Leona Williams
Encyclopedia
Leona Belle Helton is an American country music
singer known professionally as Leona Williams. Active since 1958, Williams has been a backing musician for Loretta Lynn
and Merle Haggard
, to whom she was married between 1978 and 1983. She also charted eight times on Hot Country Songs
, with her only Top 40 hit being a duet with Haggard titled "The Bull and the Beaver."
. Active in her family's band since childhood, she had a radio program on KWOS
in Jefferson City, Missouri
when she was fifteen. Later on, she worked as a bass guitar
ist and backing vocalist in Loretta Lynn
's road band. By 1968, Williams signed to the Hickory record label and released two singles: "Once More" and "Country Girl with Hot Pants On." In 1976, she recorded the album San Quentin's First Lady for MCA Records
, which was the first country album recorded by a female artist inside a prison. She also joined Merle Haggard
's road band in the mid-1970s, supplanting his estranged wife, Bonnie Owens
. Leona wrote two of Merle's #1 hits, "Someday When Things Are Good", and "You Take Me For Granted". She also wrote songs for Connie Smith--"Dallas", Loretta Lynn--"Get Whatcha Got And Go", and others. Between 1978 and 1983, she was married to Haggard, and in 1978, the two charted in the country Top Ten with the song "The Bull and the Beaver." She recorded two singles for Elektra Records
in 1981, and charted another duet with Haggard titled "We're Strangers Again." She later married singer-songwriter Dave Kirby in 1985, and remained married to him until his 2004 death. Williams continues to tour with her son, Ron.
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 known professionally as Leona Williams. Active since 1958, Williams has been a backing musician for Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
and Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
, to whom she was married between 1978 and 1983. She also charted eight times on Hot Country Songs
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...
, with her only Top 40 hit being a duet with Haggard titled "The Bull and the Beaver."
Biography
Leona Belle Helton was born January 7, 1943 in Vienna, MissouriVienna, Missouri
Vienna is a city in and the county seat of Maries County, Missouri, United States. The population was 628 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Vienna is located at ....
. Active in her family's band since childhood, she had a radio program on KWOS
KWOS
KWOS is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format.Licensed to Jefferson City, Missouri, USA, the station serves the Columbia MO area. The station is currently owned by Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri, Inc and features programing from CBS Radio, Westwood One and ESPN Radio....
in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
when she was fifteen. Later on, she worked as a bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist and backing vocalist in Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
's road band. By 1968, Williams signed to the Hickory record label and released two singles: "Once More" and "Country Girl with Hot Pants On." In 1976, she recorded the album San Quentin's First Lady for MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, which was the first country album recorded by a female artist inside a prison. She also joined Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
's road band in the mid-1970s, supplanting his estranged wife, Bonnie Owens
Bonnie Owens
Bonnie Owens , born Bonnie Campbell, was an American country music singer who was married to Buck Owens and later Merle Haggard.-Biography:...
. Leona wrote two of Merle's #1 hits, "Someday When Things Are Good", and "You Take Me For Granted". She also wrote songs for Connie Smith--"Dallas", Loretta Lynn--"Get Whatcha Got And Go", and others. Between 1978 and 1983, she was married to Haggard, and in 1978, the two charted in the country Top Ten with the song "The Bull and the Beaver." She recorded two singles for Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 1981, and charted another duet with Haggard titled "We're Strangers Again." She later married singer-songwriter Dave Kirby in 1985, and remained married to him until his 2004 death. Williams continues to tour with her son, Ron.
Albums
| Year | Album information | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country | ||
| 1976 | San Quentin's First Lady
|
— |
| 1983 | Heart to Heart (with Merle Haggard)
Mercury Records Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... |
44 |
| 2004 | Honorary Texan
|
— |
| 2005 | I Love You Because
|
— |
| 2008 | Sings Merle Haggard
|
— |
| 2008 | New Patches
|
— |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
CAN Country | ||
| 1969 | "Once More" | 66 | — |
| 1971 | "Country Girl with Hot Pants On" | 52 | — |
| 1973 | "Your Shoeshine Girl" | 93 | — |
| 1978 | "The Bull and the Beaver" (with Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,... ) |
8 | 25 |
| 1979 | "The Baby Song"/"Call Me Crazy Lady" | 92 | — |
| 1981 | "I'm Almost Ready" | 54 | — |
| "Always Late with Your Kisses Always Late with Your Kisses "Always Late " is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Lefty Frizzell. It was the fifth single released from his 1951/1952 album Listen to Lefty. It peaked at number one in 1951 and became his fourth release to hit the top... " |
84 | — | |
| 1983 | "We're Strangers Again" (with Merle Haggard) | 42 | — |
| 1986 | "No Love Line" | — | — |