Country Artist Del Reeves

In 1961, Del Reeves signed with Decca Records and recorded the song that would become his first charting single, “Be Quiet Mind”. Moving to Nashville in 1962, Reeves and wife Ellen Schiell co-wrote “Sing a Little Song of Heartache”, a top five hit for Rose Maddox that year. After stints with Reprise Records in 1963 and Columbia Records in 1964, Reeves signed with United Artists Records. Reeves became known as “The Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo Kid” for the sound effect he added to his songs.

Under United Artists, he had his first number-one hit with “The Girl on the Billboard” in 1965. His follow-up, “The Belles of the Southern Bell”, made the Country top five. His success continued throughout the rest of the 1960s. Songs that became hits during this time are “Be Glad” and “Good Time Charlie’s”. In the late 1960s, he appeared in several Hollywood films, including a starring role in Cottonpickin’ Chickenpickers, and a supporting role in Burt Reynolds’ first big movie Sam Whiskey.

In the 1970s, he released a series of duets with Bobby Goldsboro and Penny DeHaven. He also returned to television, hosting the syndicated TV program, Del Reeves’ Country Carnival. His last big hit was “The Philadelphia Fillies”. His career declined in the mid-1970s, and then started to slowly move away from Country music, although he recorded some duets with Billie Jo Spears in 1976. He had hit songs on the Country chart most years until 1982. In 1979, Reeves left his musical career to pursue a career as a music executive; he would eventually help Billy Ray Cyrus score his first major record deal. He continued to record in the 1980s on a reduced scale for smaller labels.