Margo Smith
b. Betty Lou Miller, 9 April 1942, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Smith began her singing career while still at school as a member of the Apple Sisters vocal group. She trained as a teacher but also had hopes of a singing career. She wrote songs in her spare time and eventually made some unsuccessful recordings for Chart Records. In 1975, after changing labels to 20th Century, she made her US country chart debut with her own song, There I've Said It and quit her job as a teacher. She moved to Warner the following year and immediately had two Top 10 country hits with Save Your Kisses For Me and Take My Breath Away. By 1981, she had 20 chart entries including two number 1s, Don't Break The Heart That Loves You and It Only Hurts For A Little While. Several others such as If I Give My Heart To You and My Guy were versions of songs that had already had pop chart success for other singers. She duetted with Norro Wilson (So Close Again) and Rex Allen Jnr. (Cup Of Tea). She was dropped by Warner in 1981 but managed a few minor hits on indie labels (the last being Echo Me on Playback in 1988), but recorded an album for Dot/MCA in 1986. Traditionalists would rate much of her work as country-pop but she is a brilliant yodeler and usually features this now unusual talent for lady vocalists in her stage show.