Leon Walton (May 18, 1936 – October 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Leon Ashley, was an American country music singer. He is known mainly for his single "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)", which topped the country singles charts in 1967. This single was distributed on his own label. Ashley wrote, recorded, released, distributed and published the single on his own. Besides this song, he released several other singles throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Leon Walton was born on May 18, 1936, in Covington, Georgia.[2] He first performed at age nine on a local radio show, and released his first single in 1960 on Goldband Records. This single did not attract significant airplay, neither did later releases on Imperial Records and Dot Records. Ashley eventually married singer Margie Singleton.
In 1964, Ashley founded his own label, Ashley Records. The label's releases proved more successful than his releases on Goldband and Imperial, with one Ashley Records release — "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)" — becoming his only number 1 country hit that year. This song made him the first country music artist "to write, record, release, distribute and publish his own material", according to Allmusic.[2] An album, also entitled Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got), reached No. 10 on the Top Country Albums chart. He had several more hit singles soon afterward, including more duets with Singleton, as well as a duets album on the Ashley label. One single, "While Your Lover Sleeps", reached No. 1 on the Canadian country charts. His chart success waned by 1969, however, and he shifted his focus to songwriting for other artists. Brook Benton and Frankie Laine concurrently sent of "Laura" to the pop and A.C. charts in 1969, and Claude King sent a version to the lower regions of the country charts shortly after Ashley's version fell from the top of the charts. Marty Robbins also charted in 1973 with it, and Kenny Rogers sent a cover to No. 19 three years later.
Ashley died in Hendersonville, Tennessee on October 20, 2013, after a lengthy illness.[3]
^ abWhitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. p. 32.
^ abErlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Leon Ashley biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
^"Leon S. Walton". The Times. October 27, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
April 11, 2024
leon, ashley, leon, walton, 1936, october, 2013, better, known, stage, name, american, country, music, singer, known, mainly, single, laura, what, that, which, topped, country, singles, charts, 1967, this, single, distributed, label, ashley, wrote, recorded, r. Leon Walton May 18 1936 October 20 2013 better known by his stage name Leon Ashley was an American country music singer He is known mainly for his single Laura What s He Got That I Ain t Got which topped the country singles charts in 1967 This single was distributed on his own label Ashley wrote recorded released distributed and published the single on his own Besides this song he released several other singles throughout the 1960s and 1970s Leon AshleyBirth nameLeon Walton 1 Born 1936 05 18 May 18 1936Mansfield GeorgiaOriginCovington Georgia U S DiedOctober 20 2013 2013 10 20 aged 77 Hendersonville TennesseeGenresCountryOccupation s Singer songwriterInstrument s VocalsYears active1960 1980LabelsGoldband Imperial Dot Ashley Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Singles 3 ReferencesBiography editLeon Walton was born on May 18 1936 in Covington Georgia 2 He first performed at age nine on a local radio show and released his first single in 1960 on Goldband Records This single did not attract significant airplay neither did later releases on Imperial Records and Dot Records Ashley eventually married singer Margie Singleton In 1964 Ashley founded his own label Ashley Records The label s releases proved more successful than his releases on Goldband and Imperial with one Ashley Records release Laura What s He Got That I Ain t Got becoming his only number 1 country hit that year This song made him the first country music artist to write record release distribute and publish his own material according to Allmusic 2 An album also entitled Laura What s He Got That I Ain t Got reached No 10 on the Top Country Albums chart He had several more hit singles soon afterward including more duets with Singleton as well as a duets album on the Ashley label One single While Your Lover Sleeps reached No 1 on the Canadian country charts His chart success waned by 1969 however and he shifted his focus to songwriting for other artists Brook Benton and Frankie Laine concurrently sent of Laura to the pop and A C charts in 1969 and Claude King sent a version to the lower regions of the country charts shortly after Ashley s version fell from the top of the charts Marty Robbins also charted in 1973 with it and Kenny Rogers sent a cover to No 19 three years later Ashley died in Hendersonville Tennessee on October 20 2013 after a lengthy illness 3 Discography editAlbums edit Year Album Chart PositionsUS Country1967 Laura What s He Got That I Ain t Got 101968 Ode to Billie Joe 1969 A New Brand of Country with Margie Singleton 1970 Ease Up By Special Request Singles edit Year Song Chart Positions 1 US Country CAN Country1960 He ll Never Go 1961 Teen Age Angel It s Alright Baby 1962 Not Going Home 1964 You Give Me Reason to Live 1966 How Can We Divide These Little Hearts with Margie Singleton 1967 Most Men Before You Were Mine Laura What s He Got That I Ain t Got A 1 7 Hangin On with Margie Singleton 54 Anna I m Taking You Home 28 1968 Mental Journey 14 4 You ll Never Be Lonely Again with Margie Singleton 55 Flower of Love 8 While Your Lover Sleeps 25 11969 Walkin Back to Birmingham 23 Ain t Gonna Worry 55 If Love Has Died with Margie Singleton 1970 Life for a Wife All That Love Is Gone with Margie Singleton Brace Up and Face It Happy Loving You with Margie Singleton Mama s Ten 1971 There Ain t No Easy Way 1972 Easy Up There s Not a Single Thing About Me 1973 Love Fits Me Better 1980 Look What Loving Me Has Done to You Dear Willie A Letter from Luckenbach APeaked at No 20 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 References edit a b Whitburn Joel The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits p 32 a b Erlewine Stephen Thomas Leon Ashley biography Allmusic Retrieved April 30 2009 Leon S Walton The Times October 27 2013 Retrieved August 30 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leon Ashley amp oldid 1172651068, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
