On ‘That’s Country’

Press, 15 June 1983, Page 11

On ‘That’s Country’

Husky-voiced Barbara Fairchild from San Antonio will appear in tonight’s episode of “That’s Country”. It was the songwriter, Jerry Crutchfield, who gave Barbara Fairchild her start in Nashville. The second time he met her he told her he would guarantee her a record.

“She had one song I liked,” Crutchfield says, “so I told her to go home, write some more and come back. She was only 17, but she sang with the conviction and experience of someone who’d been around a lot longer. Her country songs have been compared with Dolly Parton. She’s also been compared with Teresa Brewer. She reminds me of a torchy French singer.”

Barbara Fairchild says she mostly gets compared with Brenda Lee. In school Barbara admired Brenda and knew all her songs. She

tried to sing like Brenda until she realised the world did not need two Brenda Lees. Then she tried to follow Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith and others. Finally she decided to perfect her own style.

Out of all this came “Teddy Bear Song,” which has defied categorisation and mystified many insiders — including Barbara Fairchild. “I really don’t know why it was such a big hit,” she says. “I wasn’t prepared for its being the record it’s been.”

Also appearing on “That’s Country” tonight will be Gary Morris, John Grenell, Toni Williams, Noel Parlane, Jodi Vaughan, Judy Barnes and Pat Kearns.