Classic Track: I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still) Red Sovine

Red Sovine: Red was the last giant of country music's truck driving singers. Red trekked through the country music world for decades as a modest singer, but it was the song that hit shortly before his death, Teddy Bear that he will always be remembered for. The self-proclaimed King of the Narrations with his telling accounts about truck driving, are regarded as classic trucker jukebox selections.

Red Sovine was born into an impoverished family in Charleston, West Virginia. Red's mother taught him how to play the guitar. By age seventeen, Red was working professionally. In 1948 he formed his own band, The Echo Valley Boys. Red moved to Shreveport, Louisiana and began performing on KWKH's Hayride (1949 ~ 1954). While there Red met Hank Williams, who convinced his label (MGM Records), to sign Red. The Saturday night Hayride was the closest thing to competition for the famed Saturday night Grand Ole Opry (GOO) and in many ways it acted as a farm team for up and coming GOO talent. When Hank Williams left his headline position at the Hayride to join the GOO full time, Red filled the spot.


In 1959, Red signed with Starday and began touring the club circuit. During a tour in Montana (1963), Red heard Charley Pride singing at a club and urged him to move to Nashville. Sovine opened doors for Pride, but his own career hit a lull. Dream House for Sale (No. 22, 1964), charted after an eight year chart gap.


Starday was renowned for producing a level of pure, undiluted country music that was becoming increasingly rare on the major labels. Red broke into the truck driving genre after the craze had taken off. Sovine found his niche when he recorded Giddyup Go (No. 1, 1965). Giddyup Go is a story of an older long-distance truck driver who rediscovers his long-lost son driving another truck on the same highway. It was Sovine's biggest chart song, which spent six weeks atop the country charts. In 1967 Red recorded his follow-up truck driving hit Phantom 309 (No. 9, 1967).

In 1974 Red signed a recording contract with Gusto and he kicked off 1976 with one of the greatest novelty records of all time with Teddy Bear (No. 1, 1976). It sold over a million copies and was the only gold single to come out of Nashville that year. Teddy Bear, tells the tale of a disabled boy who lost his truck driver father in a highway accident and keeps his CB radio base as his only companion.

Sovine continued to record on the Starday and Gusto labels in the five year span that followed the release of Teddy Bear. During that time, Red made many recordings that showcased his exceptional vocals and highlighted his skills as one of the greatest story-tellers. Little Joe (1976) was his last big hit. On April 4, 1980, Sovine suffered a fatal heart attack while driving in Nashville. `RJB: Country Music Historian, 8/2010

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Country
• Music

[PaulinaRena]

I wonder why this particular picture was used. I'm no prude but, to me, it has nothing to do with this song so it must have been for the purpose of exciting someone. Oh well, I love Red Sovine's music so I just scroll down and ignore the picture. I first heard this song by The Wilburn Brothers and it's good to hear Red's version Thanks Joan for posting. - Paula

[flashbell]

Hey, it's the woman!

[Talk2Tell]

Oh yes i totally agree.. i think that this is not family appropriate and should not be veiwed by young children..

[flashbell]

Good grief! This is art. Young children are sending nude photos of themselves on their camera phones and doing it (sex) when they are alone. With drugs, sex and booze, in their daily activities, this art work is innocent.

[mndandy]

In all seriousness, my wife wants to know where you found this great painting! Do you have an actual copy of it?

Thanks for educating the folks about REAL country! I think today's supposed country is more akin to grunge-lite like Nickelback and the production style of Mutt Lange (Def Leppard, Shania Twain). Can it get any lamer?

[flashbell]

Yes, but not for sale!

[Gringo6739]

You are worried about the picture while he is singing about adultery in his heart?

[MissPunkie14]

@Talk2Tell whatever im 14 and i dont think its inappropriate

[theefincham]

Yep, that painting is about to be the worst thing children will see on youtube...

[Zailen1]

@Scorp316: Thats why I'm here lol. the song is about me right now xD

[latokatn506]

That painting is mute They dress like that now on the Opry stage In fact this younger bunch that has hijacked country music show every thing that you want to see Back in the true country music day's you were lucky to see a knee ..Just listen to stupid song's they are trying push as country music .

[TheMemphisSlim]

Great picture, I"m glad someone used it.. bobby age 14

[Apache1220]

it is an art form just like the music enjoy it !

[Scorp316]

I can never listen to this song. It's not because I think it's bad or anything (I don't), but because it reminds me of all the times my heart has been broken.

[caiabean]

@Talk2Tell it is a flippin picture!! lol

[twinPaula12]

@contractor46 People like you are gross. That's another reason I object ed to the picture - there's always someone who has to vent some vulgarity and you are it here it seems.