Vernon Oxford

Background

Oxford was raised in Wichita, Kansas, where his father played old-time fiddle.

Career

He began playing professionally in Utah in 1960, mostly playing in the Kansas area in the early 1960s, then relocated to Nashville in 1964. In 1965 he met Harlan Howard, who got him signed to Radio Corporation of America Victor and helped him find material to record. He then released seven singles and one LP, Woman Let Maine Sing You a Song.

None of them charted, and he was soon dropped from Radio Corporation of America. His career saw a resurgence in Britain, where he was first rediscovered in the middle of the 1970s.

A best-of was issued there in 1974, and Radio Corporation of America signed him again to tour there. His hit singles "Shadows of My Mind", "Redneck (The Redneck National Anthem)", and "A Good Old Fashioned Saturday Night Honky Tonk Barroom Brawl" (United States Country Number 55, 1977) reinvigorated his career in America.

In Britain, he was well known for "I"ve Got to Get Peter Office Your Mind" and "Field of Flowers". After a break of several years, he began a career as a gospel singer in 1981.

Achievements

• Vernon Oxford has been listed as a notable country western musician by Marquis Who's Who.