David Houston (singer)
A country singer whose smooth baritone voice delivered a string of chart-topping hits in the late 1960s, including the classic 'Almost Persuaded'.
1935–1993 (age 58)·American country singer·Birthday: December 9·The Silent Generation
Biography
Born in Bossier City, Louisiana, David Houston seemed destined for music, signing with Epic Records in the early 1960s. His breakthrough wasn't immediate, but when it came, it was monumental. In 1966, his recording of 'Almost Persuaded' spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard country chart, a staggering run that cemented his place in the genre. He rode that wave of success through the decade, often collaborating with singer Barbara Mandrell on hits like 'After Closing Time.' Houston's style was polished and emotive, a bridge between traditional country storytelling and the smoother Nashville sound of the era. While his commercial peak faded in the 1970s, his voice left an indelible mark on the country music landscape of his time.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
David was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Died at 58
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- His 1966 single 'Almost Persuaded' held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for nine consecutive weeks.
- He won a Grammy Award in 1967 for Best Country & Western Recording for 'Almost Persuaded'.
- He scored over 30 top-ten hits on the Billboard country charts throughout his career.
- He had a successful duet partnership with Barbara Mandrell, producing hits like 'After Closing Time.'
Did You Know?
He was a cousin of legendary singers Hank Williams and Jerry Lee Lewis.
His father was a Baptist minister, and Houston sang in the church choir as a child.
He served in the United States Army before pursuing music full-time.
“Almost persuaded to leave you, but I just can't walk away.”
