Red Sovine, born Woodrow Wilson Sovine on July 17, 1917, in Charleston, West Virginia, was an American country and honky-tonk singer-songwriter known for his heart-wrenching recitations and truck-driving anthems. Sovine's music career began in the 1940s, but he found his greatest success during the 1960s and 1970s with his narrative style of country ballads. His deep, emotional voice became a signature sound, etching him into the hearts of country music listeners.

He is best remembered for his 1976 hit, "Teddy Bear," a tearjerker about a disabled child's CB radio conversations with caring truckers. This song typified Sovine's ability to connect with his audience through storytelling, evoking a deep sense of empathy and sentimentality. Other notable hits such as "Phantom 309" and "Giddyup Go" have resulted in Sovine being revered as a master of the truck-driving genre, a subcategory of country music that he helped popularize. Sovine’s influence has lasted well beyond his untimely death in a car crash on April 4, 1980, as new generations of fans discover his powerful narrations and classic tunes.

Genres

Classic Country Pop

Truck-driving Country

Related Artists

Johnny Cash

Merle Haggard

C.W. McCall

Dave Dudley

George Jones

Del Reeves

Jerry Reed

Tom T. Hall

Ferlin Husky

Willie Nelson

Hank Snow

Waylon Jennings

Latest Release

Red Sovine - Golden Gospel Classics

Red Sovine

Album - 14 Tracks - Released February 21, 2024