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Webb Pierce

Michael Webb Pierce (August 8, 1921 – February 24, 1991) was an American honky-tonk vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of the 1950s, one of the most popular of the genre, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade.

His biggest hit was "In the Jailhouse Now", which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one. Pierce also charted number one for several weeks each with his recordings of "Slowly" (1954), "Love, Love, Love" (1955), "I Don't Care" (1955), "There Stands the Glass" (1953), "More and More" (1954), "I Ain't Never" (1959), and his first number one "Wondering", which stayed at the top spot for four of its 27 weeks' charting in 1952.

He recorded country gospel song "I Love Him Dearly" also. His iconic hit "Teenage Boogie" was covered by British band T. Rex as "I Love to Boogie" in 1974, but credited as being written by the group's lead singer Marc Bolan and not Pierce. The music of Webb was also made popular during the British rockabilly scene in the 1980s and 1990s.

For many, Pierce, with his flamboyant Nudie suits and twin silver dollar-lined convertibles, became the most recognizable face of country music of the era and its excesses. Pierce was a one-time member of the Grand Ole Opry and was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A tribute album in his honor (produced by singer-songwriter Gail Davies) was released in 2001 entitled Caught in the Webb – A Tribute To Country Legend Webb Pierce.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 8, 1921 (West Monroe), Died February 24, 1991

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1972

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 470 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D5AB-0856 10-in. 11/19/1945 Tomorrow begins another year Harmie Smith ; Southern Swingsters Male vocal solo, with string band songwriter  
Decca 88892 11/18/1955 I don't care Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 101921 3/18/1957 I owe it to my heart Johnnie Bailes vocalist  
Decca 101922 3/18/1957 You make me live again Johnnie Bailes vocalist  
Decca 106715 3/3/1959 He's got the whole world in His hands Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106716 3/3/1959 I'm bound for the Kingdom Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106717 3/3/1959 Hold fast to the right Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106718 3/3/1959 Whispering hope Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106719 3/3/1959 I'll fly away Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106720 3/3/1959 Leaning on the everlasting arm Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106721 3/3/1959 When God dips His love in my heart Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106722 3/3/1959 Where we'll never grow old Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106723 3/3/1959 The old country church Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106724 3/3/1959 I'll meet you in the morning Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106725 3/3/1959 If we never meet again Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 106726 3/3/1959 I feel like travelling on Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca 111299 7/22/1961 You are my life Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca L 6450 9/26/1951 Riley's daughter-1 Danny Kaye vocalist  
Decca L 6451 9/26/1951 Eat, eat, eat! Danny Kaye vocalist  
Decca L 6452 9/26/1951 Santa Claus looks like my Daddy Danny Kaye vocalist  
Decca NA 2333 3/7/1951 Drifting Texas sand Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca NA 2334 3/7/1951 If crying would make you Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca NA 2335 3/7/1951 California blues (Blue yodel no. 4) Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca NA 2336 3/7/1951 You scared the love right out of me Webb Pierce vocalist  
Decca NA 2464 8/13/1951 New silver bells Webb Pierce vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 470 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Pierce, Webb," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106869.

Pierce, Webb. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106869.

"Pierce, Webb." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106869

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