Barbara Fairchild
Encyclopedia
Barbara Fairchild is an American Country Music/Gospel Music Singer
, who is best known for her 1973 Country chart-topper "The Teddy Bear Song
". After the success of the song, she continued to have success on the Country charts.
In 1968, after high school graduation, she decided to follow her dream and moved to Nashville
. She briefly signed with Kapp Records
with no success. She also recorded briefly for MCA Records
. After this, she met producer Billy Sherrill
, who had discovered another country singer Tammy Wynette
. He listened to Barbara's songs and decided that she was ready for a major record deal and he signed her with Columbia Records
in 1969. Her first single in 1969, "Love Is A Gentle Thing", was a minor hit as was her next single, "A Woman's Hand". In 1970, she scored her first Top 40 hit with "A Girl Who'll Satisfy Her Man". Between 1970 and 1972, Barbara scored 4 more Top 40 hits, the biggest of these being "Love's Old Song" and "Thanks For The Mem'ries".
" (originally recorded by the dutch band Pussycat
), "Cheatin' Is" and "Let Me Love You Once Before You Go".
But by 1978, her country success began to rapidly fade away as her singles began to show up in the lower regions of the charts. In 1980, she signed with Paid Records where she recorded several duets with Billy Walker
but none of these singles brought her back into the upper regions of the charts. In 1982, Fairchild married the evangelical
singer/songwriter Milton Carroll in San Antonio, Texas
. In 1986, she signed with Capitol Records
in an attempt at a comeback but the single released "Just Out Ridin' Around" only reached #84 and would represent her last single to chart.
, where she has recorded exclusively since then both solo and with Connie Smith
and Sharon White on the album Love Never Fails
. She now lives in Branson, Missouri
where she lives with her husband Roy Morris, himself a singer/songwriter and they perform at their own theater in Branson, singing both country and gospel music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who is best known for her 1973 Country chart-topper "The Teddy Bear Song
The Teddy Bear Song
"The Teddy Bear Song" is a 1973 single written by Don Earl and Nick Nixon, and made famous by country music vocalist Barbara Fairchild. Released in December 1972, the song became Fairchild's first No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in March 1973. The song also became a...
". After the success of the song, she continued to have success on the Country charts.
Early life & beginnings in Nashville
Barbara started her career at a very young age singing country music. She cut her very first single at only 15 years old. In 1963, she moved to St. Louis, MO, and by 1965, she was a regular on a local TV show and recorded for a local label, Norman Records, but none of her singles released were much more than regional hits.In 1968, after high school graduation, she decided to follow her dream and moved to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. She briefly signed with Kapp Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
with no success. She also recorded briefly for MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. After this, she met producer Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill is a record producer and arranger who is most famous for his association with a number of country artists, most notably Tammy Wynette...
, who had discovered another country singer Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
. He listened to Barbara's songs and decided that she was ready for a major record deal and he signed her with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1969. Her first single in 1969, "Love Is A Gentle Thing", was a minor hit as was her next single, "A Woman's Hand". In 1970, she scored her first Top 40 hit with "A Girl Who'll Satisfy Her Man". Between 1970 and 1972, Barbara scored 4 more Top 40 hits, the biggest of these being "Love's Old Song" and "Thanks For The Mem'ries".
The success of "Teddy Bear Song"
1973 would turn out to be the breakthrough year for Barbara as she released the biggest hit of her career with "Teddy Bear Song". It not only became a number 1 hit on the country charts but also reached the pop charts as well peaking at #32. It was also nominated for a Grammy that year. "Teddy Bear Song" spent 2 weeks at the #1 spot and became Fairchild's signature song. She followed up "Teady Bear Song" very well with another smash hit with "Kid Stuff" that year which reached number 2 on the country charts and barely made the Top 100 on the pop charts at #95. In 1974, she scored another Top 10 with the song "Baby Doll". Between 1974 and 1977, she had several other major successes among these being "Standing In Your Line", "Little Girl Feelin'", "MississippiMississippi (song)
Mississippi was a popular single by Dutch group Pussycat. Written by Werner Theunissen and produced by Eddy Hilberts, Mississippi was the sole number one single for Pussycat, spending four weeks at number one on the UK singles chart in October 1976....
" (originally recorded by the dutch band Pussycat
Pussycat (Dutch band)
Pussycat was a Dutch country and pop music group from Brunssum, driven by the three Kowalczyk sisters: Tonny, Betty and Marianne. Other members of the band were Lou Willé , Theo Wetzels, Theo Coumans and John Theunissen.-Career:...
), "Cheatin' Is" and "Let Me Love You Once Before You Go".
But by 1978, her country success began to rapidly fade away as her singles began to show up in the lower regions of the charts. In 1980, she signed with Paid Records where she recorded several duets with Billy Walker
Billy Walker
William Henry "Billy" Walker was a prominent English footballer of the 1920s and 1930s. He is considered by many to be the greatest footballer to ever play for Aston Villa Football Club-Biography:...
but none of these singles brought her back into the upper regions of the charts. In 1982, Fairchild married the evangelical
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
singer/songwriter Milton Carroll in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. In 1986, she signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in an attempt at a comeback but the single released "Just Out Ridin' Around" only reached #84 and would represent her last single to chart.
Later career & life today
Increasingly, she turned her attention to Gospel MusicGospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, where she has recorded exclusively since then both solo and with Connie Smith
Connie Smith
Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
and Sharon White on the album Love Never Fails
Love Never Fails (Connie Smith album)
- Personnel :* Jim "Moose" Brown – piano* Stuart Duncan – fiddle* Juraj Durovic – orchestra director* Mark Fain – bass, session leader* Barbara Fairchild – lead vocals, harmony vocals* Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar, string guitar* Wayne Haun – conductor...
. She now lives in Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
where she lives with her husband Roy Morris, himself a singer/songwriter and they perform at their own theater in Branson, singing both country and gospel music.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Someone Special | — |
| 1971 | Love's Old Song | 31 |
| 1972 | A Sweeter Love | 17 |
| 1973 | Kid Stuff | 14 |
| 1974 | Love Is a Gentle Thing | 33 |
| Standing in Your Line | 29 | |
| 1975 | Barbara Fairchild | — |
| 1976 | Mississippi | 49 |
| 1977 | Free and Easy | 48 |
| 1978 | Greatest Hits | — |
| 1979 | This Is Me | — |
| 1980 | Bye Bye Love (with Billy Walker Billy Walker William Henry "Billy" Walker was a prominent English footballer of the 1920s and 1930s. He is considered by many to be the greatest footballer to ever play for Aston Villa Football Club-Biography:... ) |
— |
| 1982 | The Biggest Hurt | — |
| 1991 | The Light | — |
| 1993 | Son in My Eyes | — |
| 1995 | Stories | — |
| Hymns That Last Forever | — | |
| 1998 | Classic Country | — |
| 1999 | Rocky Top | — |
| 2000 | Then and Now | — |
| All Is Forgiven (with Roy Morris) | — | |
| 2001 | For God and Country (with Roy Morris) | — |
| 2002 | Wings of a Dove | — |
| 2003 | Love Never Fails (with Connie Smith Connie Smith Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson... & Sharon White) |
— |
| Forever Friend | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
| 1969 | "Love is a Gentle Thing" | 69 | — | — | — | Someone Special |
| "A Woman's Hand" | 66 | — | — | — | ||
| "A Girl Who'll Satisfy Her Man" | 26 | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "(Loving You is) Sunshine" | 33 | — | 48 | — | Love's Old Song |
| 1971 | "Love's Old Song" | 28 | — | — | — | |
| "Color My World Colour My World (Chicago song) "Colour My World" is a song written by American musician James Pankow, one of the founding members of the rock/jazz fusion band Chicago. Part of Pankow's Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago II... " |
38 | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "Thanks for the Mem'ries" | 29 | — | — | — | A Sweeter Love |
| "A Sweeter Love (I'll Never Know)" | 53 | — | — | — | ||
| "The Teddy Bear Song The Teddy Bear Song "The Teddy Bear Song" is a 1973 single written by Don Earl and Nick Nixon, and made famous by country music vocalist Barbara Fairchild. Released in December 1972, the song became Fairchild's first No. 1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in March 1973. The song also became a... "A |
1 | 32 | 1 | 24 | ||
| 1973 | "Kid Stuff Kid Stuff (song) "Kid Stuff" is a single by American country music artist Barbara Fairchild. Released in July 1973, it was the first single from her album Kid Stuff. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart... " |
2 | 95 | 1 | 72 | Kid Stuff |
| 1974 | "Baby Doll" | 6 | — | 2 | — | |
| "Standing in Your Line" | 17 | — | — | — | Standing in Your Line | |
| "Little Girl Feeling" | 31 | — | — | — | Barbara Fairchild | |
| 1975 | "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" is a 1964 song by The Righteous Brothers which became a number-one hit single in the United States and the United Kingdom the following year. In 1999, the performing-rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. ranked the song as having had more radio and television... " |
41 | — | — | — | |
| "Let's Love While We Can" | 52 | — | — | — | ||
| 1976 | "Under Your Spell Again" | 65 | — | — | — | Mississippi |
| "Let Me Love You Once Before You Go" | 22 | — | 32 | — | ||
| "Cheatin' Is" | 15 | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | "For All the Right Reasons" | 49 | — | — | — | Free and Easy |
| 1980 | "Let Me Be the One" (w/ Billy Walker Billy Walker (musician) William Marvin Walker , better known as Billy Walker, was an American country music singer and guitarist best-known for his 1962 hit, " Charlie's Shoes"... ) |
74 | — | — | — | Bye Bye Love |
| "Bye Bye Love" (w/ Billy Walker) | 70 | — | — | — | ||
| "Love's Slipping Through our Fingers" (w/ Billy Walker)B | 79 | — | — | — | ||
| 1986 | "Just Riding Around" | 84 | — | — | — | single only |
| 2003 | "Closer to Home" (with Connie Smith Connie Smith Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson... and Sharon White) |
— | — | — | — | Love Never Fails |
| 2004 | "Love Never Fails" (with Connie Smith and Sharon White) | — | — | — | — | |
- A "Teddy Bear Song" also peaked at #42 on the RPMRPM (magazine)RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Top Singles chart in Canada. - B B-side of "Bye Bye Love."
Awards and honors
- Inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame 2009
- Nominated for Christian Country Female Vocalist of the Year for a Visionary Award by the Christian Music Hall of Fame
External links
- Barbara Fairchild Official Site
- [ Barbara Fairchild At Allmusic]