Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

TUBB, Justin

(b 20 August '35, San Antonio TX) Country singer and songwriter, eldest son of Ernest Tubb. His father recorded one of his songs '52; he had begun performing in high school, then at U of Texas; left school to become DJ at WHIN in Gellatin, TN; signed with Decca and had duet hits 'Looking Back To See' and 'Sure Fire Kisses' with Goldie Hill; became Opry regular. Recorded for Challenge and Starday late '50s; hit 'Take A Letter Miss Gray' on RCA subsidiary Groove '63 led to a stay on the parent label, duet hits with Lorene Mann 'Hurry, Mister Peters' and 'We've Gone Too Far Again', minor solo entry 'But Wait There's More' '67; recorded for Paramount incl. LP Things I Still Remember. A popular entertainer, he toured hard, incl. Vietnam; continued to appear on Opry; his country style was based on his father's honky tonk, which in its day was innovative, but ironically received less radio time in '60s--70s because honky tonk had become traditional. His songs did well; Hawkshaw Hawkins had no. 1 hit '63 with 'Lonesome 7--7203', Jim Reeves/Dottie West duet on 'Love Is No Excuse', Faron Young/Margie Singleton with 'Keeping Up With The Joneses' both went top ten '64. He settled down to run publishing company and manage his father's live radio show from the record shop in Nashville. Two-CD compilation Rock It On Down To My House on Bear Family incl. duets with Hill and one with Roger Miller.