Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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SOVINE, Red

(b Woodrow Wilson Sovine, 17 July '18, Charleston WV; d 4 April '80, Nashville TN) Country singer, songwriter who finally achieved world-wide fame with truck- driving songs. Worked in hosiery mills in Charleston, singing part-time with Jim Pike's Carolina Tar Heels on Radio WCHS '35; turned full-time pro when the group moved to WWVA Jamboree, Wheeling WV; formed own Echo Valley Boys and returned to WCHS '47, replaced Hank Williams on Louisiana Hayride '49, also taking over Hank's daily Johnny Fair Syrup Show stint, acquiring nickname The Old Syrup Sopper. Teamed with Goldie Hill for duet hit "Are You Mine?' '55, then no. 1 hit duet with Webb Pierce "Why Baby Why' same year, "Little Rosa' '56; moved to Nashville, joined Grand Ole Opry, signed with Decca but had no hits of his own, though he was popular on stage and made a mark as songwriter with "Missing You' '57 (two-sided Pierce top 10 country hit had "Bye Bye Love' on the other side), other lesser hits. Joined Starday '63, had own hit "Dream House For Sale', followed by no. 1 "Giddyup Go', his first truck-drivin' song; he had 13 hits on Starday through '70, but his only other top 10 was "Phantom 309', a truck drivin' ghost story. Moved to Chart label, top 10 with "It'll Come Back' '74; back to reactivated Starday and scored with a new version of "Phantom 309' '75, then no. 1 country hit (top 40 pop) with "Teddy Bear', about a crippled boy, a teddy bear and trucks (no. 5 UK on reissue '81). Maintained a steady stream of respectable hits until his death.