Biography
Sue Thompson earned her primary fame through an airy, childlike vocal delivery that produced multiple novelty pop successes in the first half of the 1960s, after which she shifted her artistic identity toward seasoned country material by the middle of the 1970s. Born Eva Sue McKee in Nevada, MO, in 1925, she was already performing cowgirl songs and accompanying herself on guitar in public by age seven. Once her family relocated to San Jose, she began appearing on the area’s Hometown Hayride television program while still a teenager. During World War II she took a job in a defense plant, then wed at twenty and gave birth to a daughter; the union dissolved after three years, prompting her return to club work across northern California.
A first-place finish at a San Jose talent contest drew the notice of singer, bandleader, and radio/TV host Dude Martin, who recruited her for his ensemble and soon became her second husband. The pair cut several duets, one of which—“If You Want Some Lovin’”—secured Thompson her initial solo contract with Mercury. In 1952 Martin added singer/comedian Hank Penny to the revue; within twelve months Thompson had divorced Martin, married Penny, and joined him in hosting a Los Angeles television program for two years before the couple moved to Las Vegas for casino engagements. They issued separate and joint sides for Decca yet never scored a substantial hit.
Thompson joined Hickory Records in 1960 and scored two Top Five pop entries the next year with John D. Loudermilk compositions “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” and “Norman.” Additional Loudermilk songs, 1962’s “James (Hold the Ladder Steady)” and 1965’s “Paper Tiger,” extended her run of hits. Throughout this stretch her pert, markedly youthful timbre allowed her to connect with adolescent listeners even though she was approaching forty. Sporadic recordings followed for the rest of the decade without repeating earlier chart levels. In 1972 she began a collaboration with country singer Don Gibson that yielded three duet albums across the next two years; tracks such as “I Think They Call It Love” and “Oh, How Love Changes” performed solidly on the country charts. A handful of solo singles also appeared, the most successful being “Big Mable Murphy.” Her final chart entry, “Never Naughty Rosie,” arrived in 1976, after which she focused on the Las Vegas casino circuit. Following a third marriage she occasionally served as MC at North Hollywood’s Palomino Club. She eventually made Las Vegas her permanent home and continued occasional performances into the 1990s.
A first-place finish at a San Jose talent contest drew the notice of singer, bandleader, and radio/TV host Dude Martin, who recruited her for his ensemble and soon became her second husband. The pair cut several duets, one of which—“If You Want Some Lovin’”—secured Thompson her initial solo contract with Mercury. In 1952 Martin added singer/comedian Hank Penny to the revue; within twelve months Thompson had divorced Martin, married Penny, and joined him in hosting a Los Angeles television program for two years before the couple moved to Las Vegas for casino engagements. They issued separate and joint sides for Decca yet never scored a substantial hit.
Thompson joined Hickory Records in 1960 and scored two Top Five pop entries the next year with John D. Loudermilk compositions “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” and “Norman.” Additional Loudermilk songs, 1962’s “James (Hold the Ladder Steady)” and 1965’s “Paper Tiger,” extended her run of hits. Throughout this stretch her pert, markedly youthful timbre allowed her to connect with adolescent listeners even though she was approaching forty. Sporadic recordings followed for the rest of the decade without repeating earlier chart levels. In 1972 she began a collaboration with country singer Don Gibson that yielded three duet albums across the next two years; tracks such as “I Think They Call It Love” and “Oh, How Love Changes” performed solidly on the country charts. A handful of solo singles also appeared, the most successful being “Big Mable Murphy.” Her final chart entry, “Never Naughty Rosie,” arrived in 1976, after which she focused on the Las Vegas casino circuit. Following a third marriage she occasionally served as MC at North Hollywood’s Palomino Club. She eventually made Las Vegas her permanent home and continued occasional performances into the 1990s.
Albums
