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Jackie DeShannon will receive the Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in April. DeShannon was born Sharon Lee Myers in Hazel, Kentucky, on August 21, 1944.

Sharon changed her name to Jackie DeShannon in 1960 when she signed with Liberty Records, and then released a string of singles before achieving success in Canada in 1963 with the number one hit “Needles and Pins” and Top Forty hits “Little Yellow Roses” and the self-penned “When You Walk In The Room”. All three barely broke into the Hot 100 in the US, but The Searchers’ version of the latter would reach number 35 in the US and was a Top Five hit in the UK.

“When You Walk In The Room” – Jackie DeShannon

DeShannon’s chart breakthrough in the US was her fine recording of the Bacharach/David song “What the World Needs Now Is Love” in 1965, which reached number seven on the Hot 100.

“What the World Needs Now Is Love” – Jackie DeShannon

It would be another four years before DeShannon’s next and final big hit, the self-penned million seller “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” but she continued to write and perform, and her songs have been recorded by a large number of big name artists, including The Byrds, Brenda Lee, Van Morrison, Cher, The Carpenters, Rick Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, The Temptations, and Ella Fitzgerald.

The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum 2013 Induction Ceremony takes place at the Lexington Center Bluegrass Ballroom on April 12. The other inductees are The Kentucky Headhunters, Exile, Skeeter Davis,The Hilltoppers, Old Joe Clark, Emory & Linda Martin and Steven Curtis Chapman.

Last year, Jackie released a new song titled “For Africa, In Africa” to bring attention to the importance of clean well water for the African continent.

“For Africa, In Africa” – Jackie DeShannon

If you want to explore Jackie DeShannon’s music, ACE Records’ Complete Liberty and Imperial Singles series is recommended.

Title
You Won’t Forget Me: The Complete Liberty Singles – Vol 1 (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Come and Get Me: The Complete Liberty and Imperial Singles – Vol 2 (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Keep Me in Mind: The Complete Liberty and Imperial Singles – Vol 3 (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now