Goldie Hill
Hill in a promotional photo
Hill in a promotional photo
Background information
Birth nameArgolda Voncile Hill
Born(1933-01-11)January 11, 1933
OriginKarnes City, Texas, United States
DiedFebruary 24, 2005(2005-02-24) (aged 72)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genrescountry
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)vocals, guitar
Years active1953–2005
LabelsDecca Records
Epic Records

Argolda Voncile "Goldie" Hill[1] (January 11, 1933 – February 24, 2005) was an American country music singer. She was one of the first women in country music, and became one of the first women to reach the top of the country music charts with her No. 1 1953 hit, "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes". Along with Kitty Wells and Jean Shepard she helped set the standard for later women in country music.

Early life and career

Hill was born in Karnes City, Texas in 1933, a small town southeast of San Antonio. She was the sister of singer Tommy Hill. She also performed with her brothers Tommy and Ken. Then she auditioned as a solo singer at Decca Records. Her first single, "Why Talk To My Heart", was released in 1952. Hill recorded the song "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes" the same year a riposte to Perry Como's "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes", written by her brother, Tommy Hill. It became a number 1 hit. In 1954, she followed up with two hit duets with singer Justin Tubb, son of Ernest Tubb. In the early 1960s, she recorded two albums for Decca Records. She regularly performed on Louisiana Hayride, Grand Ole Opry and Ozark Jubilee. She married country singer Carl Smith in 1957 and the couple had two sons (Carl, Jr. and Larry Dean), and one daughter (Lori Lynn). They remained married for 47 years until her death. She made a short-lived comeback in the late 1960s with the label Epic Records under the name Goldie Hill Smith.

On February 24, 2005, Hill died from complications of cancer. She was 72 years old.[2][3] Her husband survived her by 5 years.[4]

Discography

Goldie Hill discography
Studio albums6
Singles35
No. 1 Singles (Overall)1

Albums

Year Album details
1960 Goldie Hill
  • Released: 1960
  • Label: Decca
1961 Lonely Heartaches
  • Released: May 1961
  • Label: Decca
1962 According to My Heart
  • Released: 1962
  • Label: Decca
1964 Country Hit Parade
  • Released: January 1964
  • Label: Decca
1967 Goldie Hill Sings Again
  • Released: 1967
  • Label: Epic
1968 Country Gentleman's Lady
  • Released: February 1968
  • Label: Epic

Singles

Year Song US Country Album
1952 "Why Talk to My Heart" non-album singles
"I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes" 1
1953 "I'm Yvonne (On the Bayou)"
"My Love Is Flame"
"Let Me Be the One"
1954 "Liquor and Women"
"Young at Heart"
"Looking Back to See" (with Justin Tubb) 4
"Cry, Cry Darling"
"Treat Me Kind"
"Sure Fire Kisses" (with Justin Tubb) 11
1955 "Are You Mine" (with Red Sovine) 14
"Why Don't You Let Me Go"
"Steel Guitar"
1956 "Sample My Kissin'"
"Footsteps"
1957 "Wasted Love Affair"
"Till I Said It to You"
1959 "Yankee Go Home" (with Red Sovine) 17
"Honky Tonk Music"
1960 "Living Alone"
"Baby Blue"
1961 "It's a Lovely, Lovely World" Goldie Hill
"Lonely Heartaches" Lonely Heartaches
"Live for Tomorrow" According to My Heart
1962 "I'm Afraid" non-album singles
"Little Boy Blue"
1963 "Baby Go Slow"
"I'm Gonna Bring You Down" Country Hit Parade
"Closer" non-album singles
1964 "Don't Let Him"
"Three's a Crowd"
1967 "There's Gotta Be More to Life (Than Lovin' a Man)" Goldie Hill Sings Again
1968 "Lovable Fool" 73 non-album singles
"Got Me Sumpin' Goin'"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Further reading

  • Country Music:The Rough Guide, Author: Kurt Wolff

Notes

  1. Michael McCall, John Rumble, Paul Kingsbury (2012). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. p. 240. ISBN 9780199920839.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Dave's Diary - 26/2/05 - Goldie Hill Obituary".
  3. Clayson, Alan (March 28, 2005). "Goldie Hill". The Guardian. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  4. McArdle, Terrence (January 23, 2010). "'Country Gentleman' had 21 consecutive Top 10 hits". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. pp. B4.
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