Singing legend Conway Twitty was born on September 1, 1933. However, the Mississippi native was born with the name Harold Jenkins. He was born in Friars Point, Mississippi and remains one of the most iconic figures in country music history. Known for his velvety voice and heartfelt lyrics, Twitty’s contributions to the genre make him one of the top legends of country music.
Learn more about this legendary singer below.
Conway Twitty Biography and Key Facts
Early Life
- Birth Name: Harold Lloyd Jenkins, named after the famous silent film comedian Harold Lloyd.
- Hometown: Friars Point, Mississippi, but his family moved to Helena, Arkansas, during his youth.
- Musical Beginnings: Learned to play guitar at the age of 10 and performed with local groups as a teenager.
- Athletic Aspirations: Was a talented baseball player and was scouted by the Philadelphia Phillies before pursuing music.
When Jenkins was 10 years old, his family moved to Helena, Arkansas, and Harold Jenkins joined his first singing group. At the age of 12, Jenkins hosted his own radio show for the small town. As a young boy, he was also an incredibly talented baseball played. An MLB organization, the Philadelphia Phillies, even drafted him upon high school graduation. Instead, Harold Jenkins was drafted into the United States military. While in the military, Jenkins formed a band that performed for other soldiers.
Harold Jenkins to Conway Twitty
When he was 24 years old, Jenkins decided he needed a stage name. There are several stories of how he decided on the name Conway Twitty. The first story claims that he was simply looking a map and his eyes landed on the small towns of Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas. Another story is that a restaurant manager, that Jenkins frequented, begged Jenkins to use his name, Conway Twitty, insisting that the name was catchy and memorable.
Musical Beginnings
Twitty’s musical career began as a rock ‘n’ roll singer. In 1958, Conway Twitty released his first hit, “It’s Only Make Believe.” In the song, Conway Twitty’s voice led many audiences to believe that it was actually Elvis Presley singing. Twitty had many other rock ‘n’ roll hits such as “Danny Boy” and “Lonely Blue Boy.”
Music and Country Career
“Hello Darlin’,” Twitty’s first, and biggest country song was released in 1970. His songs are known for the deep male voice which Twitty possessed. Throughout his career, he released over 50 songs that reached the top spot on the Country Music charts. Twitty won 2 Grammy Awards in his storied career. . His 55 No. 1 singles are an amazing feat in the annals of the recording industry. Twitty sold more than 50 million records, delivered thousands of live performances, and achieved over 100 major awards. “Next In Line” became his first country No. 1. Twitty performed three decades of country music including: “Hello Darlin’,” “Goodbye Time,” “You’ve Never Been This Far Before,” “Linda On My Mind,” “I’d Love To Lay You Down,” “Tight Fittin’ Jeans,” “That’s My Job.” Conway performed a duet with the top female vocalist of that time, Loretta Lynn and the duo became the most awarded male/female duet in history recording with songs like “After The Fire Is Gone,” “Lead Me On,” and “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man.
Check out Conway Twitty performing “Hello Darlin'” below!
Conway’s Hello Darlin’ Video
Family Life and Conway Twitty Children
Conway was married at the age of 20. However, the marriage only lasted a year. His first wife gave birth to his son, Michael. In 1956, he married Mickey Medley. Medley gave birth to 3 more children. The couple stayed together until 1984. 3 years later, Twitty married again. In 1987, Twitty married his 36-year-old office secretary, Delores “Dee” Henry, who became his widow in June of 1993.
Family: Married three times and had four children: Michael, Joni Lee, Kathy, and Jimmy.
Real Estate Ventures: Owned Twitty City in Hendersonville, Tennessee, a popular tourist destination.
Career Highlights
- Early Success in Rock ‘n’ Roll: Initially found fame in the rock ‘n’ roll genre with his 1958 hit “It’s Only Make Believe.”
- Country Music Transition: Transitioned to country music in the early 1960s, becoming one of the genre’s biggest stars.
- Number One Hits: Amassed an astounding 55 number-one hits on the country charts—a record at the time. Only George Strait achieved more #1 hits with a total of 60 chart toppers.
- Signature Songs: Iconic hits include “Hello Darlin’,” “You’ve Never Been This Far Before,” and “Linda on My Mind.”
- Duets with Loretta Lynn: Formed a legendary partnership with Loretta Lynn, recording classics like “After the Fire Is Gone” and “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man.”
- Grammy Winner: Won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “After the Fire Is Gone.”
- Chart Dominance: Had hits spanning five decades, showcasing his enduring appeal.
Awards and Honors
- Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted posthumously in 1999.
- Music Awards: Won multiple Country Music Association (CMA) and Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards.
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: Received a star in 1999 for his contributions to the music industry.
Other Conway Twitty Fun Facts
- Stage Name Origin: The name “Conway Twitty” was inspired by Conway, Arkansas, and Twitty, Texas.
- Film Appearances: Made cameo appearances in films and TV shows, highlighting his widespread popularity.
- Cross-Genre Success: One of the few artists to top both the pop and country charts during his career.
- Unique Voice: His deep, smooth voice earned him the nickname “The High Priest of Country Music.”
- Innovative Marketing: Twitty was among the first country artists to open his own theme park, Twitty City.
Conway Twitty Death
Conway Twitty passed away in Springfield, Missouri, on June 5, 1993, after suffering an aneurysm. He is buried in Gallatin, Tennessee. He was survived by his wife and 4 children.
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