Joseph Cecil "Red" Simpson was born on March 6, 1934, in Higley, Arizona, and was an American country music singer and songwriter. Raised in Bakersfield, California, he began his musical journey at age 14 by writing his first song. His career took off when he replaced Buck Owens at the Blackboard Club on weekends. In 1965, Simpson's breakthrough came with "Roll, Truck, Roll", a Top 40 country hit that led to the release of his debut album Roll Truck Roll in 1966. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, he released several albums, including The Man Behind the Badge (1966) and Truck Drivin' Fool (1967). Simpson's notable hits include "I'm a Truck" (1971) and his debut on the Grand Ole Opry in 1972. He continued performing regularly in the Bakersfield area until his death on January 8, 2016, at age 81. His final album, Soda Pops and Saturdays, was released posthumously in 2016.
