Famous for his hit song “Wolverton Mountain,” Claude King has become one of the most prominent names in the industry. Throughout his career, the country singer has sold over a million records and gained many followers, eventually becoming a standard among many aspiring country artists today.
However, aside from being an amazing singer, there is more to Claude King than many people know. So let’s now unveil Claude King’s life, from his childhood to how he became one of the most iconic country singers of all time.
1. His Early Rooted Love for Music
Born on February 5, 1923, Claude King grew up in Northwestern Louisiana. At a young age, he became interested in playing instruments, particularly the guitar. In fact, he bought his first guitar at the age of twelve and started to learn how to play it on his own.
2. Sports Over Music?
Although his interest in music started early, Claude King was also a man of sports. As a kid, he mostly spends his free time outdoors, either playing with friends or learning a new sport. There was even a time when he decided to devote himself to sports; he ended up receiving a baseball scholarship to the University of Idaho.
3. Once Part of Rainbow Boys
Despite his love for sports, music still has a big chunk in Claude King’s heart. Right before his debut as a solo artist, he once formed a band called the Rainbow Boys with his friends Buddy Attaway and Tillman Franks.
4. He Had Quite a Rough Start
There is no denying that Claude King is talented in many ways. However, just like any other aspiring country singer, he had quite a rough start in his career. After signing for Gotham Records to start his solo career, Claude didn’t receive much recognition from the public.
As he started to get serious about his music career, he decided to sign with Columbia Records in 1961, where he immediately got his first taste of success.
5. He Writes Impactful Songs
Compared to other country artists who only wrote songs about love and sorrow, Claude decided to use his voice to reach out to everyone to spread awareness on certain issues in his time, political or non-political. An example of this is his song, “The Burning of Atlanta.”
6. A Singer and Actor in One
Claude King is one of the most versatile artists in the world. Aside from being such a talented singer, he has also worked his magic on the big screen. He has acted in several movies, such as Swamp Girl in 1971 and Year of the Yahoo in 1972.
7. A Sudden Goodbye
What happened to Claude King? On March 7, 2013, his family announced his sudden death at the age of 90. The cause of his sudden passing wasn’t revealed to the public, but it was indeed one of the mournful moments for every Claude King fan. Despite this great loss, Claude King’s spirit remains, thanks to his legacy in the country music industry.
