The Youth Movement In Country Music

An Article from Country Song Roundup

La Wanda Lindsey & Kenny Vernon performing at the Fender show during the 1968 DJ Convention.
The life blood of any industry is youth and country music is no different. Without new young and talented people country mu­sic would eventually die. However, there are a great many new people coming into the business and one company that is in the vanguard of this youth movement is Chart records.

Our "young country" activity actually be­gan with Lynn Anderson's first recordings at the age of 18. Her early hits were "Ride,

Ride, Ride" and "If I Kiss You". She has since gone on to become a major artist with a long string of hit singles and albums to her credit and is a regular on The Law­rence Welk TV Show.

They didn't seriously consider a youth movement in country music, though, until Nov. 1967 when they signed and recorded (then 14 years old) LaWanda Lindsey from Savannah, Georgia. She came on strong with so much professionalism that the mu­sicians, background singers, etc. working on the record session literally became press agents for her. There was an instant demand for her appearances on numerous local and syndicated TV shows such as "The Bobby Lord Show", "The Stan Hitchcock Show" and "The Bob Poole Shows".

 

 La Wanda's first record, released in Jan­uary 1968 was "Beggars Can't Be Choosers". It was Instantly successful and was followed up by "Wave Bye Bye To The Man", "What Kind Of Woman" and a hit duet with Ken­ny Vernon "Eye To Eye". Her first album, "Swinging and Singing My Song", was released on June 1, 1969. Though still enrolled in high school in Savannah, Georgia, 16 year old LaWanda keeps a busy schedule of personal appearances around the country on weekends. (Birth date and place - January 12, 1953 Tampa, Florida) Every record LaWanda had, has made the national charts in one or more of the trade magazines. Nineteen year old Connie Eaton is a native of Music City. Her father, Bob Eaton, was a successful recording artist for Decca several years ago. Connie's parents didn't push her into the music business however. The choice was strictly her own and she has earned her way through her own merits as an artist. Connie was discovered by Charts' Cliff Williamson (20 year old A & R producer) at a summer concert in Nashville's Centennial Park. (Same place Pat Boone was discovered a few years ago.) Connie's hits included, "Too Many Dollars, Not Enough Sense", "He's A Nigh Owl", and "Morning Blue". Birth date March 1, 1950, Nashville, Tenn. Anthony Armstrong Jones is a protégé of Conway Twitty and was brought to us by Conway last year. Anthony is 20 years old and a neighbor of Conway's in Oklahoma City. Some of Anthony's records included, "Be Quiet Mind", "Only Lonely Me" and "Proud Mary". He is single and a favorite wherever he appears.