Tommy Overstreet

Tommy Overstreet
Also known as T.O.
Born (1937-09-10)September 10, 1937
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Origin Abilene, Texas, USA
Died November 2, 2015(2015-11-02) (aged 78)
Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
Genres Country, Nashville sound
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1968–1986
Labels Dot Records

Tommy Overstreet (September 10, 1937 – November 2, 2015) was an American country singer. Often known simply as "T.O." by fans and radio disc jockeys, Overstreet had five top five hit singles in the Billboard country charts and 11 top 10 singles. His popularity peaked in the 1970s. He lived in Hillsboro, Oregon.[1]

Early life

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Overstreet grew up in both Houston and Abilene, Texas. He decided on a singing career when he was very young, influenced largely by his cousin, "Uncle" Gene Austin.[2][3] Austin was a singing star of the 1920s and 1930s.

Career

Overstreet's musical career started when he was 17, singing on country and western star Slim Willet's television show in Abilene.[4] In the late 1950s, Overstreet started a group called "The Shadows."

He first recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico, along with Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs. In 1960, Overstreet recorded in New York City at Roulette Records, with Doc Severinsen on trumpet, Sam "The Man" Taylor on saxophone and the Ray Charles Singers singing backup.

In 1967, Overstreet was hired to manage Dot Records in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1970, he decided to pursue a recording career, quickly establishing himself as a country hit maker that very year with a top five hit, "Gwen (Congratulations)", which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard country music chart.

Overstreet made frequent guest appearances on the TV variety show Hee Haw.[5][6] His highest charting Billboard hit was 1972's "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')", which went to No. 2.

His other top-20 hits were "I Don't Know You Anymore" (#5 in 1971), "Heaven is My Woman's Love" (#3 in 1972), "Send Me No Roses" (#7 in 1973); "I'll Never Break These Chains" (#7 in 1973), "(Jeannie Marie) You Were a Lady" (#7 in 1974), "If I Miss You Again Tonight" (#8 in 1974), "I'm a Believer" (#9 in 1975), "That's When My Woman Begins" (#6 in 1975), "If Love was a Bottle of Wine" (#11 in 1976), "Don't Go City Girl on Me" (#5 in 1977), "Yes, Ma'am" (#12 in 1978, and "Fadin' In, Fadin' Out" (#11 in 1978).

Overstreet died at his home in Oregon on November 2, 2015. He had been suffering from a variety of undisclosed ailments in recent years.[7]

Discography

Albums

Year Album US Country Label
1971 Gwen (Congratulations) 33 Dot
1972 This Is Tommy Overstreet 22
Heaven Is My Woman's Love 9
1973 My Friends Call Me T.O. 23
1974 Woman, Your Name Is My Song 41
1975 I'm a Believer 38 ABC/Dot
Greatest Hits Vol. One 18
The Tommy Overstreet Show
Live from the Silver Slipper
36
1976 Turn On to Tommy Overstreet 46
1977 Vintage '77 26
Hangin' 'Round 44
1978 Better Me
1979 I'll Never Let You Down Elektra
1980 The Real Tommy Overstreet
1982 The Best of Tommy Overstreet
Dream Lover Intercord
1983 Good Lovin' Feelin'

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Album
US Country US CAN Country
1968 "Every Day I Fall More in Love with You" singles only
1969 "Watching the Trains Go By"
"Games People Play"
"Rocking a Memory (That Won't Go to Sleep)" 73
1970 "Painted by the Wine"
"Good Day Sunshine"
1971 "If You're Looking for a Fool" 56 Gwen (Congratulations)
"Gwen (Congratulations)" 5 123 2
"I Don't Know You (Anymore)" 5 3
1972 "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')" 2 1 This Is Tommy Overstreet
"A Seed Before the Rose" 16 12 Heaven Is My Woman's Love
"Heaven Is My Woman's Love" 3 102 3
1973 "Send Me No Roses" 7 10 My Friends Call Me T.O.
"I'll Never Break These Chains" 7 10
1974 "(Jeannie Marie) You Were a Lady" 3 3 Woman, Your Name Is My Song
"If I Miss You Again Tonight" 8 2 I'm a Believer
1975 "I'm a Believer" 9 9
"That's When My Woman Begins" 6 4 The Tommy Overstreet Show
Live from the Silver Slipper
"From Woman to Woman" 16 8 single only
1976 "Here Comes That Girl Again" 15 23 Turn On to Tommy Overstreet
"Young Girl" 29 37
1977 "If Love Was a Bottle of Wine" 11 12 Vintage '77
"Don't Go City Girl On Me" 5 5
"This Time I'm in It for the Love" 20 Hangin' 'Round
1978 "Yes Ma'am" 12 15
"Better Me" 20 34 Better Me
"Fadin' In, Fadin' Out" 11 18
1979 "Tears (There's Nowhere Else to Hide)"
(w/ The Nashville Express)
91 single only
"Cheater's Kit" 45 32 Better Me
"I'll Never Let You Down" 27 I'll Never Let You Down
"What More Could a Man Need" 23 The Real Tommy Overstreet
"Fadin' Renegade" 36
1980 "Down in the Quarter" 41
"Sue" 47 The Best of Tommy Overstreet
"Me and the Boys in the Band" 72
1983 "Dream Maker" 69 Dream Maker
"Heart of Dixie" 84
1984 "I Still Love Your Body" 87 singles only
1986 "Next to You" 74

References

  1. Bray, Kari (June 23, 2013). "Hillsboro fire destroys barn and property of country singer Tommy Overstreet". The Oregonian. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. Gene Austin Biography
  3. Tommy Overstreet Biography on VH1
  4. Tommy Overstreet Biography on CMT
  5. Hee Haw Musical Guestlist on Hee Haw
  6. Tommy Overstreet Biography on CMT
  7. Dauphin, Chuck (November 3, 2015). "Tommy Overstreet, 1970s Country Hitmaker, Dies at Age 78". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
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