Joe Stampley - Biography

Biography

He was born to R.C. Stampley, Jr. (1920–2000), and Mary E. Stampley (1924–2004). His interest in music dates to boyhood, when he listened to his father's Hank Williams records and learned to play piano before he was ten years of age.

In the 1960s, Stampley was the main singer for the rock group, The Uniques (not to be confused with the Jamaican and doo-wop groups with the same name). The Uniques were based out of Shreveport, the largest city near Springhill, and began performing in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. In 1965, The Uniques recorded, "Not Too Long Ago", the first national hit for Paula Records. One year later, they followed with "All These Things".

The Uniques released four original albums, and one greatest hits compilation, between 1965 and their 1970 breakup. Most of the Uniques' material was rooted in rhythm and blues, rock, pop and swamp pop genres.

In 1971, Stampley signed with ABC-Dot and recorded seven country albums that produced such hits as "Soul Song", "Too Far Gone", "If You Touch Me, You 've Got To Love Me", "I'm Still Loving You", and the remake of "All These Things" as a two-step, which reached No. 1 on the country chart.

In 1975, Stampley moved to Epic Records, where he released thirteen albums. These albums included such hits as: "Roll On Big Mama", "Red Wine and Blue Memories", "If You've Got Ten Minutes (Let's Fall in Love", "Do You Ever Fool Around", and "I'm Gonna Love You Back To Lovin' Me Again."

Stampley has over 60 charted records to his credit. Joel Whitburn's Billboard Top Country Singles rank Stampley 52nd among all country artists from 1944–1993 for charted singles. In 1976, Stampley had eight singles which charted on the Billboard country charts and was awarded "Billboard's Single Artist of the Year" for that accomplishment. Stampley has also been inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame, the Louisiana Country Music Hall Of Fame, as well as the Texas Country Music Association Hall of Fame.