Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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GOLDSBORO, Bobby

(b 18 Jan. '41, Marianna FL) Pop- country singer with tear-jerking vocal style; successful writer of own hits and for others as well. Raised on country music, but switched to rock'n'roll; studied music at Auburn U, auditioned for Roy Orbison and toured world as lead guitarist of his band the Candy Men '62--4. Signed to Laurie '63, had first pop hit with own 'Molly'; to UA and had 25 pop hits '64-- 73, only two in top ten: 'See The Funny Little Clown' no. 9 '64; sentimental 'Honey' '68 no. 1 both country and pop (no. 2 in UK, where some earlier songs were covered by UK artists). From then on hits charted both pop and country until '73: his own 'With Pen In Hand' '72 just made Billboard pop chart at no. 94 (but royalties account did well: versions by Billy Vera and Vicki Carr went much higher; Johnny Darrell had country hit with it). 'A Butterfly For Bucky' '76 just missed Hot 100; then on Epic from '77, Curb from '80 continued with country hits: 'The Cowboy And The Lady' '77, 'Goodbye Marie' '80, 'The Round- Up Saloon' '81. Ten LPs on UA reached US pop albums chart '67-- 74; Greatest Hits CD on Curb/WB.