Her duets with Nation Music Corridor of Famer Jim Ed Brown topped the charts within the mid ’70s and early ’80s quite a few occasions, whereas she loved her personal solo profession that lasted a few years and included many cherished appearances on RFD-TV’s Nation Household Reunion and the Grand Ole Opry. Now the nation music household is saying goodbye to one of many style’s most cherished champions and duet companions. Helen Cornelius has handed away on the age of 83.
Singing nation music was at all times the fervour of Helen Cornelius, born Helen Lorene Johnson on December sixth, 1941. However it might take a while and a winding highway earlier than she would discover herself on the highest of the nation charts, and successful CMA Awards. It began in humble beginnings on a farm exterior on Monroe Metropolis, Missouri, pop. 2,500. Whereas nonetheless at school, she fashioned a signing trio together with her two sisters Judy and Sharon, and toured regionally in between class assignments and farm duties. Later, Helen struck out on her personal with a backing band known as The Crossroads.
After marrying, Cornelius was employed as a secretary for some time, however music saved calling. Within the early ’70s, she was touring as a performer and attempting to launch a music profession, each as a songwriter and a performer. She initially signed with an organization known as Display screen Gems Music that went out-of-business. She then signed with Columbia Information, and later RCA Information, releasing singles with these labels, however none of which gained a lot traction. Everybody acknowledged the expertise, however couldn’t determine the place the voice of Helen Cornelius match.
That each one modified when Jim Ed Brown and producer Bob Ferguson had been in search of a duet accomplice for the track “I Don’t Need to Must Marry You.” Singed to RCA on the time himself, Jim Ed was matched with Helen, and magic ensued. The track went straight to #1 in 1976, and would impressed a string of high nation hits, 5 albums pairing the 2, and revitalized the careers of each of the nation performers.
The followup single by Jim Ed and Helen known as “Saying Hi there, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye” hit #2 in 1976. That they had subsequent Prime 10 hits with “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight” (1978), a canopy of “You Don’t Convey Me Flowers” (1978), “Mendacity in Love with You” (1979), “Fools” (1979), and “Morning Comes Too Early” (1980). Their debut album on RCA additionally hit the Prime 10.
“Mendacity in Love with You” was additionally one of many first main hits for songwriter Dean Dillon, and is credited with serving to to launch Dillon’s profession. In 1977, Helen Cornelius and Jim Ed Brown received the CMA’s Vocal Duo of the 12 months. The pair was additionally nominated for a Grammy award for “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight.”
Regardless of all of the success as a duet accomplice, Helen Cornelius continued to wrestle to launch a giant solo profession. She did have a high 30 hit together with her track “Whatcha Doin’ After Midnight, Child” from 1978, however as singles stalled, labels put the brakes on releasing solo albums from her.
Nonetheless, Cornelius persevered, and continued to search out success as a dwell performer into the ’80s. She toured as a gap act for The Statler Brothers, and in 1985, DOT lastly launched a self-titled album for Helen. She additionally carried out within the touring play, Annie Get Your Gun for a interval. In 1988, Cornelius reunited with Jim Ed Brown for a giant nationwide tour.
Although the hits stopped coming, Helen Corneius was thought-about a legend in conventional nation music circles. She opened a venue in Gatlinburg, Tennessee known as “Nashville South,” and carried out there repeatedly, ultimately transferring the present to Branson in her dwelling state the place she would seem repeatedly on the Jim Stafford Theater. As a daily on RFD’s Nation’s Household Reunion, she continued to stay shut together with her fellow nation legends, many who left remembrances on the information of her passing.
Bobby Tomberlin remarked, “Throughout my time as a sound engineer with Invoice Anderson, Helen was a part of many package deal exhibits we labored, and he or she was at all times extremely form and gracious.”
David Frizzell says, “Our hearts are so heavy on the lack of our buddy Helen Cornelius. We laughed collectively, sang collectively, toured collectively, recorded collectively…we’ll miss her love and EXTREME Expertise!”
Helen Cornelius handed away on Friday, July 18th.
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