Kin Vassy

Kin Vassy was a singer-songwriter who in addition to his solo recordings also recorded with other artists, most notably Kenny Rogers, Frank Zappa and Elvis Presley. His full name was Charles Kindred Vassy.

In the 1960s, Vassy made a name for himself as a member of The Back Porch Majority. In 1970 he left them and joined Country rock outfit Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. As a member of the group he enjoyed a top 30 album - "Something's Burning" - and one of his own songs "Heed The Call" became a top 40 hit in 1971.

Vassy left the group in 1972 after "The Ballad of Calico" album and was replaced by Jimmy Hassell. Vassy went on to work on both a solo career and as a session musician. Soon after, however, he was back with Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, replacing his former bandmate Terry Williams who launched his own solo career. The group split in 1976 and Vassy once again went solo.

In 1980 Vassy released the single "Makes Me Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye" which featured ex-First Edition leader Kenny Rogers on backing vocals. Though the song was not a huge hit, the following year Rogers covered the song on his best-selling "Share Your Love" album, this time with Vassy providing backing vocals. Vassy (like Terry Williams) continued to work with Rogers on various projects, such as Kenny's 1984 album "What About Me?". Vassy also composed the song "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" for Rogers, released on "Christmas" (Liberty Records, 1981).

Vassy died of cancer in 1994. However, he was to have one more hit. A Martina McBride recording of one of Vassy's last songs ("Phones Are Ringing All Over Town") hit Number 1 on the country music charts in 1996.

References

[http://www.allmusic.com Vassy profile by Bruce Eder on allmusic.com]