Who is Conway Twitty
Ranked #2,438 in Music, #69,531 overall
Hello Darlin'!
I am happy to admit that I had the opportunity to see Conway Twitty perform live. I was very embarrassed about it at the time - more so because I was going with my mother and sister-in-law.
He was performing in a small hall in Northern California. We were in the third row. And, by the time he was less than halfway into the first song, I was mesmerized. He was a wonderful singer and performer and had the entire crowd in the palm of his hand for the whole performance. I consider myself lucky to have seen him, and stilll love his music.
Conway Twitty At A Glance
Conway Twitty (September 1 1933 - June 5 1993) was one of the United States' most successful country music artists of the 20th century. He had the most singles (55) reach Number 1 on various national music charts. Most commonly thought of as a country music singer, he also enjoyed success in early Rock and Roll, R&B, and pop music (among others).Conway Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins on September 1, 1933 in Friars Point, MS. His family moved to Arkansas when he was ten. It was in Helena, AR that he had a local radio show and also where he enjoyed his second favorite thing - baseball. He was quite good too - he received an offer to play with the Philadelphia Phillies after high school, but he was drafted into the Army, which effectively put an end to that dream.
It's Only Make Believe
Conway Twitty's Early Life and His Rock & Roll Career
After his discharge from the Army, he resumed pursuing a music career and after hearing the Presley song, "Mystery Train", he began writing rock 'n' roll material. Of course, he decided to head to Sun Studios in Memphis, TN and worked with Sam Phillips, owner and founder of Sun Studios, to get the "right" sound. At his point, he was still using his birth name and he didn't feel it was very marketable, and he changed his show business name to Conway Twitty in 1957, although his legal name would always remain Harold Jenkins. How did he pick his stage name? The story is that he was looking at a road map, spotted Conway, AR and Twitty, TX and combined them.Twitty's fortunes changed 1958, while he was with MGM Records. An Ohio radio station did not play "I'll Try", an MGM single that went basically nowhere in terms of sales, radio play, and jukebox play, instead playing the "B side" of the single. The B side was a song called "It's Only Make Believe". It was popular in Ohio, and was gradually becoming popular throughout the country, as well. "It's Only Make Believe" (written by Twitty and drummer Jack Nance) became the first of nine Top 40 hits for Twitty, selling eight million copies.
For a brief period in Twitty's career, some believed that he was Elvis Presley recording under a different name. This was largely the case with "It's Only Make Believe." The record took nearly one year in all to reach and stay at the top spot of the charts. The song went on to sell over 8 million records and to No. 1 on the Billboard pop music charts in the United States as well as No. 1 in 21 different countries.
Great Conway Twitty Albums Available From Amazon
Conway Twitty's Country Music Career
Conway Twitty always wanted to record country music and in 1965 he did just that. His first few country albums met with resistance from country disc jockeys, since he was known as a rock & roll singer. He finally broke onto the country scene in 1968 with his first number one country song "Next In Line".In 1970, Conway recorded and released "Hello Darlin'". In 1971 he released his first of many duets with Loretta Lynn, "After the Fire Is Gone". A few of the others are: "Lead Me On" (1971), "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (1973), "As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone" (1974), "Feelins" (1975), "I Still Believe in Waltzes", and "I Can't Love You Enough". Together, Conway and Loretta won four consecutive Country Music Association awards for vocal duo (1972-75). In 1973, Twitty released "You've Never Been This Far Before", which was number one for three weeks.
In 1993, Twitty became ill while performing in Branson, MO, and was in pain while he was on the tour bus. He died of an abdominal aneurysm. Shortly before he died, he had recorded a new album, "Final Touches".
Twitty's last chart appearance on the country charts was a duet with Anita Cochran, "I Want to Hear a Cheating Song" (2004). Twitty's voice was electronically created based on one of his hits from the 1980s.
Conway Twitty Discography
- 1993 "Final Touches"
- 1992 "Country Gospel Greats"
- 1991 "Even Now", "#1's, Vol. 1", & "1991 #1's, Vol. 2"
- 1990 "Crazy in Love"
- 1989 "House On Old Lonesome Road"
- 1988 "Still in Your Dreams" & "Making Believe"
- 1987 "Borderline"
- 1986 "Night With Conway Twitty" & "Fallin' For You For Years"
- 1985 "Don't Call Him A Cowboy" & "Chasin' Rainbows"
- 1984 "Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn" & "By Heart"
- 1983 "Merry Twismas", "Lost In The Feeling", & "Conway's #1 Classics, Vol. 2"
- 1982 "Southern Comfort", "Number Ones", "Dream Maker"
- 1981 "Two's a Party" & "Mr. T"
- 1980 "Rest Your Love On Me", "Heart & Soul" & "Diamond Duet"
- 1979 "Cross Winds" & "Country Rock"
- 1978 "Honky Tonk Heroes", "Georgia Keeps Pulling On My Ring", "Conway Twitty Country" & "Conway"
- 1977 "Play, Guitar Play", "I've Already Loved You In My Mind" & "Dynamic Duo"
- 1976 "United Talent", "Twitty" & "Now and Then"
- 1975 "This Time I've Hurt Her More", "Star Spangled Songs", "Linda on My Mind", "High Priest Of Country Music" & "Feelins' "
- 1974 "Never Ending Song Of Love", "I'm Not Through Loving You Yet", "Honky Tonk Angel" & "Country Partners"
- 1973 "You've Never Been This Far Before", "Who Will Pray For Me", "Steal Away", "She Needs Someone To Hold Her", "I Can't Stop Loving You/(Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date" & "Clinging To A Saving Hand"
- 1972 "Shake It Up", "I Can't See Me Without You", "Conway Twitty Sings The Blues" & "Conway Twitty"
- 1971 "We Only Make Believe", "Lead Me On", "I Wonder What She'll Think About Me Leaving" & "How Much More Can She Stand"
- 1970 "To See My Angel Cry/That's When She Started To Stop Loving You" & "Hello Darlin' "
- 1969 "You Can't Take Country Out Of Conway", "I Love You More Today" & "Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie"
- 1968 "Next in Line" & "Here's Conway Twitty and His Lonely Blue Boys"
- 1966 "Look Into My Teardrops"
- 1965 "It's Only Make Believe" & "Conway Twitty Sings"
- 1964 "Hit The Road"
- 1962 "Portrait Of A Fool and Others"
- 1961 "Rock & Roll Story" & "Conway Twitty Touch"
- 1960 "Lonely Blue Boy"
- 1959 "Saturday Night with Conway Twitty" & "Conway Twitty Sings"
Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn Duets:
- We Only Make Believe (1971, MCA)
- Lead Me On (1972, MCA)
- Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man (1973, MCA)
- Country Partners (1974, MCA)
- Feelins' (1975, MCA)
- United Talent (1976, MCA)
- Dynamic Duo (1977, MCA)
- Honky Tonk Heroes (1978, MCA)
- Diamond Duet (1979, MCA)
- Two's A Party (1981, MCA)
- The Millennium Collection: The Best of Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn (2000, MCA)
Conway Twitty Duets Available From Amazon
Conway Twitty Cake Recipe
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 package cream cheese (8 ounce)
1 cup sugar
1 tub Cool Whip (large)
1 box instant vanilla pudding (small)
1 box instant chocolate pudding (small)
3 cups milk
First group of ingredients:
Mix together and press into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees
for 25 minutes.
Second group of ingredients:
Mix half of Cool Whip with cream cheese and sugar. Spread onto the baked mixture of the first group.
Third group of ingredients:
Beat for 3 minutes. Put on top of cream cheese layer. top with other half of cool whip.
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 package cream cheese (8 ounce)
1 cup sugar
1 tub Cool Whip (large)
1 box instant vanilla pudding (small)
1 box instant chocolate pudding (small)
3 cups milk
First group of ingredients:
Mix together and press into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees
for 25 minutes.
Second group of ingredients:
Mix half of Cool Whip with cream cheese and sugar. Spread onto the baked mixture of the first group.
Third group of ingredients:
Beat for 3 minutes. Put on top of cream cheese layer. top with other half of cool whip.
I'd Still Love To Lay You Down
What Do You Think Of Conway Twitty?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Conway Twitty Guest Log
Thanks for visiting my page, I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a note with your thoughts or opinions, or just say hello.
submit
-
Reply
-
hughgrissettsr
Oct 27, 2011 @ 4:44 pm | delete
- great lens! i loved it's only make believe! are you familar with his song, i think, i hope, i wish? great tune!
-
-
Reply
-
michael ace
Apr 28, 2011 @ 3:23 am | delete
- 1 of the greatest rock n roll vocalist's of all time---he put the growl into rock n roll
-
-
Reply
-
Mary L. Young Smith
Apr 21, 2011 @ 12:34 pm | delete
- I beleave I have a photo taken of Harold when he got out of the Army in 1955, I was 15 at the time, My family lived in a town in south Louisiana called Bogalusa. Harold was visiting his sister who lived across the street. He ask me to go to the free fair which was going on in a town called Franklinton. He told me that he was there to ask a buddy who was in the Army with him to join him in forming a band. I don't know the name of the young man. If anyone can tell me if this is the same Harold Jenkins aka Conway Twitty please e-mail me at la70438@hotmail .com. He was a very polite .
-
-
Reply
-
Robert Kuppenbender
Apr 4, 2011 @ 2:54 pm | delete
- I've seen Conway in my home town, what a great show. For a short guy he can beller out those tunes. He became my idol around the time when Slow Hand had hit the charts,I've been following his career since then. Miss his music miss the man who sings those tunes, to bad he didn't get any personal awards for his music.
-
-
Reply
-
PeachieJenkins
Jan 29, 2011 @ 7:12 pm | delete
- Conway twitty is so amazing I wish he didn't die befor I was borin I know it would have been so amazing to meet my talented cousin my grandpa said he was a great person
-
-
Reply
-
twittybirdlady
Mar 22, 2010 @ 10:19 am | delete
- Conway was and still my # 1 artist got to see him over 100 times
GONE BUT SO NOT FORGOTTEN ------ CONWAY YOU ARE SO LOVED & MISSED
twittybirdlady
-
-
Reply
-
Sami4u
Feb 24, 2009 @ 3:07 pm | delete
- Hi Nice lens :) Favorite Conway Song: I talk to thr man in the moon!....
-
-
Reply
-
yolanda
Jan 8, 2009 @ 11:36 am | delete
- he is the world the life and earth of every thing next to jesus.i love him so.but never seen him.
-
-
Reply
-
anita
Dec 17, 2008 @ 2:16 pm | delete
- i love conway
-
-
Reply
-
OldGrampa
Oct 12, 2008 @ 1:20 pm | delete
- I would like to invite you to add this lens to my Classic Country Music Group
-
- Load More
GypsyLyric
Thanks for visiting my world
by GypsyLyric
GypsyLyric
Books and music are a huge part of my life -- and I love so many varieties and types. Let me share some of my favorites with you through some lenses..... more »
- 65 featured lenses
- Winner of 13 trophies!
- Top lens » All People Are Not Created Equal
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Garth Brooks a Country Western Legend / Takamine Dreadnought Garth Brooks a Country Western Legend / Takamine Dreadnought
- Old Country Music Old Country Music
- Are You Yodeling? Are You Yodeling?
- Hank Snow: Country Music Legend Hank Snow: Country Music Legend
- Johnny Cash Life & Times Johnny Cash Life & Times
- Rascal Flatts Facts Rascal Flatts Facts
