During a career that stretches back to the late
1940's, Porter Wagoner started out singing on an early
morning radio show at the age of 17, sponsored by the
butcher's store where he worked as a clerk. Joining
the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and having his own
syndicated TV show for an amazing 21 years, Porter
Wagoner is one of the primary innovators of post-war
country music. Cutting a striking figure in his
brightly coloured, rhinestone-studded cowboy suits
made by Nudie Cohen, Gospel music has long been a
major part of Wagoner's musical heritage. Porter has
seen three of his four Grammy Awards presented for his
Gospel contributions that remain a part of his early
rural upbringing.
The release of the double album "22 Grand
Old Gospel 2004" saw Porter at his Grammy winning
best, ranking the album as one of the best-selling
gospel CDs on the Gusto/King/TeeVee register. Porter's
earlier duet singing partner Dolly Parton stated
"I wanted to let you know that this is one of the
best albums I've ever heard, bar-none!" and went
on to say "I'll enjoy this forever…You've never
sounded better".
Dubbed as the "King Of Country Gospel",
Wagoner's awe-inspiring legacy of gospel work passionately
continues in the wake
of that fine album with 18 Grand
Old Gospel 2005. Not only a leading singer,
Wagoner proves that he's also a notable songwriter
by penning five of the eighteen tracks in the collection,
"Satan's Got A River",
"Soldiers For The Lord"
and "The Bird That Never
Flew", "I Found
A Man" and "When
I Sing For Him". A seasoned performer,
the focal point of Porter Wagoner's career and nationwide
TV show has been his duets with a fine list of female
singing partners over the years. With abiding passion
Porter joins his current Grand Ole Opry duet partner
Pam Gadd to light up the whole room with the inspirational
"Ye Of Little Faith".
There is a second duet on "I
Believe", though it appears to be Pam Gadd
there is no credit as to who the female vocalist might
be.
Gospel and New Christian music has been growing
steadily over the past few years and has a made its
mark in Britain and the European mainland. Porter
Wagoner's albums 22 Grand Old Gospel 2004 and the
current 18 Grand Old Gospel 2005
will make an indispensable introduction to this
spiritual brand of music.
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