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Jackie DeShannon, a highly talented, prolific, and versatile artist, was among the first successful female singer/songwriters to emerge in the rock and pop scenes during the 1960s. Her music spans a wide range of genres including folk, orchestral pop, gospel, country, and rock 'n' roll. Born Sharon Lee Myers on August 21, 1941, in Hazel, Kentucky, to Sandra Jean and James Erwin Myers, her father worked as a barber in Batavia, Illinois, where she attended high school for two years. By age six, DeShannon was performing country music on the radio, and at eleven, she hosted her own radio show. In 1957, she recorded "Buddy," a lively tribute to her musical hero Buddy Holly. She formed a friendship with rockabilly singer Eddie Cochran, who encouraged her to move to California. DeShannon partnered in songwriting with Cochran’s girlfriend, Sharon Sheeley, co-writing songs like "Dum Dum" for Brenda Lee and "Breakaway" for Irma Thomas. The British rock band The Searchers achieved major hits with their covers of DeShannon's "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room." Jackie also performed alongside The Beatles during their first US tour. In late 1964, she traveled to London to record four tracks with Jimmy Page, including the energetic "Don't Turn Your Back on Me." DeShannon penned the hit "Come and Stay With Me" for Marianne Faithfull and collaborated with Randy Newman on songs such as "Hold Your Head High" and "Did He Call Today Mama." Her first major hit was "What the World Needs Now Is Love," written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Another significant success was "Put A Little Love in Your Heart." Artists like Tracey Ullman, Annie Lennox, Al Green (who performed a duet on "Put A Little Love in Your Heart"), Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Pam Tillis, and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers have covered her songs. Kim Carnes achieved a massive Number One hit with "Bette Davis Eyes," co-written by DeShannon and Donna Weiss. Her music has appeared in films such as Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Who'll Stop the Rain (1978), In Country, Forrest Gump (1994), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), and RV (2006). Jackie briefly acted in the mid-1960s, appearing in Surf Party (1964), Intimacy (1966), and C'mon, Let's Live a Little (1967). She also guest-starred on TV shows including The Virginian (1962), The Wild Wild West (1965), My Three Sons (1960), and The Name of the Game (1968). DeShannon is married to singer-songwriter and film composer Randy Edelman. On June 17, 2010, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
