Friday, September 03, 2004
Dee Coleman to be inducted into Hall of Fame
From The Humboldt Independent
Dee Coleman's parents always told her that she could do anything she wanted to do and be anything she wanted to be, if she just had confidence in herself and Jesus Christ watching over her. Almost half a century later, she has certainly proven that statement correct, as she prepares to be inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in Missouri Valley, while simultaneously writing a book and serving as a lay minister for the United Methodist Church.
Dee was born in Laurens, but moved to Fort Dodge at the age of six. She loved to sing, and in 1955, at the age of 13, she and three other teens decided to form a quartet and sing on the Barndance show aired on KQTV in Fort Dodge (later renamed KVFD TV). One by one the other girls decided to quit, leaving only Dee to sing.
In 1956, the radio station sent a letter to the Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, MO, asking them to audition her for the show. Altogether, 80 acts auditioned. Dee and one other act were chosen to do a guest appearance on the show.
Back in Fort Dodge, Dee joined the Circle T. Boys, led by Bill Tyler, on KQTV as a female vocalist. Another female vocalist with Bill Tyler, Lou Lindsey, encouraged Dee to go with her to audition for the Smokey Smith show in Des Moines.
At the age of 14, she started her first band, called the Melody Ramblers. The band stayed together until 1958, when Dee met Bobby Awe while singing on the barn dance. They began singing duets and appeared as Bobby and Dee from 1958 until 1970. They were married in 1960 and continued to sing together. They hosted the KQTV's Barndance from 1962 until 1970.
It was the only hour of live country music in Iowa during that time. In 1967, they were named Iowa's Mr. and Mrs. Country Music by Larry Heaberlin at KWKY in Des Moines. In 1970, they left the Barndance and started Bobby Awe and the Country Awe Stars. Dee fronted the band, while Bobby played steel guitar and sang. They divorced in 1974.
Dee, her daughter, Kelly, and friends, Dennis Wienke and Anita Severson, started the Country Sunshine Band. They appeared at many shows in North and Central Iowa. To celebrate America's 200th birthday, Dee and the Country Sunshine and the Schultz Brothers from Algona produced the Bi-Centennial Barndance on KQTV in Fort Dodge.
Read the article
Humboldt (Iowa) Independent
Dee Coleman's parents always told her that she could do anything she wanted to do and be anything she wanted to be, if she just had confidence in herself and Jesus Christ watching over her. Almost half a century later, she has certainly proven that statement correct, as she prepares to be inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in Missouri Valley, while simultaneously writing a book and serving as a lay minister for the United Methodist Church.
Dee was born in Laurens, but moved to Fort Dodge at the age of six. She loved to sing, and in 1955, at the age of 13, she and three other teens decided to form a quartet and sing on the Barndance show aired on KQTV in Fort Dodge (later renamed KVFD TV). One by one the other girls decided to quit, leaving only Dee to sing.
In 1956, the radio station sent a letter to the Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, MO, asking them to audition her for the show. Altogether, 80 acts auditioned. Dee and one other act were chosen to do a guest appearance on the show.
Back in Fort Dodge, Dee joined the Circle T. Boys, led by Bill Tyler, on KQTV as a female vocalist. Another female vocalist with Bill Tyler, Lou Lindsey, encouraged Dee to go with her to audition for the Smokey Smith show in Des Moines.
At the age of 14, she started her first band, called the Melody Ramblers. The band stayed together until 1958, when Dee met Bobby Awe while singing on the barn dance. They began singing duets and appeared as Bobby and Dee from 1958 until 1970. They were married in 1960 and continued to sing together. They hosted the KQTV's Barndance from 1962 until 1970.
It was the only hour of live country music in Iowa during that time. In 1967, they were named Iowa's Mr. and Mrs. Country Music by Larry Heaberlin at KWKY in Des Moines. In 1970, they left the Barndance and started Bobby Awe and the Country Awe Stars. Dee fronted the band, while Bobby played steel guitar and sang. They divorced in 1974.
Dee, her daughter, Kelly, and friends, Dennis Wienke and Anita Severson, started the Country Sunshine Band. They appeared at many shows in North and Central Iowa. To celebrate America's 200th birthday, Dee and the Country Sunshine and the Schultz Brothers from Algona produced the Bi-Centennial Barndance on KQTV in Fort Dodge.
Read the article
Humboldt (Iowa) Independent
# posted by Dave Sichak @ 10:21 AM 
