Clyde Beavers born 8 June 1932

Clyde Beavers (June 8, 1932 - March 29, 2015) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter.

I was surprised to find that Clyde did not have a mention in Wikipedia or anything substantial about his life story on the web. Most of the information I managed to find was from album sleeve notes and snippets from Google books.

Clyde Winfrey Beavers was born in Tenga, Georgia. As a child he would listen to the Grand Ole Oprey. He would get his mothers washboard and start beating rhythm to the songs and daydream. Although living in poverty, he was brought up in the atmosphere of revivals and tent meetings and gospel songs, which developed in him an early appreciation for singing the gospel.

                                  

Not much news is available regarding his teens or when he was in his twenties except that when he was 23 he recorded his first record for the Georgia label whilst a DJ at Radio Station WJATl in Atlanta. It was his own composition titled "I Won't Always Love You"." From 1960 he recorded a slew of records for various labels including Dollie Records, Decca, Tempwood, KA$H, Hickory & Mercury.

In 1960 he had a #13 Country hit in 1960 with "Here I Am Drunk Again". The song was covered in 1976 by Moe Bandy. In 1963, Clyde had a #21 hit with an English language version of the Kyu Sakamoto song "Sukiyaki".

Beavers was well known for some odd promotion drives in the early 60's. Once he rode a donkey more than a hundred miles to Nashville. Another time he pushed a wheelbarrow to Nashville from 75 miles away. In 1965 he bought a cow for $77 and tied her to a parking meter in front of the Andrew Jackson Hotel in New Orleans, and draped a sign over her that read "Clyde Beavers has a smash hit record on Hickory titled "That's You" and this is no bull. He later sold the animal for $70 losing only $7 on the promotion.

As well as his country songs he recorded a gospel album in 1965 titled "Hallelujah, Amen." In the 1970's he recorded on the Dot and Boyd record labels He also had a successful road show with his own troupe of performers and had appearances on the Grand Ole Oprey. He became co-owner with Buddy Herman of the Jackpot music publishing Co. and built a recording studio in Hendersonville which he named Beaverwood. Johnny Cash and many other country music stars would often record there. Clyde also owned Beaverwood Audio-Video, which he considered a ministry because it allowed him to work with various churches and Christian musicians.

Clyde was a long-time church member and in his later years he joined the Gideons, where he helped to distribute the Gideons Bible. He also served in the Layman Lessons Ministries helping the poor, needy and homeless in Hendersonville. His last gospel album "Clyde Beavers - Southern Gospel Legends Series was released in 2009.

Clyde Beavers died in Hendersonville, TN on Mar 29, 2015 at the age of 82.