WANDA JACKSON
Vivacious and versatile - talented and terrific - are the adjectives to describe the artistry of pretty WANDA JACKSON. Wanda has been singing and entertaining her fans throughout the United States, Canada and around the world since her early teens.
A native of Oklahoma, Wanda's talents were discovered by another great entertainer from the Southwest, Hank Thompson. In early years, Wanda worked with another young entertainer that was just getting started by the name of Elvis Presley. Elvis encouraged Wanda to try her hand at rock-and-roll. She did in 1956, and in fact, became America's First Female Rock & Roll Singer.
In the innocent '50's America was not ready for a gal singer that could "get down and belt out" a Rock and Roll song just like the guys, (in most cases even better). So Wanda never received the credit or the acclaim that was due her here in the States. Not so in the rest of the world: all of Europe and the Far East opened their arms and welcomed in the First Lady Of Rockabilly.
There are great singers and there are great entertainers: Wanda is both and her shows are energy packed. On one tour in France she was billed as "Hurricane Wanda" and she did not disappoint them. The Japanese people took a super liking in 1959 to one of Wanda's rockin’ songs, "Fujiyama Mama" and made it their #1 song for six months. Wanda toured Japan that year for seven weeks.
Wanda tours Europe and Scandinavia several times each year headlining big Rock & Roll festivals. One year in Budapest, Hungary for their freedom celebration, she sang to over 70,000 fans. She went to Europe five times in 1997. Wanda has recorded with other singers in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany. She has recorded in the German, Dutch, and Japanese languages. Her German recording of "Santa Domingo" became a #1 song in six different German speaking countries, and is still known by all the people today.
Wanda has been nominated for the Grammy Award twice as the best performing female singer. She has been inducted into The Oklahoma Country Music Hall of Fame and The Gospel Music Hall of Fame. She has been awarded The Oklahoma Native Daughter Award.
Wanda recorded for Decca Records for two years (1954-1955), and for Capitol Records 18 years (1956-1973). She now records for Amethyst Records in Oklahoma City. Wanda has recorded somewhere between 50 to 60 Albums, 8 Tracks, Cassettes, and CD's around the world.
A talented and versatile star of television, stage and records - a dynamic entertainer - that's the best description of "WANDA JACKSON."
BIGGEST SONGS:
• Let's Have A Party
• Right Or Wrong
• Mean Mean Man
• In The Middle Of A Heartache
• If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me
• Little Bitty Tear
• The Violet And The Rose
• Skillet
• I Gotta Know
• Tears Will Be The Chaser For Your Wine
• Silver Threads And Golden Needles
• Stupid Cupid
• Fujiyama Mama
• Santa Domingo (German)
TV SHOWS:
• Women Of Country
• Red Foley Show
• PTL and 700 Club
• Ozark Jubilee
• Dick Clark Show
• Grand Ole Opry
• Hee Haw
• Music City At The Ryman
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• Nominated twice for the Grammy Award
• Hits in Country, Rockabilly and Gospel
• #1 Songs in Japan, Germany and Scandinavia
• Toured 24 countries
• Recorded with artists in Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Germany
SONGS USED IN MOVIES:
• Dead Poet's Society - "Let's Have a Party"
• Harmony Cats - "Big Iron Skillet
