Jeannie Seely

b. Marilyn Jeanne Seely, 6 July 1940, Titusville, Pennsylvania, USA. Seely had studied banking but she had been singing in public from 11 years old. She gained valuable experience by working as a secretary in Los Angeles for Liberty Records. In 1965 with encouragement from the man she later married, Hank Cochran, she came to Nashville. She worked for Ernest Tubb and then for Porter Wagoner. In 1966, she went to number 2 on the US country charts with Cochran's Don't Touch Me, and won a Grammy as the Best Country Female Vocalist. She had success with more of Cochran's songs, notably I'll Love You More, Welcome Home To Nothing and Just Enough To Start Me Dreaming, and dedicated an album to him, THANKS, HANK. Being a small blonde in a miniskirt, she was a distinctive partner for the six-foot Jack Greene and they had a succession of US country hits, including a number 2, I Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You. Seely wrote It Just Takes Practice (Dottie West), Senses (Willie Nelson and Connie Smith) and Leavin' And Sayin’ Goodbye (Jack Greene, Faron Young and Norma Jean). In 1973 she had success with Can I Sleep In Your Arms Tonight, Mister?, a parody by Hank Cochran of the old-time May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister?. She also made a bid for the outlaw country market with a song addressed to Jessi Colter, We're Still Hangin' In There, Ain't We, Jessi?