Terry Fell
Encyclopedia
Terry Fell was an American
country musician
.
on May 13, 1921 and got his first guitar
at the age of nine. Later he learned mandolin
and took singing lessons. When he was 13 years old, his father died; and three years later he moved alone to California
, where he spent some time in a camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps
. After he briefly lived in Alabama again, Fell and his mother moved to to the US West Coast. There he began playing in 1943 as bassist
for Merl Lindsay
.
band. His first record was with Hughes on Fargo Records. He then began his solo career for Cortney and 4 Star Records, although none of his singles were hits there.
During his first session for RCA in Hollywood, he recorded a song that would become a hit. Although the A-side, "Don't Drop It", was underplayed, the B-side, "Truck Drivin Man", become a classic, especially in the trucker country music scene. In 1955, he made a guest appearance on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee
.
Fell remained with RCA for the following two years; however, he never produced a single with the same success. RCA extended his contract in 1956. In 1959 he began military service in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany
. Along with Elvis Presley
, who was at the same time GI, he wrote the song "Mississippi River". The single was never released, but the rights were later sold for $30,000 in 1996.
Due to the lack of success and health problems his career fell short. Later, for a short time, he managed country star Buck Owens
and wrote a song in 1961 with Bobby Edwards titled "You're The Reason". In 1962, Fell moved to Nashville, Tennessee
where he was a songwriter for various publishing companies, until he went to board. Published in 1993 with Bear Family Records, the album Truck Drivin Man was released with his collected works. Terry Gordon noted that it was discontinued in 1998, but revised again. Because of his achievements in country music he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
.
Fell died April 4, 2007 in Madison, Tennessee
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country musician
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.
Childhood and adolescence
Fell was born in Dora, AlabamaDora, Alabama
Dora is a city in Walker County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,413.-Geography:Dora is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
on May 13, 1921 and got his first guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
at the age of nine. Later he learned mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and took singing lessons. When he was 13 years old, his father died; and three years later he moved alone to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he spent some time in a camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
. After he briefly lived in Alabama again, Fell and his mother moved to to the US West Coast. There he began playing in 1943 as bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for Merl Lindsay
Merl Lindsay
Merle Lindsay Salathiel , better known as Merl Lindsay, was one of the premier American Western swing musicians from the 1930s to the mid-1960s and founder of Merl Lindsay and His Oklahoma Night Riders.-Biography:...
.
Musical career
Fell started his record career in 1945 as a member of Billy HughesBilly Hughes
William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923....
band. His first record was with Hughes on Fargo Records. He then began his solo career for Cortney and 4 Star Records, although none of his singles were hits there.
During his first session for RCA in Hollywood, he recorded a song that would become a hit. Although the A-side, "Don't Drop It", was underplayed, the B-side, "Truck Drivin Man", become a classic, especially in the trucker country music scene. In 1955, he made a guest appearance on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee
Ozark Jubilee
Ozark Jubilee is the first U.S. network television program to feature country music's top stars, and was the centerpiece of a strategy for Springfield, Missouri to challenge Nashville, Tennessee as America's country music capital...
.
Fell remained with RCA for the following two years; however, he never produced a single with the same success. RCA extended his contract in 1956. In 1959 he began military service in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Along with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, who was at the same time GI, he wrote the song "Mississippi River". The single was never released, but the rights were later sold for $30,000 in 1996.
Due to the lack of success and health problems his career fell short. Later, for a short time, he managed country star Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
and wrote a song in 1961 with Bobby Edwards titled "You're The Reason". In 1962, Fell moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
where he was a songwriter for various publishing companies, until he went to board. Published in 1993 with Bear Family Records, the album Truck Drivin Man was released with his collected works. Terry Gordon noted that it was discontinued in 1998, but revised again. Because of his achievements in country music he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Alabama Music Hall of Fame
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame, first conceived by the Muscle Shoals Music Association in the early 1980s, was created by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board, which then saw to its Phase One construction of a after a state-wide referendum in 1987...
.
Fell died April 4, 2007 in Madison, Tennessee
Madison, Tennessee
Madison, Tennessee is a neighborhood in northeast Nashville, Tennessee in the United States. It is incorporated as part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
.
Singles
All 4 Star and RCA plates were published under the name Terry Fell and the Fellers.| Year | Title | # | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo Records | |||
| Paper Heart / You Don't Want Me Anymore | 1112 | with the Red River Rangers | |
| 4 Star Records | |||
| 1947 | Paper Heart / You Don’t Want Me Anymore | 1160 | |
| 1947 | You Ran Around / I’ve Done All I Know To Do | 1161 | |
| 1947 | You Are My Sunshine / Will There Be a Light In Your Window | 1162 | |
| 1947 | Guess I’m Better Off Without You / Rainbow at Midnight | 1163 | |
| 1948 | There’s a Gold Moon Shining / You’re Not Wanted Here | 1206 | |
| 1948 | Napanee / Little by Little | 1211 | |
| 1948 | Snow Beard / Put Another In Heart | 1212 | |
| 1950 | Snow Dear / With Another In Your Heart | 1426 | |
| X Records | |||
| 1954 | Let’s Stay Together Till After Christmas / We Wanna See Santa Do The Mambo | 4X-0009 | |
| 1954 | Don’t Drop It / Truck Driving Man | 4X-0010 | |
| 1955 | You Don’t Give a Hang About Me / Get Aboard My Wagon | 4X-0079 | |
| 1955 | Mississippi River Shuffle / He’s In Love with You | 4X-0114 | |
| 1955 | I’m Hot To Trot / Fa-So-La | 4X-0149 | |
| RCA Victor | |||
| 1955 | That’s What I Like / I Nearly Go Crazy | 20-6256 | |
| That’s The Way The Big Ball Bounces / What Am I Worth? | 20-6353 | ||
| If I Didn’t Have You / Over and Over | 20-6444 | ||
| Consolation Prize / What! Bam! Hot Ziggity Zam | 20-6515 | ||
| Don’t Do It, Joe / I Can Hear You Cluckin’ | 20-6621 | ||
| 1956 | Play The Music Louder / Caveman | 20-6707 | |
| Lode Records | |||
| 1958 | Child Bride / Paper Kite | 2004 | |
| Crest Records | |||
| 1960 | Y’all Be Good Now / Who Whose | 1071 | |
| Sims Records | |||
| 1964 | If I Could Learn To Love You Less / Music City U.S.A. | 192 | |