Tanya Tucker

From ArticleWorld

Tanya Denise Tucker is an American country music singer. She has also made a few television and movie appearances and written an autobiography.

Tanya Tucker was born on October 10, 1958 in Seminole, Texas but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She started singing at a very early age and had a successful meeting with Mel Tillis who was so impressed with her he invited her to perform. She moved to Las Vegas and performed regularly before she was signed with Columbia Records. The original plan was to have the 13 year old sing "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA", but she decided she wanted to sing "Delta Dawn" instead. She had heard Bette Midler sing it on The Tonight Show and like it. Delta Dawn was released in 1972 and went to No.6 on country charts and even made an appearance on pop charts. To this day it is Tucker’s trademark song. At first Columbia tried to keep her young age unknown to audiences, but after her second single, "Love’s the Answer", that was impossible.

By the age of 15, she had a Grammy nomination and by 19 she had a No.1 hit with "What’s Your Mama’s Name", making her only the second female teenager to accomplish that feat. She began a relationship with Glen Campbell when they began recording together. They stayed together for about a year, but the relationship was not a stable one; he was much older than her and got her involved in cocaine and alcohol.

Other No.1 hits by Tucker include "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)", "San Antonio Stroll", "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane," and many more. Tucker continued recording Top Ten hits into the 1980’s and well into the 90’s. While her popularity has dropped in recent years she still records and performs for many fans.