HAPPY BIRTHDAY PORTER WAGONER! Porter Wayne Wagoner was born August 12, 1927, on a farm just south of West Plains and moved to town with his family when he was in sixth grade. While working as a meat cutter for Sid Vaughan in Sid’s market on the Square, Porter was discovered by Lou Black of KWTO Radio in Springfield where he went to work in 1951 as a staff entertainer before signing with RCA Records in 1953. He went on to become a legendary country music singer, songwriter and performer.
This photo, taken by local photographer Dennis Crider, shows Porter with then-mayor Glenn Roe cutting the ribbon at the naming of Porter Wagoner Boulevard on “Porter Wagoner Day,” September 25, 1971. That’s Dolly Parton, in the black outfit, with the big, blond hair at right in the photo.
Here a few more Porter tidbits:
٠ He had a long-running television series (1960-1981) “The Porter Wagoner Show,” where he introduced Dolly Parton to the world in 1967. She stayed on the show until 1974, leaving for a solo career which Porter helped to launch. The show’s reruns can still be viewed on RFD-TV.
٠ Often called the “Thin Man from West Plains” (the title of his sixth album, released in 1965) Porter charted 81 singles from 1954 to 1983.
٠ “Satisfied Mind” was his first number one hit, and one of his best-known songs.
٠ He was also known as “Mr. Grand Ole Opry,” becoming a member of the Opry in 1957 and remaining a member for 50 years, until his death on October 28, 2007.
٠ Porter was famous for his flashy ‘Nudie suits’ (designed specifically for him by designer Nudie Cohn) and his blond pompadour hairdo. One of Porter’s suits is on display at the Ozark Heritage Welcome Center, 2999 Porter Wagoner Blvd.
٠ He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002. Dolly Parton was the presenter.
٠ Dolly’s song, “I Will Always Love You” was written about her professional break with Porter.