夏礼章／乡村歌星Claude King高龄辞世

文／夏礼章跨界乡村歌星 Claude King本月七日病逝于老家路易斯安那州的Shreveport，高龄90岁，他以1962年的一首畅销曲"Wolverton Mountain"为老歌迷们熟识，和圈内好友Jim Reeves一样，Claude King 在踏入歌坛之前的1950年代，曾在"Louisiana Hayride"广播电台和电视台主持节目，还曾经创设一个棒球奖学金。 1961年他被哥伦比亚唱片公司挖角签了唱片约，"Big River, Big Man"这首获得乡村曲排行榜第7名的歌，开启了他从1961-1977年一共三十首畅销曲的演唱生涯。 ▲图／翻摄自网路。1962年曾获热门歌曲榜第6名的"Wolverton Mountain"是Claude King唯一的一首热门歌曲榜前十名的歌，也是一首有趣的故事歌曲，由Claude King与Merle Kilgore一同创作，歌名是一个真实的地名，位于阿肯色州的Conway郡，而歌词中的主角Clifton Clowers则是Merle Kilgore的叔叔，Clifton Clowers 一辈子住在那儿， 1994年去世后也葬在那儿，他活了102岁。 Claude King一直唱乡村歌曲到1977年才退休，他也演过几部电影和电视剧。Wolverton Mountain Merle Kilgore and Claude King, 1962

They say don't go on Wolverton Mountain, if you're looking for a wife. 'Cause Clifton Clowers has a pretty young daughter, he's mighty handy with a gun and a knife. Her tender lips are sweeter than honey And Wolverton Mountain protects her there. The bears and birds tell Clifton Clowers If a stranger should wander there. All of my dreams are on Wolverton Mountain. I want his daughter for my wife. I'll take my chances and climb that mountain Though Clilfton Clowers, he may take my life Her tender lips .... I'm going up on Wolverton Mountain, It's too lonely downhere below. It's just not right to hide his dayghter From the one who loves her so. Her tender lips ... But I don't care about Clifton Clowers, I'm gonna climb up on his mountain, I'm gonna take the girl I love. I don't care about Clifton Clowers, I'm gonna climb up on his mountain, I'm gonna take the girl I love. (repeat to fade)