Claude King:
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
He won a sports scholarship to the University of Idaho and intended to pursue an athletic career. He changed his mind and returned to Shreveport to work on the LOUISIANA HAYRIDE.
During the '50's he played various local venues and began writing songs. He first recorded for Gotham Records in 1952. Things really got rolling for Claude in 1962 after he signed with Columbia Records. He achieved his first US country and pop chart hits with "Big River, Big Man" and "The Comancheros." In 1962 he teamed with Merle Kilgore to write Wolverton Mountain. The song was rejected by Johnny Horton and George Jones, so Claude decided to record it himself and it became a million-selling country and pop hit.
During the '60's King had an impressive list of 23 country chart hits. They included Top 10 successes with "The Burning Of Atlanta," "Tiger Woman," and his version of Johnny Horton's song, "All For The Love Of A Girl." In 1969 King recorded a tribute album to his great friend Johnny Horton.
In the early 70's he had a top 20 hit with "Mary's Vineyard." The total of Claude King's country chart hits currently stands at 30, the last being Cotton Dan in 1977. During his career he made appearances in several films including "SWAMP GIRL" and "THE YEAR OF THE YAHOO." In 1982 he appeared in the television mini-series, "THE BLUE AND THE GREY."
Claude released a new single in 2002, "The Cowboy in the White House," and soon to be released is a lost "Live recording of Claude King with the Cotton Dan Band." This CD will be the only live recording of the Claude King Show. It will be featured here on the Music Notes site real soon.
Here's a little about Claude King's Band:
In the 70's Claude did a lot of road work traveling with his newly formed band, "The Nashville Knights," The band members included his son Jay King on drums, Chet Gibson on steel guitar, Clay Claxton on bass guitar and David Daniels on lead guitar. Claude's band changed serveral times over the years and had several names. They were also known to use "The Wolverton Mountain Express" and "The Cotton Dan Band."
"The Cotton Dan Band" was the name that seemed to stick. Over the years some of the players came and went but the groups' main players were: Jay King: Drums, Tim Maloy: Bass guitar, David Daniels: Lead guitar: John Peck: Fiddle and guitar. Other Cotton Dan members included Robin Vosbury: Lead guitar, Eddie Joe Robinson: Keyboards, and Homer Carter: Steel guitar.