Song: Wolverton Mountain
Written by Merle Kilgore, Claude KingIn the early `60s, Shapiro Bernstein formed a new publishing subsidiary, PAINTED DESERT MUSIC, primarily to handle country songs. Singer-composer Merle Kilgore kicked things off by teaming with country star Claude King to write WOLVERTON MOUNTAIN. King`s recording of the song, about actual people and a real place in Arkansas, sky-rocketed up both the pop and country charts in 1962, selling over one million copies. There was a surprising answer song by Jo Ann Campbell that also climbed up the charts: "(I`m The Girl From) Wolverton Mountain."