Jeannie Seely

Grand Ole Opry

Folks around Townsville Pennsylvania never did quite know what to make of Jeannie Seely. They liked the way she sang pretty well but as far as they were concerned, you didn't make a living singing and writing songs. However, Jeannie couldn't picture herself like the other girls, getting married after graduation and staying home. At the age of 21, she crammed everything she could into her MG, shipped the rest to General
Delivery, Los Angeles, and headed west.
   She found a back door open to the music business by going to work as a floating secretary at Liberty Records in Hollywood, and soon discovered that a lot of people did make a living singing and writing songs! Before long she was writing for Four Star Music and getting songs recorded by artists like Dottie West, Norma Jean, Tex Williams and Ray Price. This led to a recording contract with Challenge Records where she received attention in various markets but nothing on the national scene.
   In 1962, Jeannie met a successful young songwriter named Hank Cochran, who was impressed with her writing and who called her "the first female I've heard sing with the feeling of Patsy Cline without trying to sound like her". He encouraged her to move to Nashville and in 1965 she did. "Every label in Nashville turned me down", Jeannie recalls" but Hank still believed in me. He took me to Fred Foster at Monument Records and said “Sing until he signs you'!" Her first release "Don't Touch Me" quickly hit the charts and rose to #1 which earned her a Grammy Award for the Best Female Performance in 1966.
   There was no staying home now! Jeannie was soon traveling all over as the country's hottest new female artist. She became a featured act on the Ernest Tubb television show, and in 1967 fulfilled her life long dream of becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 1968 brought her own Armed Forces radio show featuring interviews with other artists as well as carrying "the Seely Sound" around the world including several months of military tours throughout. Europe and Asia.
   Meanwhile back in Nashville, Jeannie signed with Decca Records and recorded a duct in 1969 with Jack Greene. The song, "Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You" brought Jack and Jeannie a #1 record and launched a new duct team. As a result, they put together one of the most successful road shows in the business, consistently being Grammy nominees and listed in the top five duets in the nation by the Country Music Association.
   Because of their versatility and ability to please an audience, Jack and Jeannie were called upon many times to 'break the barrier' so to speak as country music started to be accepted in wider circles. They were forerunners in bring ing country music to the plush dinner clubs, appeared at Madison Square Garden, hosted the International Country Music Festival in London, and were Music City's Goodwill Ambassadors to the Eleventh Annual United Nations Banquet and Concert in Washington, DC.
    Continuing to write songs in spite of a heavy touring scheduled, Jeannie received a Broadcast Music Award and Faron Young earned a number one record for his recording of Jeannie's "Leaving and Saying Goodbye". This was Jeannie's first award as a songwriter.
During her career Jeannie has often been seen on television including Hee Haw, That Nashville Music, Nashville Alive, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, Crook and Chase Nashville Now, hostess of The Grand Ole Opry Live and as a featured interviewer on Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
   She hasn't stopped with the small screen. Jeannie's acting talents have been featured in the film "Honeysuckle Rose", as well as portraying Miss Mona in a sold out production of 'the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. She also played to full houses in the title role of "Everybody Loves Opal" at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre as well as appearing in several music videos of her own and other artists.
   By adding author to her list of talents she recently published "Pieces of a puzzled Mind", a collection of thoughts guaranteed to bring enjoyment. Dottie West always referred to these thoughts as "Seelyisms". Jeannie's career continues to grow.
   After spending the past several years on the road all over the United States and to Japan and Europe both by herself and with the Grand Ladies of the Grand Ole Opry (Jean Shepard, Jan Howard, Skeeter Davis, and Jeannie), this season brings Jeannie Seely back home and live on stage in Nashville! Besides her regular appearances on The Grand Ole Opry, Jeannie is performing in a new live Breakfast show at the Nashville Palace.

Jeannie Seely is entertainment!!!

ACE PRODUCTIONS
PO Box 428
Portland, TN 37148-0428
Phone: (615) 325-3340
Fax: (615) 325-5411

Visit Our Online Store
AARON RECORDS MUSIC SHOP

E-MAIL ACEPRODUCTIONS	BACK TO ACE PRODUCTIONS	AARON RECORDS
AARON MUSIC SHOP	BLUEGRASS CHAMPS	JIMMY CASE HOMEPAGE

Copyright 2003
All text, audio, and images contained within this site are property of Ace Productions.
Unauthorized duplication is strictly forbidden.