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Kitty Wells

Ellen Muriel Deason (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012), known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a barrier for women in country music with her 1952 hit recording "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", which also made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts and turned her into the first female country superstar. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” would also be her first of several pop crossover hits. Wells is the only artist to be awarded top female vocalist awards for 14 consecutive years. Her chart-topping hits continued until the mid-1960s, paving the way for and inspiring a long list of female country singers who came to prominence in the 1960s.

Wells ranks as the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of the Billboard country charts, according to historian Joel Whitburn's book The Top 40 Country Hits. In 1976, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1991, Wells became the third country music artist, after Roy Acuff and Hank Williams, and the eighth woman to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Wells' success and influence on country music garnered her the title "Queen of Country Music".

Birth and Death Data: Born August 30, 1919 (Nashville), Died July 16, 2012 (Nashville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1972

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 503 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 3076 7/10/1953 My cold, cold heart is melting now Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3077 7/10/1953 I' ll love you till the day I die Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3078 7/10/1953 I've kissed you my last time Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3128 9/17/1953 I gave my wedding dress away Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3129 9/17/1953 Cheatin's a sin Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3146 10/1/1953 You're not so easy to forget Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3147 10/1/1953 Satisfied, so satisfied Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3148 10/1/1953 One by one-1 Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3232 1/14/1954 Release me Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3233 1/14/1954 After dark Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3234 1/14/1954 (Don't hang around) He's married to me Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3360 9/1/1954 Thou shall not steal Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3361 9/1/1954 Lonely side of town Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3362 9/1/1954 I hope my divorce is never granted Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 3363 9/1/1954 I'm in love with you Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9055 1/15/1955 Makin' believe Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9056 1/15/1955 I'd rather stay home Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9103 4/8/1955 I was wrong Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9104 4/8/1955 There's poison in your heart Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9202 10/27/1955 Goodbye Mister Brown Roy Acuff ; Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9203 10/27/1955 Mother hold me tight Roy Acuff ; Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9204 10/27/1955 Crazy worried mind Roy Acuff ; Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9260 12/17/1955 Searching (for someone like you) Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9261 12/17/1955 How far is heaven Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9262 12/17/1955 Dust on the Bible Kitty Wells vocalist  
(Results 26-50 of 503 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wells, Kitty," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/350416.

Wells, Kitty. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/350416.

"Wells, Kitty." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/350416

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