Conway Twitty American country musician Date of Birth: 01.09.1933 Country: USA

Biography of Conway Twitty

Conway Twitty, whose real name was Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country musician. He was born in 1933 in Friars Point, Mississippi. From a young age, Twitty showed a passion for sports and even played for the Philadelphia Phillies, a professional baseball team. However, his focus later shifted towards music.

Twitty formed his first musical group while still in school and soon had his own show on local radio. During his time in the army, he formed a band called the "Cimmerons" to entertain his fellow soldiers. It was in the 1950s that Twitty began singing, initially in the style of rock and roll. He was inspired by Elvis Presley's song "Mystery Train," which led him to pursue music seriously. He even became the head of the "Sun Studios" in Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked extensively on sound.

In 1957, he changed his name to Conway Twitty, taking inspiration from the names of two cities, Conway in Arkansas and Twitty in Texas. Twitty's music style eventually shifted towards heartfelt country ballads. In 1958, he achieved his first major success with the release of his composition "It's Only Make Believe," which reached the top of the Billboard chart. That same year, his album "Conway Twitty Sings" was also released. Many initially mistook him for Elvis Presley using a different name.

In 1960, Twitty appeared in three films: "College Confidential," "Sex Kittens Go to College," and "Platinum High School." In the mid-1960s, Twitty fully embraced country music. He released numerous studio albums, including the successful album "Next in Line" in July 1968.

In 1970, Twitty wrote and released his most iconic hit, "Hello Darlin'," which topped the charts for about four weeks. His collaboration with Loretta Lynn also added to his fame, with their duets "After the Fire Is Gone" and "Lead Me On" becoming extremely popular. He continued working with Lynn until the late 1980s. In 1973, Twitty's song "You've Never Been This Far Before" held the top position in the music rankings for three weeks. In 1978, his song "The Grandest Lady of Them All" secured him a place in the "Grand Ole Opry."

By the end of his life, Twitty had released over 50 studio albums. He was known for his incredible work ethic, occasionally releasing 3-4 albums in a year. His discography includes albums released after his death in 1993 and collaborations with other musicians.

Twitty lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where he established his company "Twitty City." He was a local celebrity and a prominent figure in the community. During a performance in Branson, Missouri in 1993, Twitty fell ill and passed away from an abdominal aneurysm in Springfield, Missouri on June 5, 1993.

Twitty's musical legacy was passed down to his son, Michael, and his grandson. He was married three times, and after his death, his children from different marriages were involved in lengthy legal battles over his estate.