Jane Marie Fricke, known professionally as Janie Fricke, is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and clothing designer.
37 Facts About Janie Fricke
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Janie Fricke has placed seventeen singles in the top ten of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
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Janie Fricke has won accolades from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association and has been nominated four times from the Grammy Awards.
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Janie Fricke was surrounded by music from a young age and began performing locally.
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Janie Fricke later moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she was hired as part of a background vocal group called The Lea Jane Singers.
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On one occasion, Janie Fricke was asked to sing a solo part on a song by Johnny Duncan called "Stranger".
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Nashville record label Columbia Records took particular interest in Janie Fricke and signed her to a solo contract in 1977.
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Janie Fricke has since continued to perform and record, most recently releasing a Christmas collection in 2020 called A Cowgirl Country Christmas.
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Janie Fricke's father taught her to play the guitar, while her mother taught her the piano.
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Janie Fricke eventually took the position and later performed commercial jingles for national advertisement campaigns including Red Lobster.
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In 1972, Janie Fricke graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education.
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In 1972, Janie Fricke moved to Los Angeles, California, in hopes of finding work as a background singer for recording studios.
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Janie Fricke found limited opportunities in California but did win a talent contest.
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Janie Fricke made an estimated one hundred thousand dollars per year.
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In 1976, Janie Fricke recorded a solo background vocal to Johnny Duncan's top five country hit "Stranger".
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Janie Fricke was not credited on the single's release, but her solo interested radio listeners and disc jockeys.
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Janie Fricke sang background on several more Duncan records including "Thinkin' of a Rendezvous" and "It Couldn't Have Been Any Better".
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However, Janie Fricke was hesitant about becoming a solo artist and chose not to accept the offer right away.
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Janie Fricke began working with producer Billy Sherrill at the label.
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Janie Fricke recorded Fricke's debut single called "What're You Doing Tonight".
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Janie Fricke produced her next single "Down to My Last Broken Heart".
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In 1982, Janie Fricke collaborated with producer Bob Montgomery and transitioned towards an up-tempo country-pop sound.
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Janie Fricke's popularity led to her winning the Female Vocalist of the Year accolade from the Country Music Association in both 1982 and 1983.
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Janie Fricke joined Merle Haggard in 1984 to add harmony and background vocals to his album It's All in the Game.
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Janie Fricke was given credit on the release of Haggard's single "A Place to Fall Apart", which climbed to the number one spot on American and Canadian country charts.
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Janie Fricke provided similar harmony work to George Jones's 1984 LP Ladies' Choice.
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Janie Fricke returned in 1988 with a collection of ballads titled Saddle the Wind, which charted at number 64 on the Billboard country LP's chart.
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Janie Fricke's first Intersound release was a 1991 eponymous studio record.
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In 2004, Janie Fricke recorded a new album project titled The Bluegrass Sessions.
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Janie Fricke produced the project, along with second husband Jeff Steele and assistant Sony Morris.
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The disc featured a lead single composed by Janie Fricke titled "The Followers".
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Janie Fricke incorporated elements of pop, adult contemporary and country pop.
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Janie Fricke's apparel was featured in several department stores during the decade.
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Janie Fricke played the role of Ginny, a jewel thief who hid money in the dashboard of a getaway car that was later to become the General Lee.
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Janie Fricke has participated in the Country Music Hall of Fame Fundraising Campaign with other artists such as Naomi Judd and Gretchen Wilson.
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Janie Fricke began dating Johnny Rodriguez's road manager Randy Jackson in the early 1980s.
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Hours after their wedding, Janie Fricke gave a free concert to seven thousand fans at a local Indiana festival.