years she was an IRS tax examiner and worked in the capacity until her retirement in 1994. In 2004, she and her husband moved to Harrisonville, Missouri.^[24]

Death

When she passed away on July 14, 2010, she was residing in Harrisonville, Missouri.^[25]

Discography

References