Don Wilson Varner (25 June 1943 – 7 October 2002) was an American soul singer. Varner was a baritone who sang both uptempo soul in the northern soul style as well as ballads.
Don Wilson Varner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Birmingham, Alabama |
| Died | 2002 Moreno Valley, California |
Career edit
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Varner grew up in the same neighborhood as Eddie Kendricks co-founder of The Temptations.[1] Varner moved to Chicago after high school to pursue his music career but returned to Alabama after six years to record in Muscle Shoals.[1] at Rick Hall's FAME Studios. He wrote songs including "I Keep Holdin' On" for Sam & Dave (with William Crump). Varner also worked with Quin Ivy in Sheffield, Alabama[1] and released several songs including "Masquerade"(1967), "Down in Texas"(1967),[2] and "Tear Stained Face" on the South Camp and Quinvy labels.
Varner did not release many recordings but performed numerous live shows in the South with other major soul performers.[1] He moved to California in the 1980s and toured as the lead singer of the Johnny Otis Show.[1] He toured numerous European music festivals in 1985. In his later, career, he began to record gospel music. He died in Moreno Valley, California in 2002 of a heart attack at the age of 59. An album of his music from 1968 to 1974 entitled Finally Go Over! was released posthumously.
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Andrew Hamilton. "Don Varner" at AllMusic.com. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ "Don Varner | Discography | Discogs". Discogs.
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