American singer-songwriter Wanda LaVonne Jackson was born on October 20, 1937. She has made recordings and distributed gospel, rock, and country music since the 1950s.
She was one of the first women to pursue a career in rock and roll, and a string of songs she released in the 1950s helped her earn the moniker “The Queen of Rockabilly.” She was one of the first female stars in the country music genre as well.
Where did Wanda Jackson grow up?
Wanda Jackson was raised in Maud, Oklahoma, by her parents. Her father held a variety of professions, including that of a delivery truck driver and gas station attendant. He joined his brother in a small band where they both performed music.
The family relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1941 due to the lack of prospects in Maud.
In Oklahoma City, Jackson had her own radio programme after starting to act as a young child. Hank Thompson, a country music performer, later made her his subject. He assisted her in 1954 in landing a recording deal with Decca Records. Jackson’s debut single at Decca was the country ballad “You Can’t Have My Love,” which became a smash. The next year, she began travelling alongside Elvis Presley.
