Biography
Although his July 1957 debut single “Unfaithful Diane” proved impossible to duplicate commercially, Don Deal remained active in the expansion of country music through the close of the 1950s and into the early 1960s. After inking a contract with Capitol in 1958, he scored a regional success with “A-11,” yet subsequent sides cut for MGM likewise failed to meet sales projections. Despite frequent appearances at sock hops and a guest slot on American Bandstand, Deal’s chief legacy rests in the catalog of songs he wrote that later reached Eddie Arnold, Sonny James, Hank Snow, Perry Como, Dean Martin, and Michael Parks.
Born in Iowa, Deal received his initial opportunity when talent scout Smoky Rodgers overheard him singing in the back room of Bert Keefer’s music school. Rodgers promptly escorted the young vocalist to San Diego, where he began performing three nights weekly at the Bostonian Ballroom. Before long he joined the regular lineup of a variety program aired five nights each week from Tijuana, Mexico.
Born in Iowa, Deal received his initial opportunity when talent scout Smoky Rodgers overheard him singing in the back room of Bert Keefer’s music school. Rodgers promptly escorted the young vocalist to San Diego, where he began performing three nights weekly at the Bostonian Ballroom. Before long he joined the regular lineup of a variety program aired five nights each week from Tijuana, Mexico.
Albums
