Janie Fricke AutographWhile working on her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Indiana University, Janie Fricke began working part-time singing ad jingles. She favored folk music and was influenced by vocalists like Joan Baez and Judy Collins.After college Fricke moved to Los Angeles in search of work as a backup vocalist. She didn't find work on the West Coast, so she took off for Nashville. 1975 was a good year for her. She soon found work as a background vocalists for country music stars like Elvis Presley, Barbara Mandrell, Al Green, Tanya Tucker, Eddie Rabbitt, Ronnie Milsap, Conway Twitty, Crystal Gayle and Johnny Duncan. It was her work with Duncan on hits like "Stranger," "Jo and the Cowboy," "Thinkin' of a Rendezvous," and "It Couldn't Have Been Any Better," that led to her first credited work - "Come a Little Bit Closer," a duet with Duncan that made it all the way to the top five on the charts. Her work with Duncan led to her singing duets with some of the biggest names in country music - Merle Haggard, Charlie Rich, and Moe Bandy. In 1977, Fricke signed with Columbia Records and recorded her first single "What're You Doing Tonight?" She followed that with a remake of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling." In 1982, Fricke hit number one on the country charts with "Don't Worry 'bout Me, Baby" (with Ricky Skaggs singing harmony.) 1983 was good for her. She toured with country music's top draw at the time, the band Alabama, and she recorded another number one country hit, "He's a Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen)." "Heartache" was one of three hits singles on her album "It Ain't Easy." In 1985, a duet with Merle Haggard, "A Place to Fall Apart," hit number one on the country charts. Haggard wrote the song about a letter that he had written to his ex-wife Leona Williams. In 1986, Fricke released the album, "Black & White". The album included a number one single, "Always Have, Always Will" and another hit song, "When a Woman Cries."  Three years later, in 1989, Fricke recorded the album "Labor of Love." Hit singles from that album were "Love Is One of Those Words" and "My Old Friend, the Blues." Soon after that album was finished she left Columbia Records. In 1992, she signed with Branson Entertainment. At Branson she recorded the albums "Crossroads" and "Now & Then." Janie Fricke has won many awards during her career. Among them: Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year, Music City News Female Vocalist of the Year, and Billboard Top Country Female Vocalist. She has a spot on the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway of Stars. She received two Grammy nominations. Return to Collecting Celebrity Autographs Home Page from Janie Fricke |
Subscribe in a reader