Image credit: RCA / Wesco Music Group
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Randel Huston Parton (December 15, 1953 – January 21, 2021) was a singer, songwriter, and musician. He was the eighth of twelve children born to Lee and Avie Lee Parton. Perhaps best known as Dolly's younger brother, Randy pursued a music career of his own, releasing several albums and singles. He learned and played bass guitar in sister Stella Parton's first country band with cousins Dale and Dwight Puckett. They performed on Stella's 1972 album, Stella (And the Gospel Carrolls). Randy later worked for singer Jean Shepard before playing and singing backup in Dolly's Travelin' Family Band in the mid-1970s. In 1974, Randy, Mark Andersen, Dennis Bottoms, and Dwight Puckett formed a band called Southern Gallery. Together they played country and southern rock for a couple of years in Nashville.
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Randy began pursuing a solo career in 1975 with the release of his first single, "Tennessee Born" (written by his brother Floyd). His debut album, There Was a Dream, followed in 1978 on Irish label Meteor Records. He appeared in Dolly's 1984 film, Rhinestone, contributing the song "Too Much Water" to the soundtrack, in addition to singing backing vocals on other tracks. In 1987, Randy began performing regularly at Dollywood and headlined his own show for many years. In the late 1990s, he and sister Rachel, along with Lakieta Bagwell-Graves and Jimmy Bryant, performed at the park as a group called Honey Creek. Randy eventually returned to his own show and spotlighted younger performers, including his daughter Heidi.
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Beginning in 2006, Randy stopped performing at the park to pursue his own endeavors. He returned to perform at Dollywood's new Dreamsong Theater from 2013 through 2017 in the My People show. In 2018, Randy revamped the show as My People, My Music, utilizing his narrative and enhancing the video production.
Randy was married to his wife Debra (Deb) and together they had two daughters, Tever and Heidi. Heidi performed with her dad in his show at Dollywood from a very young age, and has become a singer, songwriter, and performer in her own right. Randy also fathered a son, Sabyn Mayfield, who is a filmmaker, singer, and songwriter. |
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Studio albums
Album cover. Meteor (SKYL 7003) (1978)
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There Was a Dream is the debut studio album by Randy Parton. It was released by Irish label Meteor Records in 1978. The album features Randy's version of "Steady as the Rain" which was written by Dolly and would be a number 26 country hit for their sister Stella the following year. The back cover features liner notes by Dolly.
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Track listing
- The Best Side of Me (Pete Sumner) 2:34
- I Go to Pieces (Del Shannon) 2:05
- Other Women (Randy Parton) 2:23
- Cowboy and a Lady (Anderson) 3:46
- In My Arms Again (Del Shannon) 3:14
- Steady as the Rain (Dolly Parton) 3:07
- Just for You (Colm Wilkinson) 3:48
- You Light Up My Life (Joe Brooks) 3:10
- What Am I Gonna Do (Colm Wilkinson) 2:54
- I Love Her (Floyd Parton) 2:57
- Cat Fight (Pete Sumner) 2:52
- There Was a Dream (Colm Wilkinson) 4:45
A Note from Dolly
I suppose it's only natural to be proud of the ones you love the most – especially when you feel you have every reason to be proud.
I remember how proud I was when my new baby brother, Randle Houston Parton (later to be shortened to Randy), came to live with us in our old mountain shack in East Tennessee. He would be sharing a home with seven other children – four more to be born after him, making a total of twelve – six girls and six boys.
Even tho we were poor and times were often hard, we looked forward to each new child. It always seemed to brighten up the old homeplace.
Randy especially was a bright spot in all our lives, a bright, loving little boy with a mischievous smile and big summer green eyes filled with wonder and big dreams.
He soon grew from a frail little boy to a handsome young man with the same summer green eyes, still filled with wonder
and dreams, and a voice the Smoky Mountain songbirds would envy.
Because of a loving yet strong nature, Randy is able to project great emotion in every song he sings. He makes you feel that you've lived every story.
I have great respect for my brother Randy as a person, as well as a singer, writer, and musician. I feel that Randy has the talent, personality, looks, and ambition to be a real *SuperStar*.
I have been in the music business for many years and I've seen lots of talented people and I would put Randy up there with the best of them.
Partial you say?
Maybe, but I don't think so.
Musically yours,
Dolly Parton
I remember how proud I was when my new baby brother, Randle Houston Parton (later to be shortened to Randy), came to live with us in our old mountain shack in East Tennessee. He would be sharing a home with seven other children – four more to be born after him, making a total of twelve – six girls and six boys.
Even tho we were poor and times were often hard, we looked forward to each new child. It always seemed to brighten up the old homeplace.
Randy especially was a bright spot in all our lives, a bright, loving little boy with a mischievous smile and big summer green eyes filled with wonder and big dreams.
He soon grew from a frail little boy to a handsome young man with the same summer green eyes, still filled with wonder
and dreams, and a voice the Smoky Mountain songbirds would envy.
Because of a loving yet strong nature, Randy is able to project great emotion in every song he sings. He makes you feel that you've lived every story.
I have great respect for my brother Randy as a person, as well as a singer, writer, and musician. I feel that Randy has the talent, personality, looks, and ambition to be a real *SuperStar*.
I have been in the music business for many years and I've seen lots of talented people and I would put Randy up there with the best of them.
Partial you say?
Maybe, but I don't think so.
Musically yours,
Dolly Parton
Album cover. Electric (1988)
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Shot Full of Love is the second studio album by Randy Parton. It was released by Electric Records in 1988. The album was produced by Randy with Steve A. Gibson and Mike Post (who had produced Dolly's 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album in 1980). The album was recoded in the early 1980s when Randy was signed to RCA Records. He released several singles, but the full album was never issued. After Randy signed with management company Wesco Music Group, the album was finally released by Electric Records on LP and cassette in 1988.
The first two singles, "Hold Me Like You Never Had Me" and the title track, both peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The third single, "A Stranger in Her Bed", reached number 92. |
Track listing
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Personnel
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Album cover. (c. 1989) / Remastered artwork by The Dolly Parton Discography
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Goin' Dancin' is the third studio album by Randy Parton. It was released independently c. 1989. It was produced by Randy with John D. Loudermilk.
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Track listing
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Personnel and credits
Special thanks to John D. and Diane Loudermilk |
Album cover. (1991) / Extended edit by The Dolly Parton Discography
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America, From Where I Stand is the fourth studio album by Randy Parton. It was released independently by Randy in 1991 on cassette. The album was produced by Al Henson and Steve Messer, with Randy serving as executive producer. All tracks on the album were written or co-written by Randy, Floyd, or Rachel Parton (Dennison), and Neal Davenport contributed to one track.
The album includes Randy's version of "Family", a song written by Dolly and Carl Perkins and recorded by Dolly on her 1991 album, Eagle When She Flies. Floyd's demo versions of his compositions "Foolin' Around" and "Radio Man" would be released in 2025 on his posthumous album, The Songwriter, the Singer. Additionally, Floyd's demo of "Foolin' Around" was used to create a duet with Dolly for the 2024 family album, Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables. |
Track listing
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Personnel and credits
Thanks to Dolly, and the Dollywood executives for making this album possible.
Special thanks to Neal Davenport for his longtime friendship, and sharing his talent. Thanks, Deb and the Flange Bros. |
Cast albums
Album cover. The Dollywood Company (2013)
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Dolly Parton's My People (The Original Cast Album) is a soundtrack album by the cast of Dolly Parton's My People, which ran at Dollywood from 2013 through 2017, and features Dolly on several tracks. It was released on November 9, 2013, by The Dollywood Foundation as the park kicked off their annual Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. The show featured Dolly's brother Randy Parton, sister Cassie Parton, cousin Debbie Jo Puckett, niece Heidi Parton, cousin Dwight Puckett, and niece Jada Star. The album was only sold at Dollywood for a short time and is out of print, making it extremely hard to find.
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Track listing
- My Mountains, My Home Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 4:21
- In the Pines Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Traditional) 2:19
- My Tennessee Mountain Home Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:44
- Tip-Toe, Tip-Toe, Little Dolly Parton / Little Tiny Tassletop Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:32
- Mama / Being Dad Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 4:38
- The Dinner Bucket Song Original Cast (Dolly Parton) 1:24
- Coat of Many Colors Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 2:20
- Dumb Blonde Original Cast (Curly Putman) 1:48
- Applejack Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:26
- Family Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton, Carl Perkins) 3:47
- Travelin' Family Band Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 0:57
- I Will Always Love You Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 2:52
- 9 to 5 Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:27
- My Mountains, My Home (Reprise) Original Cast (Dolly Parton) 1:31
Compilation albums
Album cover. (c. 1992) / Extended edit by The Dolly Parton Discography
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The Best of Randy Parton is a compilation album by Randy Parton. It was released around 1992 on cassette. The album features songs from several of Randy's previous releases, in addition to two previously unreleased tracks. The new song "Dollywood Lights" was written by Randy and his wife Deb as a gift for Dolly.
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Track listing
- Luanne (Lou Gramm, Mick Jones) 3:29
- Down the Road Tonight (Jeff Hanna, Josh Leo, Wendy Waldman) 4:05
- You're My Everything (Randy Parton) 3:04
- Love Is on the Line (Randy Parton, Floyd Parton) 3:16
- Dollywood Lights (Randy Parton, Deb Parton) 4:06
- Goin' Dancin' (Randy Parton, Bill Owens) 3:44
- Singin' the Blues (Melvin Endsley) 3:41
- Finders Keepers (Randy Parton, Rachel Dennison, Floyd Parton) 3:25
- Shot Full of Love (Bob McDill) 3:28
- America, From Where I Stand (Neal Davenport, Randy Parton) 2:54
Notes:
- Tracks 1 and 2 are taken from the Finders Keepers extended play.
- Tracks 3 and 5 are previously unreleased.
- Tracks 4 and 10 are taken from the 1991 album, America, From Where I Stand.
- Tracks 6 and 8 are taken from the c. 1989 album, Goin' Dancin'.
- Tracks 7 and 9 are taken from the 1988 album, Shot Full of Love.
Extended plays
EP cover. (c. 1987) / Edit by The Dolly Parton Discography.
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Finders Keepers is an extended play by Randy Parton. It was released independently by Randy around 1987 on cassette and likely only sold at his shows at Dollywood. It was produced by Randy and Mike Post. They had previously collaborated on Randy's 1988 album, Shot Full of Love.
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Track listing
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Personnel
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EP cover. (c. 1988) / Extended edit by The Dolly Parton Discography.
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100% is an extended play by Randy Parton. It was released independently by Randy around 1988 on cassette and likely only sold at his shows at Dollywood.
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Track listing
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Personnel
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Singles
A-SIDE / B-SIDE (LABEL; CATALOG #; RELEASE DATE) CHART PEAK
Chart positions are from the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Chart positions are from the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
- Tennessee Born / If You Were Mine (RCA Victor; PB-10261; May 12, 1975)
- Losing Everything / In Love (RCA; JA-10432; November 3, 1975)
- Down* / Just as Good as Gone (RCA; PB-10877; January 24, 1977)
- Hold Me Like You Never Had Me / My Blue Tears (RCA; PB-12137; February 2, 1981) #30
- Shot Full of Love / Please Don't Lie (RCA; PN-12271; July 6, 1981) #30
- Don't Cry Baby / Again and Again (RCA; PB-12351; November 16, 1981) #80
- Oh, No / Hold Me Like You Never Had Me (RCA; PB-13087; March 22, 1982) #76
- Roll On Eighteen Wheeler / You'll Always Get Your Way (RCA; PB-13309; August 23, 1982)
- A Stranger in Her Bed / Walk Across Texas (RCA; PB-13608; September 5, 1983) #92
* "Down" features uncredited backing vocals by Dolly.
Other album appearances
TITLE / ARTIST / ALBUM / YEAR
- Holdin' on to You / Dolly Parton* / New Harvest...First Gathering / 1977
- Down to Earth / Stella Parton* / Stella Parton / 1978
- Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You / Dolly Parton* / Dolly, Dolly, Dolly / 1980
- Too Much Water / Randy Parton / Rhinestone / 1984
- Shine On / Dolly Parton** / Hungry Again / 1998
- In the Sweet By and By / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
- Farther Along / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
- Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now / Heidi Parton and Randy Parton / This Kind of Love / 2017
- You Are My Christmas / Dolly Parton and Randy Parton / A Holly Dolly Christmas / 2020
- Oh Tennessee*** / Sabyn and Randy Parton / Halfway There / 2021
- Take It Slow / Randy Parton and Rachel Parton George / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
* Randy provided backing vocals on these tracks.
** Randy provided backing vocals as a member of The House of Prayer Congregation.
*** "Oh Tennessee" samples Randy's 1975 single, "Tennessee Born".