Shirley headed west to Southern California when country music was at it's finest and she had a big desire to be a part of it. After singing anywhere she could, she was spotted at a talent show by Squeakin' Deacon, a dj in Pasadena, California, who also gave Diana Shore her start. He could see the desire Shirley had for music, so he offered her a hand.
With a new found confidence, Shirley picked up her guitar and headed for an audition with Forman Phillips who had the number one radio show on the west coast, "The County Barndance". This was the springboard for her and during this time, she was nicknamed "The Sweetheart of the County Barndance".
"The Barndance" eventually moved to live television and it was then that Shirley met and performed with many of the country stars of the time: Ray Price, and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys to name a few. It wasn't long before Fabor Robison, a record producer, signed her to a recording contract. Fabor also had Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, and Ned Miller under the Fabor Records label at that time. Shirley stayed with the "County Barndance" until it went off the air. Then she went on the road to promote her records. In search of the right music, she began to write her own songs. By then Fabor had retired from the music business and Shirley had married and started a family. Still, she kept on performing. When her two sons were old enough, they formed a family band and performed at clubs and rodeo dances.
Then she received a call from Fabor Robison who had abandoned retirement and returned to the recording business. As Shirley was about to record again with Fabor, his untimely death ended the partnership. Fabor had told her that he had been to the Country Music Hall of Fame and that she, along with the other Fabor Records artists, were there.
Shirley Bates is back on the recording scene and we hope you'll give her a listen.
Look for her new CD, "New Walls"