Donna Fargo

[Kaz ~:~]

Donna Fargo

Date of Birth 10 November 1945, Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA

Birth Name Yvonne Vaughan


Country singer/songwriter Donna Fargo was born as Yvonne Vaughan on November 10, 1945 in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Donna began singing in her early teens. She attended both High Point College and the University of Southern California. Following graduation from college, Fargo began working as a high school teacher in Covina, California and eventually became head of the English Department. She met her future husband and manager Stan Silver in California; they got married in 1968. Fargo initially began performing in various clubs in California. In 1966 Donna went to Phoenix, Arizona, adopted her stage name Donna Fargo, and recorded her first single. Her first major stage show was with Ray Price. In 1969 Fargo was named the Top New Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards. In 1972 Donna scored her first big country hit with the infectiously upbeat "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." the song peaked at #1 on the country charts and went all the way to #11 on the Billboard pop charts. Fargo subsequently won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." and was named the Top Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards. The equally charming follow-up song "Funny Face" did ever better: it was another #1 country hit and cracked the Top 5 on the Billboard pop charts. Donna had two more #1 country hits with the songs "Superman" and "You Were Always There." She scored additional #1 country hits with "You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine" and "That Was Yesterday." Fargo's other 70's country hits include such songs as ""Little Girl Gone," "I'll Try a Little Bit Harder," "It Do Feel Good," "Mr. Doodles," "Mockingbird Hill," and "Daddy." She hosted her own short-lived TV series in the late 70's. In 1978 Donna was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; she took some time off to recover and bounced back in 1979. Although her career waned a bit in the 80's, Fargo continued to record albums and singles throughout that particular decade. She had a Top 30 country hit with "Me and You" and "Members Only," a duet with Billy Joe Royal, peaked at #23 on the country charts in 1987. Outside of music, Donna has her own successful line of greeting cards and has written several books of poetry. She still continues to tour and perform in concert in both the United States and other countries. In 2008 Donna Fargo released the CD single "We Can Do Better in America."

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Spouse
Stan Silver (1968 - present)

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By day, she taught at Northview High School in Colvina, Calif.; by night, she performed at local nightclubs as Donna Fargo.

Quit teaching in 1972, as her first hit, "The
Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.," reached No. 1 on
Billboard magazine's country singles chart. The million-selling song was also a major hit on

Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Other No. 1 country hits included "Funny Face" (another million-seller from 1972); "Superman" and "You Were Always There" (both 1973); "You Can't Be a Beacon (if Your Light Don't Shine)" (1974); and "That Was Yesterday" (1977). Just missed scoring another No. 1 hit in 1978 with "Do I Love You (Yes in Every Way)."

When recording "That Was Yesterday," Fargo tried singing the lyrics and then reciting some and singing others. She ended up reciting all the lyrics, resulting in a rare recitation No. 1 country hit.

Was the fifth most successful female country artist of the '70s.

Among the country singers who have recorded songs written by Fargo are Marty Robbins, Tanya Tucker, Kitty Wells, Sonny James, Tammy Wynette, Jody Miller and Dottie West.

Attended High Point College then headed west to study at the University of Southern California, getting her degree and then became a teacher at Northview High School in Covina, California, eventually progressing to head of the English Department.

Stan Silver, who became her manager when she was performing in California clubs and first seeking a career in music