PORTER WAGONER WAS BURIED TODAY. The long-running star of the Grand Ole Opry passed away this past Sunday, October 28. The flamboyant entertainer recognized by his sequined suits and pompadour hairdo had one of the longest-running acts in country music. In May of this year he celebrated his 50th year as a member of the Opry cast.

Born on August 12, 1927, in West Plains, Missouri, he grew up on his family farm. But when he wasn’t busy with the chores he would spend time standing on a tree stump pretending to be the announcer at the Grand Ole Opry, which he listened to on the radio. He got his first guitar from his older brother Glenn, whose death at age 20 from a heart ailment struck Porter hard.

While working at a drygoods store in West Plains, the store owner hired him to sing on a 15-min. radio show that he sponsored. From that beginning he started working the honky-tonk circuit then later became a regular on the Ozark Jubilee, a weekly broadcast from Springfield, Missouri. He also tried song writing. In 1955 he wrote a song for Carl Smith, “Trademark,” that went on to become a #1 hit for Smith. By then he was known throughout the country music industry. It was then that he wrote and recorded “Company’s Comin’,” which became his first #1 hit.

His connection with the Ozark Jubilee landed him a contract with RCA Victor records and in 1956 he wrote and recorded what would become his greatest hit, “Satisfied Mind.” It was #1 on the charts for four weeks and remained on the charts for 8 months. From there it was a quick step into the cast of the Grand Ole Opry.

One of his trademarks was his collection of sequined suits which reached 60 at one point. He would jokingly say that he would get more compliments on his wardrobe than any other entertainer…..except Liberace.

In 1960 be began a weekly television show that ran for an amazing 21 years, until 1981. For any tv show to last that long is remarkable in itself. But for a country music program it was an unmatched acheivement. For the first seven years his singing partner on the show was a lady billed as Pretty Miss Norma Jean, an already-established star in the music business. But in 1967 she left the show to get married and settled down. It was then that Wagoner brought in a rising talent who had been performing since she was 12 years old, Dolly Parton, then 21. The two of them blended together perfectly and the association shot her to the top of the business. They received the Country Music Association’s award for duo of the year in 1970 and 1971.

Over a period of 40 years, Porter placed 81 songs on the country music charts, 19 of them were duets with Dolly. In 2002 he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. During his career he won 4 Grammy’s, three of them were for gospel tunes. Porter Wagoner was 80 years old. His music will go on for another 80 at least.

Play the video to watch
Porter sing his signature hit
Satisfied Mind

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