Sammy Kershaw rode in on the new traditionalist wave in the early '90s,
finding success with a penchant for ballads and a blend of updated honky tonk
(especially the vocal
stylings of
George Jones), Southern rock, and a hint of Cajun flavor. But as his career
progressed,
Sammy Kershaw moved farther and farther into crossover-minded country-pop, which
actually eroded his early following. He was born in 1958 in Kaplan, LA, in the
heart of Cajun country; in fact, his third cousin was legendary Cajun fiddler
Doug Kershaw. He got his first electric guitar at age 11 from his
grandfather, but sadly, his father passed away not long after, forcing
Sammy Kershaw to get professional as quickly as he could. He debuted at age 12
with local bandleader J.B. Perry and often worked for Perry as both a musician
and roadie during his teenage years, touring the Southern club and honky tonk
circuit.
In 1980,
Sammy Kershaw moved to Oklahoma with his wife and worked a day job while singing
in local bands. However, his marriage fell apart two years later, and he
returned to Louisiana, where he went through a succession of day jobs, remarried
in 1985, and joined a touring club band called
Blackwater in the mid-'80s. Unfortunately, the honky tonk lifestyle took its
toll on
Sammy Kershaw, who developed major problems with drugs and alcohol. In order to
save his marriage, he quit everything cold turkey in 1988 -- including the music
business, taking a full-time job at Wal-Mart as a supervisor of store
remodeling. However, his songwriter friend Barry Jackson convinced him to submit
a demo tape to Mercury Records in 1990, and after a showcase performance,
Sammy Kershaw finally landed the record deal he'd spent so long pursuing.
Sammy Kershaw's debut album, Don't Go Near the Water, was released in 1991 and
spawned the breakout hit single "Cadillac Style," which reached number three on
the country charts the following year. The title cut and "Yard Sale" both
charted in the Top 20, and "Anywhere but Here" became his second Top Ten hit in
1993, helping the album go platinum. Later that year,
Sammy Kershaw issued his second album, Haunted Heart, which many critics and fans
still regard as his finest. The lead single, "She Don't Know She's Beautiful,"
became
Sammy Kershaw's first number one hit, and its three follow-ups -- the title track,
"Queen of My Double Wide Trailer," and "I Can't Reach Her Anymore" -- all went
Top Ten; plus, the album became his second straight million-seller. Building on
that commercial success,
Sammy Kershaw began his shift away from hard honky tonk and toward more
radio-friendly contemporary country with his next effort, 1994's Feelin' Good
Train. He scored two number two hits with the anthem "National Working Woman's
Holiday" and a cover of
the Amazing Rhythm Aces' country-rock hit "Third Rate Romance"; plus, the
album featured a duet with his longtime idol
George Jones on "Never Bit a Bullet Like This." At the end of the year,
Sammy Kershaw released a holiday album, Christmas Time's a Comin'.
Sammy Kershaw returned in 1996 with Politics, Religion and Her, which found his
sales beginning to slip a bit. Even so, he managed two Top Ten hits off the
album: "Meant to Be" and the novelty song "Vidalia." 1997's Labor of Love was a
ballad-heavy affair that returned
Sammy Kershaw to the Top Ten of the country album charts; its "Love of My Life"
became
Sammy Kershaw's last big hit to date, peaking at number two. Even so,
Sammy Kershaw's albums were growing increasingly uneven and pushing him farther
into adult contemporary territory. That was especially true on 1999's Maybe Not
Tonight, which found him covering '70s soft rocker
Leo Sayer's "More Than I Can Say"; he also duetted on the Top 20 title track
with
Lorrie Morgan, who became his third wife in 2001. That year, they teamed up
for the duet album I Finally Found Someone. Neither it nor
Sammy Kershaw's last solo album produced any big-time hits, and he wound up
parting ways with Mercury in the aftermath. He went on to sign with Koch
subsidiary Audium, a newly established home for many country veterans of the
'80s and '90s. His first album for the label, I Want My Money Back, was released
in 2003. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Contact Grabow for more information or to book
Sammy Kershaw for your next corporate or private event.
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