Daryle wants to be a Singletary sensation in Nashville

Jim Patterson

Monday, June 29, 1998 | 10:42 a.m.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With his baby face, light beard and laid-back demeanor, Daryle Singletary is like the Clark Kent of country music.

But when the 27-year-old sings, a real Superman emerges to demonstrate artistic integrity and honky-tonk vocal chops that have earned him comparisons to George Jones and Merle Haggard.

While Nashville goes through one of its confused, how-pop-is-too-pop phases, Singletary is faithfully doing what Randy Travis, his role model, did in the 1980s. With his third album, "Ain't It the Truth," and especially its first single, "The Note," Singletary has quietly drawn a line in the sand.

"I'm not out here trying to make a big fuss," Singletary said. "The people that want to hear traditional country music, I'm trying to give it to them. Because that's what I love."

Previously recorded by Conway Twitty, Gene Watson and Tammy Wynette, "The Note" is a classic country weeper. Singletary proves himself worthy of the dramatic tune written by Buck Moore and Michele Ray. Perhaps only Roy Orbison could have done it better.

"Being a country music fan, I would probably have not touched it if I had known all those greats had done it," Singletary said. "But it turns out that nobody ever released the song as a single."

Singletary's version made it to No. 28 on the Billboard country music singles chart, launching the album in grand style. The follow-up, "That's Where You're Wrong," only made it to 49.

The third single, "My Baby's Lovin'," is a rocking song co-written by Delbert McClinton. It's set for release July 13.

There's more inspired solid country music on the album, too, including a version of Jerry Reed's "A Thing Called Love." The title song, which Singletary co-wrote, is a tribute to country music heroes such as Lefty Frizzell and George Jones. It's about his devotion to classic country music.

Born in Cairo, Ga., near the Florida border, Singletary grew up a rabid country music fan. His family traveled each summer to Nashville to see the stars and sights in Music City. His first recording in Nashville was Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart." He made it at a record-your-own-voice tourist attraction when he was 12.

Later, Singletary sold souvenirs for Tanya Tucker during a high school break, and moved to Nashville in 1990 after graduating.

He scraped by on the club circuit with Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw, both of whom beat him to stardom by several years. He got impatient and took out a loan to pay a company to release an album.

"I was a little eager to get something going," Singletary said. "I'm still paying for that."

His big break came when he was hanging out with a friend who sold T-shirts for Randy Travis at concerts. The friend managed to get a copy of Singletary's song, "An Old Pair of Shoes," to Travis and Travis' manager-wife Elizabeth. One day, Elizabeth Travis sent for Singletary.

"I thought I was going to be in trouble for being there," Singletary said. "But she told me she'd heard the single and wanted to manage me." Travis recorded "An Old Pair of Shoes" and Elizabeth Travis secured a record deal for Singletary with Giant.

Travis produced Singletary's 1995 debut album, "Daryle Singletary," which scored three Top 5 singles and sold about 200,000 copies. But the follow-up album, "All Because of You," sold only 50,000 and nearly cost him his record deal.

Singletary said he saved his career by persuading new Giant president Doug Johnson to see him perform. Johnson was impressed and produced "Ain't It the Truth" with John Hobbs. The album already is bigger than Singletary's first two efforts.

He said he's not looking for fame from the album, but would like to leave a mark on country music.

"I want to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry, make a living and have some fun," he said. "I want people to know the name Daryle Singletary and to make a difference in country music."