Henson Cargill
Encyclopedia
Henson Cargill was an American country music
singer best known for the 1968 No. 1 hit, "Skip a Rope
". His music career began in Oklahoma
in clubs around Oklahoma City
and Tulsa
. He earned national recognition after getting a Nashville
producer to agree to produce "Skip a Rope".
Cargill had a number of Top 20 hits including "Row Row Row" (1968), "None Of My Business", and "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I Ever Heard" (1970). Later hits included "Some Old California Memory" and "Silence on the Line". He also had a television show and performed for many years in Reno
and Las Vegas
.
. His family was active in politics and raised buffalo on a ranch outside Oklahoma City
. His grandfather, O. A. Cargill
served on the Oklahoma Supreme Court
. Marrying his high school sweetheart, Marta, he took her to Fort Collins, Colorado
in the early 1960s. He studied pre-law, but decided it was not his calling and returned to Oklahoma City
. He served as a deputy sheriff for some time.
and Tulsa
. While working the late shift as a deputy sheriff, Cargill received a visit from his friend and fellow musician Johnny Johnson, who told him of a seasoned and professional vocal group he had been recording with. Henson began recording locally at the Sully Studios with the Kimberleys as backup. They began to tour together all over the west.
In the mid 1960s, Henson went to Nashville and was fortunate to have Don Law agree to produce "Skip A Rope". Henson released his album on the Monument Label [1967]and immediately scored in a big way with this first release. The song became a huge hit, spending five weeks at No. 1 on the country charts in 1968 and also making the Top 25 on the Pop charts. This generated much media attention and he was in demand on such TV programs as The Mike Douglas Show
to The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
After "Skip a Rope", Cargill continued to have Top 20 hits with such songs as "Row Row Row" (1968), "None Of My Business" (his only other Top 10) (1969), and "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I Ever Heard" (1970). He hosted a television show, Country Hayride, beginning in 1962 and performed for many years in Reno
and Las Vegas
. Johnny Cash
was godfather to his oldest son, Cash.
After leaving Monument Records, Henson moved to Mega Records
in 1971, where he scored several minor hits.
In 1973, he made a strong comeback to the charts when he signed with Atlantic Records
and scored 2 Top 30 hits in 1974 with "Some Old California Memory" and a version of Mac Davis
' hit song "Stop and Smell the Roses
". In 1980, he formed his own record label Copper Mountain Records and he scored his last Top 30 hit that year with "Silence On The Line".
, where he wed Sharon Simms on September 8, 1988, and died on March 24, 2007, aged 66, during surgery.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer best known for the 1968 No. 1 hit, "Skip a Rope
Skip a Rope
"Skip a Rope is a 1967 single by Henson Cargill. The single was Cargill's debut release on the country charts and also his most successful single. "Skip a Rope" was Cargill's sole No. 1 on the country charts, spending five weeks at the top and a total of 16 weeks on the chart.The song asked...
". His music career began in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
in clubs around Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
and Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. He earned national recognition after getting a Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
producer to agree to produce "Skip a Rope".
Cargill had a number of Top 20 hits including "Row Row Row" (1968), "None Of My Business", and "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I Ever Heard" (1970). Later hits included "Some Old California Memory" and "Silence on the Line". He also had a television show and performed for many years in Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Early life
Cargill was born on February 5, 1941 in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. His family was active in politics and raised buffalo on a ranch outside Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
. His grandfather, O. A. Cargill
O. A. Cargill
O. A. Cargill was a very prominent lawyer, author and buffalo rancher during Oklahoma's early days. After law school he was active in politics, having been elected mayor of Oklahoma City and also serving as Special Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court....
served on the Oklahoma Supreme Court
Oklahoma Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is one of the two highest judicial bodies in the U.S. state of Oklahoma and leads the Oklahoma Court System, the judicial branch of the government of Oklahoma....
. Marrying his high school sweetheart, Marta, he took her to Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
in the early 1960s. He studied pre-law, but decided it was not his calling and returned to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
. He served as a deputy sheriff for some time.
Music career
Cargill began his music career playing in clubs in and around Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
and Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. While working the late shift as a deputy sheriff, Cargill received a visit from his friend and fellow musician Johnny Johnson, who told him of a seasoned and professional vocal group he had been recording with. Henson began recording locally at the Sully Studios with the Kimberleys as backup. They began to tour together all over the west.
In the mid 1960s, Henson went to Nashville and was fortunate to have Don Law agree to produce "Skip A Rope". Henson released his album on the Monument Label [1967]and immediately scored in a big way with this first release. The song became a huge hit, spending five weeks at No. 1 on the country charts in 1968 and also making the Top 25 on the Pop charts. This generated much media attention and he was in demand on such TV programs as The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
to The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
After "Skip a Rope", Cargill continued to have Top 20 hits with such songs as "Row Row Row" (1968), "None Of My Business" (his only other Top 10) (1969), and "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I Ever Heard" (1970). He hosted a television show, Country Hayride, beginning in 1962 and performed for many years in Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
was godfather to his oldest son, Cash.
After leaving Monument Records, Henson moved to Mega Records
Mega Records
Mega Records was a Nashville, Tennessee-based music label that released albums by bands such as Apollo 100 and country and western singer Sammi Smith, as early as the early 1970s...
in 1971, where he scored several minor hits.
In 1973, he made a strong comeback to the charts when he signed with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and scored 2 Top 30 hits in 1974 with "Some Old California Memory" and a version of Mac Davis
Mac Davis
Mac Davis is a country music singer, songwriter, and actor originally from Lubbock, Texas who has enjoyed much crossover success...
' hit song "Stop and Smell the Roses
Stop and Smell the Roses (song)
"Stop and Smell the Roses" is the title of a 1974 song by the American singer-songwriter Mac Davis. The song was written by Davis and the noted bandleader and trumpeter Doc Severinsen....
". In 1980, he formed his own record label Copper Mountain Records and he scored his last Top 30 hit that year with "Silence On The Line".
Later life and death
In the late 1980s he retired to Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, where he wed Sharon Simms on September 8, 1988, and died on March 24, 2007, aged 66, during surgery.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|||
| 1968 | Skip a Rope | 4 | 179 | Monument 45-1041 Time 2:38 Flow-2169 Tree Publishing Co..Inc. BMI |
| 1969 | Coming on Strong | 31 | — | |
| None of My Business | — | — | ||
| 1970 | Uncomplicated | — | — | |
| 1972 | On the Road | — | — | Mega |
| 1973 | This Is Henson Cargill Country | 27 | — | Atlantic |
| 1982 | In the Shadows | — | — | 51 West |
| 1988 | All American Cowboy | — | — | Amethsyt |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1967 | "Skip a Rope Skip a Rope "Skip a Rope is a 1967 single by Henson Cargill. The single was Cargill's debut release on the country charts and also his most successful single. "Skip a Rope" was Cargill's sole No. 1 on the country charts, spending five weeks at the top and a total of 16 weeks on the chart.The song asked... " |
1 | 25 | — | Skip a Rope |
| 1968 | "Row Row Row" | 11 | — | 3 | Coming on Strong |
| "She Thinks I'm on That Train" | 39 | — | 34 | ||
| 1969 | "None of My Business" | 8 | — | 11 | None of My Business |
| "This Generation Shall Not Pass" | 40 | — | — | ||
| "Then the Baby Came" | 32 | — | 24 | single only | |
| 1970 | "What's My Name" | — | — | — | Uncomplicated |
| "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I've Ever Heard" | 18 | — | — | ||
| "Bless 'Em All" | — | — | — | singles only | |
| 1971 | "Pencil Marks on the Wall" | 44 | — | — | |
| "Naked and Crying" | 65 | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "I Can't Face the Bed Alone" | 64 | — | — | |
| "Oklahoma Hell" | — | — | — | ||
| "Red Skies Over Georgia" | 62 | — | — | ||
| 1973 | "My '47 Chevy, My Honky Tonk Guitar and Me" | — | — | — | |
| "Some Old California Memory" | 28 | — | 64 | This Is Henson Cargill Country | |
| 1974 | "She Still Comes to Me (To Pour the Wine)" | 78 | — | — | |
| "Stop and Smell the Roses Stop and Smell the Roses (song) "Stop and Smell the Roses" is the title of a 1974 song by the American singer-songwriter Mac Davis. The song was written by Davis and the noted bandleader and trumpeter Doc Severinsen.... " |
29 | — | — | singles only | |
| 1975 | "Deep in the Heart of Dixie" | — | — | — | |
| "Something to Hold On To" | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "Silence on the Line" | 29 | — | — | |
| 1980 | "Have a Good Day" | 67 | — | — |