Tommy Overstreet
| Tommy Overstreet | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | T.O. |
| Born |
September 10, 1937 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA |
| Origin | Abilene, Texas, USA |
| Died | November 2, 2015 (aged 78) Hillsboro, Oregon, USA |
| Genres | Country, Nashville sound |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1968–1986 |
| Labels | Dot Records |
Tommy Overstreet (September 10, 1937 – November 2, 2015) was an American country singer. Often known simply as "T.O." by fans and radio disc jockeys, Overstreet had five top five hit singles in the Billboard country charts and 11 top 10 singles. His popularity peaked in the 1970s. He lived in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Overstreet grew up in both Houston and Abilene, Texas. He decided on a singing career when he was very young, influenced largely by his cousin, "Uncle" Gene Austin. Austin was a singing star of the 1920s and 1930s.
Overstreet's musical career started when he was 17, singing on country and western star Slim Willet's television show in Abilene. In the late 1950s, Overstreet started a group called "The Shadows."
He first recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico, along with Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs. In 1960, Overstreet recorded in New York City at Roulette Records, with Doc Severinsen on trumpet, Sam "The Man" Taylor on saxophone and the Ray Charles Singers singing backup.
In 1967, Overstreet was hired to manage Dot Records in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1970, he decided to pursue a recording career, quickly establishing himself as a country hit maker that very year with a top five hit, "Gwen (Congratulations)", which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard country music chart.
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