Jerry Wallace


Jerry Wallace was an American country and pop singer. Between 1958 and 1964, Wallace charted nine hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 8 "Primrose Lane" that was later used as the theme song for the television series The Smith Family. He made his debut on the country music charts in 1965, entering it thirty-five times between then and 1980. In that timespan, Wallace charted within the country Top Ten four times. His only number one song was "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry," a song which gained popularity after it was used in an episode of the 1970s TV series Night Gallery.Jerry Wallace’s long time Manager was Ron Blackwood.

Biography

Wallace was born in Guilford, Missouri.
Wallace performed for the famed eighth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. on June 1, 1952. Also featured that day were Roy Brown and His Mighty Men, Anna Mae Winburn and Her Sweethearts, Toni Harper, Louis Jordan, Jimmy Witherspoon and Josephine Baker.
From June 1957 through June 1958, Hollywood, Calif. based Challenge Records, founded by Gene Autry, issued three discs with songs by Wallace. Half of the songs have been evaluated as being done in a style now known as rockabilly.
His better-known songs include "How the Time Flies", "Primrose Lane", "Shutters and Boards", "In the Misty Moonlight" and "Otoko no Sekai". "Primrose Lane" was his biggest hit, reaching No. 8 pop and No. 12 R&B in the US, selling over one million copies and awarded a gold disc. After his song "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" was featured in the 1972 Night Gallery episode "The Tune in Dan's Cafe," the song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart that August, spending two weeks at the top of the chart, crossing to No. 38 pop. "How The Time Flies" was Wallace's first big hit, reaching No. 11 pop and No. 11 R&B.
In 1972, he gained nomination for the Country Music Association Award as Male Vocalist of the Year, and his song "To Get To You" gained nomination for Single of the Year.
Wallace died on May 5, 2008 in Corona, California, after suffering congestive heart failure. A United States Navy veteran of World War II, Wallace was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. He is survived by his four children Karrie Wallace, John Wallace, Jerry Wallace JR. and Joseph Wallace.

Discography

Albums

Singles