WEBB PIERCE (b. Aug. 8, 1921 – d. Feb. 24, 1991):

Between 1952 and 1982, Webb Pierce had nearly 100 songs make the charts, several of which became crossover hits.  

Not always popular among his peers, he nevertheless developed a loyal group of fans.  His father died when he was

only three months old and after his mother remarried, he was raised on a farm seven miles outside of Monroe.  

He excelled at guitar in his early teens and when he was fifteen he was given his own weekly radio show, Songs by

Following a three-year hitch in the Army, he and his wife moved to Shreveport, where he got a job working in a

department store.  In 1947, the couple appeared on the KTBS morning show.  During this time he developed his own

unique style while performing at local engagements.  His first recordings for 4-Star Records met with little success.

In 1950, Webb and his wife were divorced and he started his solo career.  He formed Pacemaker Records with

Hayride director Horace Logan, recording Drifting Texas Sands under a pseudonym because he was still under

contract with 4-Star.  He subsequently signed with Decca and made his first recordings there in 1951.  Wondering

was the start of his successful career, spending four weeks at number 1 on the U.S. Country charts, helped no doubt,

by Tillman Frank’s planting audience members to applaud his performance. The next year, 1952, included a new

During the ‘50s and the early ‘60’s, Webb Pierce was extremely popular. Among his most famous songs were

There Stands the Glass (1953), In the Jailhouse Now (1955), and Fallen Angel (1960). His recording of

Slowly was one of the first recordings to feature the pedal steel guitar.  By 1960, rock & roll took some of the

By this stage of his career, however, Pierce was extremely wealthy and was known as one of the most flamboyant

country singers of his time.  He built a $35,000 guitar-shaped swimming pool at his house and wore gaudy outfits

He appeared in several movies, including Buffalo Guns, Music City USA, Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar, and

Road to Nashville.  In the late ‘60s, he opened his home to tourists, sparking a feud with neighbor Ray Stevens, who

initiated a successful lawsuit against Pierce.  He had one last hit, charting in 1982 with a remake of In the Jailhouse Now

with Willie Nelson.  For the most part, however, it appeared that like so many of the older singers, he was forgotten.  

He waged a long battle with cancer that he finally lost on February 24, 1991.

In 2008, atWebb Pierce was posthomously inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.

To learn and experience more, please visit Webb Pierce's Inductees (Photo & Memorabalia) Gallery and his

Inductees Video Gallery under "GALLERIES" on this site. 

Bio courtesy of Tom Aswell - author of "Louisiana Rocks - The True Genesis Of Rock And Roll".

Be sure to visit  Webb Pierce's web site at www.webbpierce.net .