Don gibson singer biography

Who is Don Gibson? A Brief Career Overview

Don Gibson, known for his soulful voice and poignant songwriting, was a defining figure in the country music landscape of the 1950s and 60s. As a singer, songwriter, and musician, Gibson crafted timeless classics such as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You," showcasing his unique blend of traditional country and polished country-pop. Often nicknamed "The Sad Poet," his emotional depth and storytelling ability resonated with audiences far and wide, making him a pivotal influence in the Nashville sound. His music not only earned him a place in the hearts of fans but also solidified his legacy in vinyl culture, with many of his albums remaining cherished collectibles among vinyl enthusiasts.

Don Gibson's Early Life and Background

Born Donald Eugene Gibson on April 3, 1928, in Shelby, North Carolina, Don came from a humble background as the youngest of five children. His father, a railroad worker, passed away when Don was just two, forcing his family into a life of sharecropping. Growing up, Don was shy and struggled with a stutter, often feeling uncomfortable in crowded spaces. However, music became his refuge; as a child, he was captivated by the sounds of the radio, planting the seeds for his future career. At the age of 14, he purchased a guitar, marking the start of a passionate journey that would eventually connect him to the vibrant world of vinyl records, which would soon hold a special place in his artistic expression.

The Musical Influences That Shaped Don Gibson's Sound

Throughout his formative years, Don Gibson was inspired by a plethora of musical influences that helped mold his distinctive sound. Artists like Hank Williams and Elvis Presley played significant roles in shaping his genre-spanning style, incorporating elements of country and rock & roll. He deeply admired the storytelling found in their lyrics and emulated their expressiv

Donald Eugene Gibson was born on April 2, 1928, in Shelby, N.C., about an hour west of Charlotte. His father was a railroad worker who died when Gibson was just two years old, and his mother remarried in the early 1940s. He stopped attending school after the second grade. 

The youngest of five children, Gibson's family got by as sharecroppers, but he detested farm work even as a child. He wanted to get away from the farm, but his shyness and his stutter held him back until he escaped his emotional insecurities through music.

He imagined himself as a performer and he bought a guitar and learned a few chords when he was 14. He was soon hanging around with other guitar players and he picked up what they were playing. He was earning an income as Shelby's resident pool shark at the time. 

Early Career

Music was eventually Gibson's ticket out of Shelby. He was approached by fiddle player Ned Costner when he was still a teenager and the two started jamming together. Guitarist Curly Sisk joined and the trio began playing at Sisk's boarding house on Saturday nights. They called themselves the Sons of the Soil.

Gibson was 16 and Sisk was 14 in 1948 when they were hired as a duo to perform on WOHS, a local radio station. Gibson played bass and eventually started singing. They added a trumpet, a fiddle, and accordions, and they renamed themselves the Hi-Lighters, but the gig paid only in exposure so Gibson earned a living doing odd jobs.

Neither of the boys imagined that their act would or could go beyond WOHS until radio salesman Marshall Pack visited the station and heard them play. Pack was impressed, especially with Gibson's singing, and he convinced Mercury Records to give the group an audition. They released four songs as the Sons of the Soil.

The group broke up in 1949. Gibson formed the King Cotton Kinfolks, who became regulars on "The Tennessee Barn Dance" radio show. He signed a solo recording contract

American songwriter and country musician (1928–2003)

For other people named Don Gibson, see Don Gibson (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson wrote such country standards as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoyed a string of country hits ("Oh Lonesome Me") from 1957 into the mid-1970s.

Gibson was nicknamed "The Sad Poet" because he frequently wrote songs that told of loneliness and lost love.

Early days

Don Gibson was born in Shelby, North Carolina, United States, into a poor working-class family. He dropped out of school in the second grade.

Career

His first band was called Sons of the Soil, with whom he made his first recording for Mercury Records in 1949. In 1957, he journeyed to Nashville to work with producer Chet Atkins and record his self-penned songs "Oh Lonesome Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You" for RCA Victor. The afternoon session resulted in a double-sided hit on both the country and pop charts. "Oh Lonesome Me" set the pattern for a long series of other RCA hits. "Blue Blue Day", recorded prior to "Oh, Lonesome Me" was a number 1 hit in 1958. Later singles included "Look Who's Blue" (1958), "Don't Tell Me Your Troubles" (1959), "Sea of Heartbreak" (1961); "Lonesome No. 1", "I Can Mend Your Broken Heart" (1962), and "Woman (Sensuous Woman)", a number one country hit in 1972.

Gibson recorded a series of successful duets with Dottie West in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the most successful of which were the Number two country hit "Rings of Gold" (1969) and the top 10 hit "There's a Story Goin' Round" (1970). West and Gibson released an album together in 1969, titled Dottie and Don