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Wanda Jackson Biography
Wanda Jackson is an American singer and songwriter. Since the 1950s, she has recorded and released music in the genres of rock, country and gospel. She was one of the first women to pursue a career in rock and roll, releasing a series of singles in the 1950s that earned her the moniker “Queen of Rockabilly.” She is also regarded as one of the first female country music stars. She is well known for her songs “Funnel Of Love” and “Let’s Have A Party”.
Wanda was born in Maud, Oklahoma, on October 30, 1937. In 1952, while still in high school, she began singing on a daily Oklahoma City radio show. Hank Thompson, a country singer, encouraged her to record with his band, the Brazos Valley Boys, in 1954, and the result was the country classic “You Can’t Have My Love.”
After graduating from high school, she joined a concert tour with Elvis Presley, who urged her to pursue a career in the fast-growing rockabilly music. She signed with Capitol Records in 1956, and she showed off her musical diversity by recording a number of singles with a country track on one side and a rockabilly track on the other. She even mixed the two genres in the same song on her debut 45, “I Gotta Know” (1956).
Wanda soon established herself as a unique and forceful female voice in the rockabilly scene with successes like “Let’s Have a Party” (1960), “Right or Wrong” (1961), and “In the Middle of a Heartache” (1961). She also had worldwide success in Japan with “Fujiyama Mama” (1957) and a German-language version of “Santo Domingo” (1965).
Following a religious conversion in the early 1970s, she shifted her focus to gospel music, releasing the album Praise the Lord (1972). Wanda began performing in Europe in the 1980s, when rockabilly was experiencing a resurgence, and she released many albums there. She went on to tour the United States for the next decade, presenting secular material. Jackson made a comeback at the age of 73 with the album The Party Ain’t Over (2011), which was produced by Jack White of the White Stripes, and then with Unfinished Business (2012).
Wanda announced her retirement from performance in 2019 due to a stroke that she suffered from the year before. She went on to release Encore (2021), which was described as her final album and was co-produced by Joan Jett, a rock musician. In 2009, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Wanda Jackson was around 17 years old when her first single charted. She was charted for the first time in 1954. Her last chart appearance was in 1967. She had 14 chart-topping singles over her career. She has five singles in the Billboard Hot 100, three of which have reached the top 40.
In 1955, Wanda and Elvis Presley began a romantic relationship. When Presley began acting in films and Colonel Tom Parker gained control of his career, the couple’s relationship ended in 1956.
Wanda married Wendwell Goodman in 1961. Goodman had started his career in computers with IBM, but left to work full-time as his wife’s company manager, Wanda Jackson Enterprises. Goodman died in 2017 at the age of eighty-one. The couple has two children; Gina, their daughter, was born in 1962, and Greg, their son, was born in 1964.
Discography
| Unfinished Business |  |
| The Party Ain’t Over | |
| I Remember Elvis | |
| Heart Trouble | |
| The Queen of Rock’ a ‘Billy | |
| Let’s Have a Party | |
| Generations (Of Gospel Music) | |
| Rock & Roll-ra Hívlak! | |
| Goin’ on with My Jesus | |
| Don’t Worry Be Happy | |
| Encore | |
| Classy Country | |
| Let’s Have a Party in Prague | |
| Teach Me to Love | |
| Rockabilly Fever | |
| My Kind of Gospel | |
| Let’s Have a Party | |
| Show Me the Way to Calvary | |
| Good Times | |
| Closer to Jesus | |
| Make Me Like a Child Again | |
| Now I Have Everything | |
| When It’s Time to Fall in Love Again | |
| Country Keepsakes | |
| Country Gospel | |
| I Wouldn’t Want You Any Other Way | |
| Praise the Lord | |
| I’ve Gotta Sing | |
| A Woman Lives for Love | |
| Wanda Jackson Country! | |
| The Happy Side of Wanda | |
| The Many Moods of Wanda Jackson | |
| Cream of the Crop | |
| You’ll Always Have My Love | |
| Reckless Love Affair | |
| Wanda Jackson Salutes the Country Music Hall of Fame | |
| Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs | |
| Blues in My Heart | |
| Two Sides of Wanda | |
| Love Me Forever | |
| Wonderful Wanda | |
| Right or Wrong | |
| There’s a Party Goin’ On | |
| Wanda Jackson | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Type Singer Of Wanda Jackson?
Wanda Jackson is a rockabilly singer. She started her career in the 1950s and continues to tour today. Her biggest hits include “Let’s Have a Party” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. She is also the recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
What Was Wanda Jackson’S Biggest Hit?
One of Wanda Jackson’s biggest hits was “Let’s Have a Party.” Released in 1960, the song spent six weeks at number one on the country charts and reached number five on the pop charts. Written by Jesse Stone and Otis Blackwell, “Let’s Have a Party” has been covered by many artists over the years, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys.
Wanda Jackson We’Ll Sing The Sunshine Album How Much Is It Worth?
The album, “Sunshine,” by Wanda Jackson was released in 1965 and contains ten tracks. The album has been re-issued multiple times, and the value of the album will depend on the condition of the vinyl, CD, or cassette, as well as the edition that is being sold. Generally speaking, an original pressing of the album in good condition could sell for around $50 on eBay, while a re-issue in good condition could sell for around $10. If the album is rare or in mint condition, it could be worth significantly more.
How Many Albulms Does Wanda Jackson Have?
Wanda Jackson has released sixty-six albums in total. This includes both studio albums and compilation albums. Her most recent album, “The Party Ain’t Over”, was released in 2011. Jackson has also released twenty-eight singles throughout her career. Her most popular single is “Let’s Have a Party”, which was released in 1958.
When Did Wanda Jackson Record Stupid Cuoid?
Wanda Jackson recorded “Stupid Cupid” in 1958. The song was written by Archie Jordan and released as a single by Capitol Records. The song became a hit, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Stupid Cupid” has been covered by many artists over the years, and remains a popular song today.
Most Searched For Wanda Jackson Songs
| Funnel Of Love | |
| Let’s Have A Party | |
| Long Tall Sally | |
| Right or Wrong | |
| Thunder on the Mountain | |
| Fujiyama Mama – Remastered | |
| Two Shots | |
| Stupid Cupid | |
| He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands | |
| Whirlpool | |