Tanya Tucker

A defining voice of country music and a modern day legend, Tanya Tucker inspired many female artists who still top the charts today. From the signature classic songs to the unforgettable sass and soul of her voice, Tucker has paved a path in country music and beyond through an unprecedented level of success and continues her longevity today due to a natural, undeniable talent.

When producer Billy Sherrill received a demo tape of Tucker, he quickly signed her to a record deal at Columbia Records. Her style has proven to be timeless ever since she recorded her debut single “Delta Dawn,” at age 13. The single earned a Grammy nomination for “Best Female Country Vocal Performance” and launched Tucker into the national spotlight during the beginning of her teenage years.

In 1972, she earned the “Top New Female Vocalist” award by the Academy of Country Music. With a wildly growing career at such a young age, the Tucker craze continued with her first number one single, in 1973, “What’s Your Mama’s Name.”

Tucker achieved an unusual feat for a female country artist at the time with a 1974 Rolling Stone cover story with the headline, “Hi, I’m Tanya Tucker, I’m 15, You’re Gonna Hear From Me.” As additional hits continued, Tucker added an edgy rock image, which she still embraces, to her musical taste with the album T.N.T, which was released in 1978. The gold certified album peaked at number two on the album charts. Through a collaborative relationship with Glen Campbell, Tucker transitioned to a new label in the early 1980’s and was back in the Top 10 with “Can I See You Tonight,” co-written by hitmaker Deborah Allen (Patty Loveless). Just a few years later, Tucker experienced another hit with “One Love at a Time,” co-written by Paul Overstreet (Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton). With four additional number one charted hits between 1986-1988, Tucker’s career, nearly two decades already underway, was proving to be one for the record books.

The 1990’s gave rise to some of Tucker’s most recognizable and career defining songs, “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane” and “It’s a Little Too Late.” New albums, along with multiple versions of greatest hits and live compilation projects, propelled Tucker to become one of the best selling female artists in country music. With a 1994 Super Bowl XXVIII halftime appearance, Tucker was a household name to stay.

Tucker’s latest honor, a special exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, gives visitors the chance to step into Tucker’s rich personal life. “Tanya Tucker: Strong Enough to Bend” runs through May 2015 and features many of Tucker’s favorite items from various eras of her career. From her pink Harley Davidson to her own line of salsa, Tucker’s life is chronicled in a never-before-seen way for fans to get up close and personal with the legend.

In February of 2017, Tanya performed at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for a packed house and was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. She belted out Randy Travis’s “I Told You So,” paying tribute to her dear friend. She is currently out on her 2017 North American tour, including shows in Canada. She is managed by James Garner and Jerilyn Sawyer of Sawyer & Garner LLC and her agents are Lance Roberts and Nick Meinema of United Talent Agency. Stay tuned for a long awaited new album from the songbird herself.

Words from the official website.

Selected Discography

Girl Like Me

Capitol Records 1986

Tracks: One Love At A Time, I'll Come Back As Another Woman, Fool Fool Heart, Just Another Love, Girls Like Me, Somebody To Care, It's Only Over For You, Daddy Long Legs, You Could Change My Mind & Still Hold On.

Musicians on the Girl Like Me album: Tanya Tucker and others.

Changes

Arista Records 1983

Tracks: Cry, Shame On The Moon, Until You're Mine, Baby I'm Yours, I Don't Want You To Go, Heartache And A Half, Changes, Feel Right, Thing Called Love & Too Long.

Musicians on the Changes album: Tanya Tucker and others.

Should I Do It

MCA Records 1981

Tracks: Should I Do It, Stormy Weather, Halfway To Heaven, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, Heartache n° 3, Rodeo Girls, I Oughta Let Go, Lucky Enough For Two, We're Playing Games Again & Shoulder To Shoulder.

Musicians on the Should I Do It album: Tanya Tucker, Buzz Feiten, Jay Dee Maness, Dean Parks, Lee Ritenour, Jerry Swallow, Fred Tackett, Bill McCubbin, Lee Sklar, Bill Cuomo, Larry Muhoberac, Jai Winding, Rick Shlosser, Steve Turner, Jim Horn, Andrew Love, Chuck Findley, Jerry Hey, James Mitchell, Nick DeCaro, John Bahler, Debbie Hall, Emmylou Harris, Ron Hicklin, Sandie Hill, Gene Morford, Herb Pedersen & Jerry Whitman.

Dreamlovers

MCA Records 1980

Tracks: Can I See You Tonight, Love Knows We Tried, I've Got Somebody, Let Me Count The Ways, Dream Lover, Somebody Trying To Tell You Something , All The Way, Tennessee Woman, Don't You Want To Be A Lover Tonight & My Song.

Musicians on the Dreamlovers album: Tanya Tucker, Pete Bordonali, Johnny Christopher, Jon Goin, Weldon Myrick, Jerry Swallow, Pete Wade, Chip Young, Bill McCubin, Joe Osborn, Steve Schaffer, Neil Stubenhaus, Jack Williams, Steve Goldstein, Steve Hardin, Shane Keister, Hargus Robbins, Bobby Wood, Jerry Carrigan, Buster Phillips, Steve Turner, Glenn Campbell, Steve Goldstein, Sheri Kramer, Diane Tidwell, Mel Tillis & Bergen White.

Tear Me Apart

MCA Records 1979

Tracks: Blind Love, Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone, Somebody Must Have Loved You Right Last Night, San Francisco Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair, I Left My Heart In San Francisco, Tear Me Apart, Crossfire Of Desire, Better Late Than Never, I've Never Said No Before, Shady Streets & By Day By Day.

Musicians on the Tear Me Apart album: Tanya Tucker, Bill Andersen, Jerry Swallow, Jeff Eyrich, Steve Goldstein, Beau Segal, Jerry Peterson, Rusty Buchanan, Lynda Lawley, Sue Richman, Andrea Robinson, Julia Tillman Waters, Luther Waters, Oren Waters & Maxine Willard Waters.

TNT

MCA Records 1978

Tracks: Lover Goodbye, I'm The Singer You're The Song, Not Fade Away, Angel From Montgomery, Heartbreak Hotel, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, The River And The Wind, If You Feel It, It's Nice To Be With You & Texas (When I Die).

Musicians on the TNT album: Tanya Tucker, Jerry Swallow, Billy Joe Walker, Jerry Scheff, Lonnie Jordan, John Hobbs, Paul Leim, Larry Muhoberac, Mickey Raphael, Curt Becher, Joe Chemay, Dash Crofts, Phil Everly, Venetta Fields, Jerry Goldstein, Michael McGinnis, Brent Nelson, Joey Paige, Jody Payne, John Prine, Jim Seals, Julia Tillman Waters, Oren Waters & Luther Waters & Maxine Willard Waters.