Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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MANDRELL, Barbara

(b 25 Dec. '48, Houston TX) Country singer, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist and TV star. From musical family, by her teens she could play sax, steel guitar, banjo and bass. Joined the Mandrells, with parents and two unrelated boys; they appeared on TV shows, Town Hall Party '59, Hometown Jamboree; she then toured with Johnny Cash '62, entertained troops in Vietnam '66--7; married drummer Ken Dudney '67: persuaded by him, managed by her father, she moved to Nashville and signed with Columbia '69, immediately hit country chart with covers of soul hits 'I've Been Loving You Too Long', 'Do Right Man -- Do Right Woman', 'Treat Him Right', 'Show Me' '69--72, also duet with David Houston on 'Closing Time'. Guided by Billy Shirrell she was doing well but records did not make the top five; she switched to ABC-Dot '75 (later MCA) and first single 'Standing Room Only' made country top five; several hits later 'Sleeping Single In A Double Bed' '77 was no. 1. Much success on record credited to prod. Tom Collins, who fed her the best songs from his publishing company, many by the young team of Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan. LPs Moods and Just For The Record were acclaimed by critics and public; following no. 1 hits like '(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right' and 'Years', she was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year '79; moved to TV with own NBC series '81--2; continued to dominate charts with 'Crackers' and 'The Best Of Strangers' '80, 'I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool' '81, 'Operator, Long Distance Please' '82, 'In Times Like These' '83, 'Happy Birthday Dear Heartache' '84. The first female artist to be CMA's Entertainer of the Year two years running '80--81, she was one of the most successful country stars of the era. Albums incl. Treat Him Right '71 and I Almost Made It '74 on Columbia; This Is Barbara Mandrell, Lovers, Friends And Strangers, Love's Ups And Downs '76--8 on ABC; Love Is Fair '80, Live '81, He Set My Life To Music '82, Spun Gold '83, all on MCA. Seriously injured in a car crash Oct. '84 near her home in Henderson she was unable to work in '85; she was involved in a successful campaign to get wearing of seat belts mandatory in Tennessee. She switched to EMI America (later Capitol) and faded from the charts but continued to tour. Further albums: Sure Feels Good '87, I'll Be On Your Jukebox Tonight '88, Morning Sun '90, No Nonsense '91, Key's In The Mailbox '91. Wrote autobiography Get To The Heart: My Story. Her sister Louise Mandrell (b 13 July '54, Corpus Christi) was also a successful country singer, who usually performed in duet with her husband R. C. Bannon.