Margie Bowes
Encyclopedia
Margie Bowes is an American country music
singer popular in the late 1950s. She had a top 10 country hit, "Poor Old Heartsick Me", in 1959. She was briefly married to Doyle Wilburn of the Wilburn Brothers.
in 1941. She began singing in elementary school. By the time she was 13 years old, she was appearing on TV programs including WDVA Virginia Barn Dance in Danville, WRXO-AM in Roxboro and other radio programs in North Carolina
. In 1958, Bowes participated in the Pet Milk Company
's nationwide talent search. She entered the contest in Nashville, Tennessee
and won the competition later that year.
and released her first single in 1958, "Won'cha Come Back to Me" backed with "One Broken Heart". The singles gained some attention, but failed to chart. Her next two-sided single, "One Time Too Many"/"Violets and Cheap Perfume" also failed to chart, but she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry
later that year. In 1959, she released her third single, "Poor Old Heartsick Me". The song proved very successful for Bowes, and it just made the country top 10 that year. "Poor Old Heartsick Me" remained her signature tune.
In 1959, she released her follow-up, "My Love and Little Me". The song made the country top 20 and demonstrated she was more than a one-hit wonder
. Bowes appeared on ABC-TV's Jubilee USA, and between 1959 and 1960 she released three more singles, though none of them gained any further success.
In 1961, Bowes moved to Mercury Records
and released a single that year called "Little Miss Belong to Me". The song just missed the top 20. No other singles with Mercury were successful for Bowes. By 1963, she moved to Decca Records
and again started releasing singles that year. She had two singles that made the Top 40 with Decca. By 1969, Bowes left the label and recorded one more time for Stop Records in the early 70s.
. In 1995, Bowes was injured badly in an automobile accident and underwent several operations. At last report, she lived in Brentwood, Tennessee
and was involved in the medical field.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer popular in the late 1950s. She had a top 10 country hit, "Poor Old Heartsick Me", in 1959. She was briefly married to Doyle Wilburn of the Wilburn Brothers.
Early years
Bowes was born in Roxboro, North CarolinaRoxboro, North Carolina
Roxboro is a city and the county seat of Person County, North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the city of Roxboro has a population of 8,362. The city is 30 miles north of Durham, NC. It is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area.-History:...
in 1941. She began singing in elementary school. By the time she was 13 years old, she was appearing on TV programs including WDVA Virginia Barn Dance in Danville, WRXO-AM in Roxboro and other radio programs in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. In 1958, Bowes participated in the Pet Milk Company
Pet, Inc.
Pet, Inc., was an American company that was the first to commercially produce evaporated milk as a shelf-stable consumer product and later became a multi-brand food products conglomerate. Its signature product, PET Evaporated Milk, is now a product of The J.M. Smucker Co...
's nationwide talent search. She entered the contest in Nashville, Tennessee
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...
and won the competition later that year.
Recording career
Bowes signed with Hickory RecordsHickory Records
Hickory Records is a United States record label founded by Acuff-Rose Music in 1954 which operated the label up to 1979. Present owner Sony/ATV Music Publishing revived the label in 2007. Originally based in Nashville, functioning as an independent label throughout its history, it has had several...
and released her first single in 1958, "Won'cha Come Back to Me" backed with "One Broken Heart". The singles gained some attention, but failed to chart. Her next two-sided single, "One Time Too Many"/"Violets and Cheap Perfume" also failed to chart, but she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
later that year. In 1959, she released her third single, "Poor Old Heartsick Me". The song proved very successful for Bowes, and it just made the country top 10 that year. "Poor Old Heartsick Me" remained her signature tune.
In 1959, she released her follow-up, "My Love and Little Me". The song made the country top 20 and demonstrated she was more than a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
. Bowes appeared on ABC-TV's Jubilee USA, and between 1959 and 1960 she released three more singles, though none of them gained any further success.
In 1961, Bowes moved to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
and released a single that year called "Little Miss Belong to Me". The song just missed the top 20. No other singles with Mercury were successful for Bowes. By 1963, she moved to Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and again started releasing singles that year. She had two singles that made the Top 40 with Decca. By 1969, Bowes left the label and recorded one more time for Stop Records in the early 70s.
Later life and life today
In the late 1960s she appeared in a movie called Golden GuitarGolden Guitar
The Big Golden Guitar is one of the many "big" attractions that can be found around Australia. Located in Tamworth, New South Wales, the monument is one of the best-known points of interest in New England New South Wales...
. In 1995, Bowes was injured badly in an automobile accident and underwent several operations. At last report, she lived in Brentwood, Tennessee
Brentwood, Tennessee
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,445 people, 7,693 households, and 6,808 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,889 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.63% European American, 1.89% African American,...
and was involved in the medical field.
Albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Margie Bowes Sings
|
| 1967 | Today's Country Sound
|
Singles
| Year | Single | 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... |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | "One Broken Heart" | — |
| "One Time Too Many" | — | |
| 1959 | "Poor Old Heartsick Me" | 10 |
| "My Love and Little Me" | 15 | |
| "Make a Wish" | — | |
| 1960 | "Day After Day" | — |
| "Are You Teasing Me" | — | |
| 1961 | "Little Miss Belong to No One" | 21 |
| "Lonely Pillow" | — | |
| 1962 | "You're Still a Part of Me" | — |
| 1963 | "Think It Over" | — |
| "Our Things" | 33 | |
| 1964 | "Understand Your Gal" | 26 |
| "Overnight" | — | |
| "Big City" | — | |
| 1965 | "I Can't Love That Way" | — |
| 1966 | "That Completely Destroys My Plans" | — |
| "It's Enough to Make a Woman Lose Her Mind" | — | |
| 1967 | "A Man Around the House" | — |
| 1968 | "Broken Hearted, Too" | — |
| "Gatherin' Dust" | — | |
| 1969 | "I Have What It Takes" | — |
| 1970 | "The Note" | — |