Gayla Earlene
Encyclopedia
Gayla Earlene, born January 31, 1954 in Inola, Oklahoma
, is a multi award winning Christian country music
recording artist and musician.
with other artist such as, Roy Clark
, Freddy Fender
, Minnie Pearl
, Johnny Russell
and Mel Tillis
. Through the years Earlene has had major success in the Christian
country market. She has amassed over fourteen number one songs and has been awarded the industries highest honors of Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year on several occasions.
When Earlene and her husband are not touring, the couple run a feed store called Crain Feed and Farm Supply in Skiatook, Oklahoma
. They formed the company in 1975.
Inola, Oklahoma
Inola is a town in Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. It is included in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area . The population was 1,788 at the 2010 census, a 12.5 percent increase from 1,589 at the 2000 census. Inola styles itself as "The Hay Capital of the World."-Geography:Inola is...
, is a multi award winning Christian country music
Christian country music
Christian country music is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
recording artist and musician.
Biography
Earlene began her professional career at the age of 16 as a singer/songwriter. In 1971, she met and married fellow artist and steel guitarist, Gene Crain. Together they formed the group Pure Country and began touring across the country. Earlene has performed on the Grand Ole OpryGrand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
with other artist such as, Roy Clark
Roy Clark
Roy Linwood Clark is an American country music musician and performer. He is best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969–1992. Clark has been an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and helping to popularize the genre...
, Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
, Minnie Pearl
Minnie Pearl
Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon , known professionally as Minnie Pearl, was an American country comedienne who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991.-Early life:Sarah Colley was born in Centerville, in Hickman County, Tennessee,...
, Johnny Russell
Johnny Russell
John Bright "Johnny" Russell was an American country singer, songwriter, and comedian best-known for his song "Act Naturally", which was made famous by Buck Owens, who recorded it in 1963, and The Beatles in 1965...
and Mel Tillis
Mel Tillis
Lonnie Melvin Tillis , known professionally as Mel Tillis, is an American country music singer. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s, with a long list of Top 10 hits....
. Through the years Earlene has had major success in the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
country market. She has amassed over fourteen number one songs and has been awarded the industries highest honors of Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year on several occasions.
When Earlene and her husband are not touring, the couple run a feed store called Crain Feed and Farm Supply in Skiatook, Oklahoma
Skiatook, Oklahoma
Skiatook is a town in Osage and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is a suburb of Tulsa. The population was 7,397 in the 2010 census, compared to 5,396 at the 2000 census.-History:William C...
. They formed the company in 1975.
Discography
Gayla has recorded many albums through the years that has contained many of the number one songs she has been noted for.Selected albums
| Album |
| Sweet Life |
| We're Following the Footsteps of Jesus |
| Ghost Story |
| Christmas All Through the Year |
| City Girl |
| Broken Pieces |
| Back to Basics |
| Poor Little Rich Girl |
Number ones
| Year | Song |
| 1998 | "Broken By the Blood" |
| 1999 | "The Door", "City Girl" |
| 2000 | "When Grandma Prayed", "Who Moved" |
| 2001 | "Broken Pieces", "7/24/365" |
| 2003 | "I Didn't Know I Ever Knew" |
| 2004 | "Thank You Lord" |
| 2005 | "Catch it in a Bucket" |
| 2006 | "Poor Little Rich Girl" |
| 2007 | "Bible Billy", "Your Love" |
| 2008 | "Rebel With A Cause" |