Duane Dee is an American country singer known for his many guest appearances at the

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a regular live country music, country-music Radio broadcasting, radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM (AM), WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the ...

and also for a series of minor hits on the country charts, sometimes with songs that went on to be major hits for other artists. Born in

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

, Dee signed a contract with

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

, and his second single was "

Before the Next Teardrop Falls ''Before The Next Teardrop Falls'' is the debut studio album by Tejano music, Tejano singer Freddy Fender. Released in 1974, the album includes the number-one hits "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights". It peaked ...

", which spent several months on the country charts before reaching #44 in early 1968. (In 1975

Freddy Fender Freddy Fender (born Baldemar Garza Huerta; June 4, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American Country and Tejano singer, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. His signature sound fused cou ...

's version topped the pop and country charts.) Later in 1968 Dee's original version of "

True Love Travels on a Gravel Road "True Love Travels on a Gravel Road" is a song written by the Frazier- Owens songwriting team and popularized by Elvis Presley. It was originally recorded by Duane Dee in 1968, and was a very minor hit, reaching #58 on the country charts. Elvis ...

" reached #58 on the country charts;

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

's 1969 version is probably now better known. Moving to

Cartwheel Records Cartwheel Records was a record label located in Nashville, Tennessee. The label was responsible for the start of the country music career of Billy "Crash" Craddock. He had his first No. 1 country hit on the label with "Knock Three Times". Backgr ...

, Dee had more minor country hits in 1971 with "I've Got to Sing" (#71) and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" (#36; a country version of a #1 hit by

The Bee Gees ''The'' is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the ...

). In 1972 he recorded "Sweet Apple Wine" (#64). Moving to

ABC Records ABC Records was an American record label founded in New York City in 1955. It originated as the main popular music label operated by the Am-Par Record Corporation. Am-Par also created the Impulse! jazz label in 1960. It acquired many labels bef ...

, Dee had one more minor hit in 1974 with "Morning Girl" (#88).MusicVF listing for Duane Dee
/ref> Dee now lives in

Bradenton Bradenton ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city's population is 55,698, up from 49,546 at the 2010 census. It is a principal city in the Sarasota metropolitan area. Dow ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dee, Duane Musicians from Milwaukee American country singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters Grand Ole Opry Year of birth missing Possibly living people Singer-songwriters from Wisconsin