Erin P. Hernandez 
By any measure, singer/songwriter/producer/entertainment and recording artist Conway Twitty’s career ranks among the greatest in popular music history.
His 55 No. 1 singles are stunning and singular achievements in the annals of the recording industry. This led to over 100 major awards and his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Conway also entered into a duet partnership with Loretta Lynn, the top singer of the 1960s and 1970s. They became the most awarded male/female duo in history, recording songs like “After the Fire is Gone”, ” Lead Me On” and “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”.
He took on a stage name that combined two towns – Conway Ark. and Twitter, Texas.
As a performer, he was a master of understatement and mystery that his peers dubbed him “the high priest of country music.”
That being said, you will never see his name on the pages of encyclopedias. The reason is that the elite who write encyclopedias don’t like country music.
But, the encyclopedia might have a long article on the aardvark, the famous African ant-eating mammal. OK… it’s an opinion page, isn’t it?
Twitty respected his gifts by working on them and respecting everyone he touched. There is no tortured artist in this story, just the remarkably steady journey of a man who never drank, never did drugs, and simply worked hard for what he loved, a family that he deeply loved and cared about bronzers.
Despite much adoration, Twitty remained a genuine, unassuming person. He regularly stayed for hours after his shows, signing autographs, and once missed the bus. At home, he drove an old Pacer station wagon and favored joggers and caps. On some occasions, people would stop and ask if he had been told he looked like Conway Twitty.
“I heard that,” he replied. “But I don’t see the resemblance.”
Their early career as a rock and roll band took off with their debut single topping the charts in 22 different countries and selling 8 million copies. Although he made a name for himself as a rock-and-roller, Twitty always loved country music, so one night while playing a sweaty teen dance, he put his guitar down, left the stage and launched into one of the greatest country music. careers in history.
In 1982, Twitty opened one of Tennessee’s biggest tourist attractions. “Twitty City” opened up to his fans, including thousands who roamed the grounds year-round, taking in views that included his mansion and his mother’s house. The complex also included Conway Twitty Enterprises, a theatrical show about Conway’s life, beautifully landscaped grounds with waterfalls, and a pavilion.
His love of Christmas led to an annual festival of light that included live reindeer, snowmobiles and millions of visitors. Twitty donated proceeds from the field trips to help local police and fire families.
Another event was a children’s Christmas concert which raised funds to help underprivileged children. He also built a ball diamond for the local Little League program that still bears his name.
His voice even reached outer space when “Hello, Darling” was broadcast around the world during the liaison between orbiting American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts in a gesture of international goodwill. I was unable to discover that any women were members of the Russian crew. .
Conway Twitty was the greatest!
