Jessi Colter

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Jessi Colter

Jessi Colter (born Miriam Johnson, May 25, 1943) is an American country music singer-songwriter, who is best known for her conjuction with her late husband, outlaw country singer and songwriter Waylon Jennings, and the best selling 1975 country-pop crossover hit, "I'm Not Lisa."

Jessi Colter was one of the few female female artists to emerge from the Outlaw country music movement in the mid-1970s. [1] After meeting her future husband, Colter persued a career in country music, releasing her first studio LP in 1970, A Country Star Is Born. Five years later, Colter signed with Capitol Records and released her first solo single, "I'm Not Lisa" which topped the country charts and reached the Top 5 on the Pop charts. In 1976 she was featured on the the collaboration LP, Wanted! The Outlaws, which became an RIAA-certified Platinum album, and helped her become one of the few female outlaw country stars.

Early life

Colter was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Colter was raised in a strict Pentecostal home. [1] Her mother was a Pentecostal preacher and her father was a racecar driver. At age 11, Colter became the pianist at her her church. [2] While still a teenager, Colter left Phoenix, and toured with guitarist, Duane Eddy, whom she had met through her sister, Sharon, who was the wife of country singer, Cowboy Jack Clement. In 1962, the two married and began to tour with each other throughout Europe before settling in Los Angeles, California in 1966. While still married to Eddy, Colter was a songwriter under her married name, "Mirriam Eddy," writing songs for Don Gibson, Nancy Sinatra, and Dottie West. [1] In 1968, Colter moved back to Arizona. A year later, she met and married Waylon Jennings. [3] At this same time, Colter adopted her stage name, "Jessi Colter," named in honor of her great-great-great uncle, Jesse Colter who was in Jesse James' outlaw gang. [2] Colter then moved to Nashville, Tennessee with her second husband.

Music career

Early music career: 1970 – 1974

During the beginning of their marriage, Jennings was so impressed by Colter's voice, he invited her to record duet singles with him. In 1970, the two sang duet on two Top 40 country chart hits with also helped Colter gain a recording contract with RCA Records the same year. She released her debut album, A Country Star is Born under the label, co-produced [1] The album was not successful and did not make an impact on the country music market. It was Colter's only album for RCA, and she left the label soon after.

In 1971, Colter was featured on the cover of Jenning's studio album that year, [ [4] Colter did not record following 1970 for any major labels.

Breakthrough success: 1975 – 1979

In 1975, Colter was signed with Capitol Records. Off the label, she released her debut single, "I'm Not Lisa." [4] The song was Colter's breakthrough single, reaching #1 on the Billboard Country Chart and also peaked at #4 on the Billboard Pop Chart, becoming a crossover hit in 1975. Her second album titled, I'm Jessi Colter was also released that year, and debuted at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and #50 on the Billboard 200. [1] The follow-up single from her album, "What's Happened to Blue Eyes" was also very successful, [3] peaking at #5 on the Billboard Country Chart and #57 on the Pop Chart. The single's B-side, "You Ain't Never Been Loved (Like I'm Gonna Love You)" charted among the Top Pop 100 also in 1975. Colter could follow-up her success on the Pop charts, because she was not able to chart among the Pop Top 40. That year, Colter launched her own nationwide tour at the Los Angeles Civic Center.

In 1976, Colter released her second and third Capitol studio albums, Jessi and Diamond in the Rough. Both albums were as successful as Colter's 1975 album, [1] both debuting at #4 on the Top Country Albums chart. The lead single off of her Jessi album, "It's Morning (And I Still Love You)" was a Top 15 country hit in 1976. Her second album that year, Diamond in the Rough produced only one charting single, "I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name."

In 1976, Colter recorded a studio album with Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Tompall Glaser titled, Wanted! The Outlaws. At the time of its release, the album was the biggest selling album in country music history, being certified platinum in sales. [1] The album consisted of recordings by each of the featured artists. The album included Colter and J duet of "Suspicious Minds," which was re-released that year and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Country Chart. That year, Colter > For the remainder of the decade, Colter toured with her husband and Nelson, and released her studio album, Mirriam in 1977. She then released her next album, That's the Way a Cowboy Rocks & Rolls the following year. [1] Her success began to decline through the remainder of the decade, with her final two albums of the decade not producing any Top 40 country hits.

Later music career: 1980 – 2002

In 1981, Colter and her husband returned to release a duet album entitled, . [1] The album's first single, "Storms Never Last," was written by Colter, [3] and the second single, "/ "[[I was also a major hit in 1981, [1] peaking at #10 on the Billboard Country Chart. The album was certified Gold in sales by the RIAA that year, Colter's second RIAA-certified album to date. Stevie Nicks wrote the title track of the album, however after receiving word that Colter and Jennings might divorce, Nicks released her own version of the song as a duet with Don Henley, which peaked at #6 on Pop chart, also in 1981.

Also in 1981 Colter released her final studio album on Capitol records, Ridin' Shotgun,, which also spawned Colter's last charting single on the country charts, "Holdin' on." As the decade progressed, Colter's success began to decline. She released in album in 1984 on the Triad label titled, Rock and Roll Lullabye, produced by Chips Moman. [1] However, in the later years of the decade, she decided to let her recording career decline in order to help take care of and nurse her husband through his drug abuse and various medical problems. She remained active oshow during this time. [5]

In the early 90s, she focused her attention towards performing and released an album and a home video titled, Jessi Colter Sings Songs from Around the World Just for Kids. The video featured a guest appearance Waylon Jennings who recited some of his poetry for the video. [1]


Return to music: 2006 – present

In 2006, Colter returned to recording with a new studio album released off the Shout! Factory label, Out of the Ashes. [1] Out of the Ashes was Colter's first studio album in over twenty years. The album was produced by Don Was and reflected on Jennings passing away, and Colter moving on from his death. Country singer, Tony Joe White was featured on the track, "Out of the Rain." Colter and her husband's son, Shooter Jennings is featured on the track "Please Carry Me Home." Shooter helped Colter make the album. [6] The album was given many positive reviews, including Allmusic, which gave the album four out of five stars in 2006. [7] Out of the Ashes was her first album since 1981 to chart on the Top Country Albums chart, peaking at #61.

On June 2, 2006, Colter and country singer, Billy Joe Shaver performed at CMT's "DukesFest2006," which paid tribute to the show, Dukes of Hazzard. The event also took place June 3 and 4, and also featured performances by Keni Thomas and Stella Parton. [8] In January 2007, Wanted! The Outlaws was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [9] In 2007, Colter recorded a duet version of her 1975 hit, "I'm Not Lisa" with Deana Carter on her 2007 album, The Chain. Also included as a duet partner on the album was Colter's son, Shooter. [10]

Colter currently lives on her ranch in rural Arizona and is planning another record, allegedly to be produced by son Shooter Jennings, who has achieved his own country stardom with two successful album releases, Put the O back in Country and Electric Rodeo.

Personal life

Colter has been married twice. Her first marriage to guitarist, Duane Eddy lasted for five years between 1963 and 1968. On October 26, 1969 she married her second husband, Waylon Jennings, [11] whom she married at her mother's church in Arizona. [2] In the early 80s, Colter and Jennings nearly divorced due to his addictions to drugs and other forms of substance abuse. [5] Their union produced one child, Waylon Albright Jennings (born 1979), nicknamed Shooter Jennings. [11] Shooter Jennings is a musician himself, who has been a recording artist since the early 2000s, and is currently a member of the California-based rock band, Stargunn.

Discography

Main article: Jessi Colter discography

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ankeny, Jason Jessi Colter biography Allmusic. retrieved 8-8-08.
  2. ^ a b c Biography- Jessi Colter oldies.com. retrieved 8-8-08.
  3. ^ a b c Wolff, Kurt (2000). In Country Music: The Rough Guide. Orla Duane, Editor. London: Rough Guides Ltd. p. 351.
  4. ^ a b Zimmerman, Keith and Kent (2003), The Very Best ' (referenced from the CD's biography), retrieved 8-8-08
  5. ^ a b Biography: Colter, Jessi Country Music Television.com; retrieved 8-10-08.
  6. ^ Jessi Sings With Shooter, Waylon Rolling Stone Magazine; retrieved 8-10-08.
  7. ^ Out of the Ashes album review Allmusic. retrieved 8-10-08.
  8. ^ Jessi Colter, Billy Joe Shaver Highlight DukesFest Music Country Music Television.com: news & updates for Jessi Colter. Retrieved 8-10-08.
  9. ^ Grammy Hall of Fame Honors Country Songs Country Music Television.com; Jessi Colter news & updates. Retrieved 8-10-08.
  10. ^ Deana Carter's New CD Due Oct. 9 Country Music Television: Jessi Colter news & updates. Retrieved 8-10-08.
  11. ^ a b Jessi Colter profile NNDB.com; Retrieved 8-10-08.
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