[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1172-H1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DEL REEVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to 
a proud son of Sparta, North Carolina, country singer and Grand Ole 
Opry legend, Del Reeves. Del Reeves passed away after a long and 
painful battle with emphysema on New Year's Day 2007.
  Del Reeves was born in 1933 and was named Franklin Delano Reeves 
after Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was nominated to be the Democratic 
Presidential candidate just a few days before his birth. Del was a 
driven individual who knew at a very young age that he wanted to be a 
performer.
  As a young child, Del spoke of music on the radio and said, ``I 
listened on the radio on Saturday nights and it was the ultimate,'' 
referring to the Grand Ole Opry. ``As a child, I told my daddy I was 
going to sing on the Opry one day. He said, `Yeah, sure you are.' I 
kept my goal in mind and in '66 we achieved it.'' He was one of the 
select members of the Grand Ole Opry for 40 years.
  Del achieved that goal and many others. From a very young age, Del 
would borrow his brothers' instruments, and by the time Del had turned 
12 years old, he had become a local radio star on WPAQ in Mount Airy on 
the ``Merry Go Round Show,'' a program which is still aired today.

                              {time}  1930

  But this was just a start for Del Reeves. He went on for years 
performing and recording numerous hits, including 55 charted hits, two 
of them in the top 10.
  Del was just more than a performer. He attended what is now 
Appalachian State University and served in the Air Force at Travis Air 
Force Base, where he wrote a number of his songs.
  Del was very dedicated to his hometown and the advancement of others. 
He started the Del Reeves Scholarship Fund, and for 10 years came back 
to Alleghany for the ``Del Reeves Homecoming,'' where he held concerts 
to benefit the scholarship fund he set up.
  I am so proud that Del, a Sparta native, was successful in his 
performing career, yet never lost touch with his roots and never let go 
of his dedication to helping others. Del had a wonderful career that 
spanned over 40 years. Beyond being a member of the elite group of the 
Grand Ole Opry, Del also wrote and performed a number of hit songs and 
appeared in eight movies, including ``Sam Whiskey,'' starring Bert 
Reynolds and Clint Walker. Del also worked in television, hosting a TV 
program called the ``Del Reeves' Country Carnival.''
  Some of Del's greatest hits were ``The Belles of the Southern 
Belle,'' his first hit in 1963; ``The Girl on the Billboard,'' his 
number one billboard hit; ``Sing a Little Song of Heartache,'' which he 
wrote with his wife; and ``Looking Through the Windshield,'' his 
trucker anthem released in 1965.
  Other notable hits that charmed and thrilled country music fans were 
hits such as ``Women Do Funny Things to Me,'' ``Good Time Charlie's,'' 
``Be Glad'' and the ``Philadelphia Fillies.'' In addition, Del wrote 
many songs for country legends such as Carl Smith, Roy Drusky, Rose 
Maddox and Sheb Wooly. Del enjoyed performing lighter material as well 
as singing ballads, and he reflected on that saying, ``Under this 
clown's face, there's a serious guy . . . I've been clowning as long as 
I can

[[Page H1173]]

remember.'' That is what made Del Reeves unique, he was such a 
multifaceted and talented person.
  When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ``I want to 
be remembered as a great showman and a nice guy . . . that's all I 
could hope for.'' That is exactly what Del got, as he certainly is 
remembered as a nice guy and a great showman.
  One of his closest friends, J.D. Higgins, appropriately commented 
that on New Year's Day country music lost a tremendous entertainer, and 
I will miss him greatly. He will be missed by country music fans all 
over the world. I know he will be missed by family, friends and his 
numerous admirers. Del was a true inspiration who made his hometown 
friends and North Carolina proud.
  Del Reeves showed his large heart and love for his hometown community 
by creating a scholarship fund and always coming home to perform in 
Alleghany. Del's contributions will serve as a lasting testimony of his 
tremendous talent, kindness, motivation and delightful personality. We 
will all miss Del Reeves but know that his timeless music will never be 
forgotten. He leaves quite a legacy for fans and future generations.

                          ____________________