Conway Twitty, born Harold Lloyd Jenkins on September 1, 1933, passed away on June 5, 1993, at the age of 59 due to an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He died shortly after a performance in Branson, Missouri, and was rushed to a hospital in Springfield, Missouri, where he underwent surgery but did not survive .youtube.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5remindmagazine.com+5
To commemorate the 32nd anniversary of his passing, here are seven surprising facts about the country music legend:
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Stage Name Inspired by a Map
Twitty chose his stage name by combining Conway, Arkansas, and Twitty, Texas, after randomly selecting them from a map. This decision marked the beginning of his illustrious career in the music industry . -
Early Musical Talent
He received his first guitar at age four and formed his first band, the Phillips County Ramblers, at age 10. Twitty was also known for his strong vocal abilities and early passion for music. -
Saved a Friend as a Child
As a child, Twitty saved a friend from being crushed by a fallen tombstone. This act of bravery highlighted his courage and quick thinking from a young age. -
Baseball Aspirations
Twitty was an exceptional baseball player with a .450 batting average in high school. He received an offer from the Philadelphia Phillies but chose to pursue a career in music instead . -
Twitty City
In 1982, Twitty opened Twitty City, a $3.5 million country music entertainment complex in Hendersonville, Tennessee. It served as his home and a tourist attraction until it was sold to the Trinity Broadcasting Network in 1994 . -
Supporter of Emerging Artists
Twitty was known for mentoring and supporting up-and-coming country artists, including Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, and Naomi Judd. His encouragement helped launch the careers of several now-famous musicians . -
Unusual Duet Pairing
Twitty and Loretta Lynn, despite being close friends, were never romantically involved. Their professional partnership produced numerous hit duets, including “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” which topped the charts for 13 weeks .
