Claude King, born on 5 February 1923 in Keithville, Louisiana, was an American country music singer and songwriter. After acquiring his first guitar aged twelve, his initial foray into music began with the Rainbow Boys, a band he formed with friends Buddy Attaway and Tillman Franks. He then joined the Louisiana Hayride, a leading television and radio show, where he performed alongside notable artists such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. In 1961, he signed with Columbia Records' Nashville division and released "Big River, Big Man", which became a country top 10 hit. His breakthrough came in 1962 with "Wolverton Mountain", co-written with Merle Kilgore, which topped the Billboard country chart for nine weeks and reached number one on Canada's CHUM Chart. The song sold over one million copies and was awarded gold disc status. He followed this success with hits like "The Burning Of Atlanta" and "I've Got The World By The Tail". Throughout the 1960s, he continued to release top-charting singles such as "Sheepskin Valley", "Building a Bridge", and "Hey Lucille!" In 1981, Governor Frank D. White of Arkansas declared 7 August "Wolverton Mountain Day" in his honour. Claude King passed away on 7 March 2013, at the age of 90, leaving behind a significant impact on country music.
