Billie Jo Spears Passes RIP

Mike Jones · Post by **Mike Jones** » 14 Dec 2011 12:37 pm

Billie Jo Spears, one of the most consistent female country hit-makers of the 1970s, has died in Texas at age 74.

She was famous for her 1975 international smash hit “Blanket on the Ground,” as well as for working-girl anthems and for songs that fused country and disco. Spears was extremely popular in Great Britain and was a fixture in Branson, Mo. for a time.

Born in 1937 in the shipyard city of Beaumont, Texs, she was the daughter of a truck-diver father. Her mother was a welder in the shipyards, as well as a guitarist in the Light Crust Doughboys western-swing band. Billie Jo Spears began singing professionally at age 13. She first recorded in Houston at that age and also appeared on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, La.

After working as a drive-in restaurant carhop and as a secretary, she moved from Texas to Nashville in 1964. Signing with Capitol Records, she first hit the top-10 on the country charts with 1969’s “Mr. Walker It’s All Over,” the saga of a downtrodden secretary. She followed it with “Pittsburgh General,” which stood up for nurses. Other early singles included “Stepchild” (1969), in which a boy kills his abusive stepfather, and “Marty Gray” (1970), which dealt with teen pregnancy.

She faded from the hit parade and underwent vocal-cord surgery, then scored a huge comeback on United Artists Records with the toe-tapping “Blanket on the Ground.” It became her first and only No. 1 hit, both in the U.S. and abroad.

She fused country songs with danceable pop rhythms in such big hits as 1976’s “What I’ve Got in Mind,” 1977’s “If You Want Me,” 1978’s “57 Chevrolet” and 1979’s remake of Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic “I Will Survive.” Spears was also distinctive in that she rarely recorded female “victim” material. Almost all of her hit ballads are about women asserting themselves. These include “Standing Tall” (1980), “I’ve Got to Go” (1978), “I’m Not Easy” (1977), “Never Did Like Whiskey” (1976) and her revival of Tammy Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” (1981).

Her other hits include 1976’s “Misty Blue” 1978’s Love Ain’t Gonna Wait for Us” and 1979’s “Livin’ Our Love Together.” She also recorded several notable duets with the late Del Reeves. Throughout her career, she sang with a tangy Texas accent and a feisty attitude. Her last appearance on the national country charts was in 1984.

Billie Jo Spears was married five times. In later years, she retained her popularity in the U.K. and recorded several albums for that market. She continued to tour stateside, despite triple-bypass heart surgery in 1993. Her most recent album was released in 2005. She had 22 British shows booked for 2012 at the time of her death.

She died of cancer on Wednesday morning, December 14. Survivors and funeral details were not available at press time.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 14 Dec 2011 4:22 pm

Great hit singer in an era of great singers. Didn't know her father played guitar for the Light Crust Doughboys. I was looking for a YouTube of "Blanket on the Ground" but found this: Hal on a keyless Sho-Bud w/Sho-Bud dual channel - Spider on fretted Dobro and Jerry Byrd on rhythm and Billie Jo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nowaKBqupyY

Herby Wallace · Post by **Herby Wallace** » 14 Dec 2011 4:27 pm

I am really sad to hear this as I thought a lot of her. I worked the road in her band in 1977 and I will say it was the best road job I ever had. She was so good to work with and never a cross word about anything and she always treated the band with great respect. We had an excellent band at that time with the late Jerry Layne Reid on guitar and Larry Lee on bass. BJ was one of the best singers I ever worked with as she was a true stylist and had a lot of soul in her singing. The last time I saw her was at Scotty's Convention a few years back and she sat in on one of my sets. One of my favorite tunes she sang was called "Silver Wings and Golden Rings". Her version of "Misty Blue" was also one of my favorites. God Bless You as we will miss you.

Herby Wallace

Buck Grantham R.I.P. · Post by **Buck Grantham R.I.P.** » 14 Dec 2011 4:39 pm

Billy Jo was the lady that suggested to Terry Bethel to put me on the Branson show and he did and I am forever grateful to her . Sweet lady and great singer. We all will miss her a lot... Love, Buck & Mitzi Grantham

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 14 Dec 2011 5:00 pm

I shed tears when Linda Hargrove passed,I am doing the same as I read this.She was one of my favorite female singers.I never got to meet her,sure wish I had.
Rest in Peace Billie Jo.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 14 Dec 2011 5:29 pm

So sorry this also. I had the chance to back her up for a couple of shows in the late 70's and she was the kindest and friendliest of the stars that came through that my band would back up.

My favorite version of Misty Blue:

Misty Blue

And another great one:

Every Time Two Fools Collide

Do yourself a favor and just type her name in the search engine on YouTube, and take a listen. It's hard not to shed a tear.

Herby Wallace · Post by **Herby Wallace** » 14 Dec 2011 6:52 pm

Yes, I forgot about Every Time Two Fools Collide as that was another great song I was able to back her on too. Again, I worked the road for over 12 years with many artists and like I said, her's was the best job without a doubt. Again, she was such a great stylist that you new who was singing after the first line of the song and sometimes just a word would do it. She had several good steel players over the years. For example, Paul Franklin worked with her right before I did and I got the job when he quit.

Herby Wallace

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 14 Dec 2011 9:15 pm

Billy Jo was such a gracious lady. Great voice, and great entertainer. I had the pleasure of doing some work with her in the early days of her career when Jack Rhodes was handling her career. RIP Billie Jo. You will be missed by all. Jody.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 14 Dec 2011 9:24 pm

What I've Got In Mind.......but "Blanket On The Ground" my all time favorite of hers. Memories, graduating from HS when the song was on the charts!

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 15 Dec 2011 2:53 am

May she rest in Peace. As Mike said, Billie was a huge hit in U.K. For many years being in a band with a girl singer..my wife, we did many of her songs. I was fortunate to see her perform at the London Palladium in 1969. Some British bands used to back her in Germany on the air bases before she became really famous.

Micky Byrne U.K.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 15 Dec 2011 2:53 am

May she rest in Peace. As Mike said, Billie was a huge hit in U.K. For many years being in a band with a girl singer..my wife, we did many of her songs. I was fortunate to see her perform at the London Palladium in 1969. Some British bands used to back her in Germany on the air bases before she became really famous.

Micky Byrne U.K.

Louie Hallford · Post by **Louie Hallford** » 15 Dec 2011 10:16 am

Terry Bethel invited me to play at the Branson steel club's Christmas party 3 or 4 time. One year at the end of my set, Billie ask me to stay at my guitar and back her on a song.

Being a lifetime amateur,it scared the "dumplin's out of me. I suggested she might want to get someone else because I might not know her song.
Her reply was "if you can't play this song you need to load your guitar up and go back to Texas.

I guess she decided I played too good for her, she never did ask me again.

Glad to have known her. I have missed not seeing her for the last several years.

Bob Simmons · Post by **Bob Simmons** » 15 Dec 2011 3:47 pm

really loved this gal - got to work for her for a while - she used to kid me about being short, and I'll tell you , this gal didn't even need a microphone - she could belt it out. Her big bud, Nancy Dee got me that gig, sold out shows and clubs RIP

Dave Harmonson · Post by **Dave Harmonson** » 15 Dec 2011 7:09 pm

Another sad loss. Blanket on the Ground definitely one of my favorites. Sing pretty for the angels/

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 15 Dec 2011 9:15 pm

I helped the late " Tex Clark " with Bright Star Promotions break her (Billie) song, " Break Away ". It was on Capitol Records.RIP Billie Jo.Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.= Uncle Leo

Dennis Atkins · Post by **Dennis Atkins** » 16 Dec 2011 5:35 pm

I had the pleasure of meeting Billie Jo at the Dallas show in 1997. It was my first time attending, and she was working with the Ozark Steel Guitar organization and was married to Terry Bethel at the time. Very gracious and we talked briefly about forming a steel guitar club in Minnesota.

I always liked her voice and singing style. We seem to be losing our best singers and players. May God give her peace and consolation to her family and many friends.

Dennis

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 17 Dec 2011 6:25 am

New York Times obituary for Billie Jo Spears:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/arts/ ... ?ref=music

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 17 Dec 2011 8:02 am

http://youtu.be/JDcL5b-efSE

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 17 Dec 2011 8:28 am

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 17 Dec 2011 7:12 pm

What a dynamite smile she had.

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 18 Dec 2011 11:36 am

It's sad to lose such a great talent. A wonderful strong voice that came so easily for her.

I had the priviledge to play What I've Got In Mind and Blanket On The Ground with her in 1977 on a PBS television show. It has always been highlight in my playing career.

Fred Thompson · Post by **Fred Thompson** » 19 Dec 2011 7:02 am

I had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with Billie Jo at Scotty's convention in the mid-90's. She was at the Ozark Steel Guitar booth. She was a sweetheart to talk to, like we had been friends for years, though we had just met. I loved her voice and style. She was the REAL DEAL! I envy Herby, who has memories that I wish were mine.....
Fred

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Billie Jo Spears Passes RIP

Billie Jo Spears Passes RIP

Bj

Billy Jo

Bj

Re: Billie Jo Spears Passes RIP

Re: Billie Jo Spears Passes RIP

Did I ever tell Ya'll when I used to Play fo Billie Jo.

a big loss