JEAN SHEPARD - INSCRIBED PRINTED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED IN INK 09/29/1974 - HFSID 279945

JEAN SHEPARD
Black and white publicity photograph of the singer wearing a long-sleeved shirt
Inscribed Printed Photograph Signed in Ink: "Genevieve/ Best wishes/ Jean Shepard/ 9-29-74". B/w, 8x10. Name imprinted at bottom margin. Jean Shepard (1933-2016), born Ollie Imogene Shepard in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, is an American country music singer and songwriter. Known as "The Grand Lady of the Grand Ole Opry", Shepard had nine top 10 country hits in the United States, including her first hit (with Ferlin Husky) A Dear John Letter, which reached No. 1 on the country charts and No. 4 on the U.S. pop charts in 1953. Shepard started singing in high school in Bakersfield, California, and formed a band called The Melody Ranch Girls. Bandleader Hank Thompson heard the band one night and thanks to him, Shepard got a record deal at Capitol Records. She put out a number of honky-tonk songs before A Dear John Letter, a half-spoken song about the Korean War, with Husky. In 1955, she experienced her first solo hit in Beautiful Lies, which peaked at No. 4 on the country charts, and the first of many appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. Shepard remained faithful to the honky tonk sound, despite the rise of country pop music, and stayed on the country charts up until 1976 when she put out what would be her last song to chart Ain't Love Good, which peaked at No. 41. Lightly chipped. Otherwise, fine condition.