Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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TUCKER, Tanya

(b 10 Oct. '58, Seminole TX) A child country music star who had a long-lasting successful career. Guided by father, former construction worker Beau Tucker, the youngster was working with older sister LaCosta in the Country Westerners, a band performing in and around Phoenix '67--8; became a regular on local Lew King Show on TV. Family moved to Las Vegas; Tanya made a demo tape '70; Billy Sherrill heard it and signed her to Columbia '71, chart debut was 'Delta Dawn' '72. A long run of country hits incl. 'What's Your Mama's Name', 'Blood Red And Goin' Down', 'Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone)'. At 16 she signed a million-dollar deal to join MCA and the hits continued; she turned towards a high- tech, showbizzy style of rock in the early '80s as she moved to Arista and found her music out of favour with the country audience; she began a tempestuous relationship with Glen Campbell; they recorded some duets before splitting up amid violent scenes. Tanya got involved with drugs and alcohol and at 24 her career might have ended; she spent time at the Betty Ford Drug Rehabilitation Center and signed a one-year contract with Capitol '85 which has lasted over a decade. She has rarely been out of country top ten, no. ones incl. 'Just Another Night', 'If It Don't Come Easy', 'Strong Enough To Bend' etc. She was named the CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year '91 and three years later became the youngest-ever performer to have a boxed-set anthology of her work released. A sassy entertainer, she goes out to have fun with a sexy and sensual persona that wins fans among both sexes. She is a single mother with two children from a long-term relationship with actor Ben Reed that finished '96; was often featured in American tabloids because of her raunchy lifestyle. Autobiography Nickel Dreams '97. Albums incl. You Are So Beautiful '77 on Columbia; Lovin' And Learnin' '75, Here's Some Love '76, Ridin' Rainbows '77, TNT '78, Live '82 on MCA; Changes '83 on Arista; Girls Like Me '86, Love Me Like You Used To '87, Strong Enough To Bend '88, Tennessee Woman '90, What Do I Do With Me '91, Can't Run From Yourself '92, Soon '93, Fire To Fire '95, Complicated '97, all on Capitol.