Join me Sunday Morning September 8th at 11 a.m. for the music and life of Del reeves.  We get started at 9 a.m. with the Country Classic Show.

Franklin Delano Reeves was born in Sparta, North Carolina on July 14, 1933.  He was names after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was nominated by the Democratic Party to be their presidential nominee just a few days before he was born.

Del graduated from high school in 1951.  He was the youngest of 11 children and he sang on local radio.  After attending Appalachian State College in Boone, North Carolina, he served four years in the Air Force.  He married Ellen Schiell.

He made his biggest impact recording up-tempo trucker songs such as The Girl on a Billboard, which became a #1 hit for two weeks in 1965.  Belles of Southern Bell made the Top 5 in 1965 as well.

He is equally known to Grand Ole Opry fans for his humorous impressions of other country singers.  He joined the Opry in 1966.  He also appeared in eight movies, most notably Sam Whiskey in 1969.

In 1989 Del and Ellen Reeves agreed to promote Billy Ray Cyrus.  Following Billy Ray's success with Achy Breaky Heart in 1992, Del and Ellen sued for reimbursement on their investment.  They settled out of court for an undisclosed sum of money.

He continued to perform at the Grand Ole Opry until his final years.  His last Opry performance was in August of 2002.  He died from emphysema January 1, 2007.

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