Margie Marie Bowes (March 18, 1941 – October 22, 2020) was an American country music singer who was popular in the late 1950s. She had a top 10 country hit, "Poor Old Heartsick Me", in 1959. She was briefly married to Doyle Wilburn of the Wilburn Brothers.
Bowes was born in Roxboro, North Carolina. Growing up in Carolina, Margie developed an early interest in singing, and was soon entertaining classmates in elementary school events. At age 13, she also won an amateur talent contest with her vocals at the Palace Theater in Roxboro. As word of her talents spread, she was invited to perform on local radio WRXO-AM Roxboro, and area TV shows, such as the weekly variety telecast, WDVA’s Virginia Barn Dance.
In 1958, Bowes participated in the Pet Milk Company's nationwide talent search. She entered the contest in Nashville, Tennessee and won the competition later that year. Known initially as a Pet Milk Sweetheart, she was introduced to major audiences by King of Country Music Roy Acuff.
Bowes released her first single in 1958, "Won'tcha Come Back to Me" backed with "One Broken Heart". The singles gained some attention, but failed to chart. Her next two-sided single, "One Time Too Many"/"Violets and Cheap Perfume" also failed to chart, but she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry later that year. In 1959, she released her third single, "Poor Old Heartsick Me". The song was penned by Helen carter of the historic Carter Family and proved very successful for Bowes. It just made the country top 10 that year and remained her signature tune.
In 1959, she released her follow-up, "My Love and Little Me" which was written by Phil Everly. The song made the country top 20 and demonstrated she was more than a one-hit wonder. That year the pretty newcomer was voted “Most Promising Female Vocalist” in a national trade weekly magazine.
In 1961, Bowes moved to Mercury Records and released a single that year called "Little Miss Belong to No One". The song just missed the top 20. No other singles with Mercury were successful for Bowes. On Nov. 11, 1961, Margie married (Virgil) Doyle Wilburn, another Decca label star, 11 years her senior. She said of him, “Doyle could charm the termites out of the walls.” The couple had one child, daughter Sharon ReNae, born Oct. 14, 1962 (who died Jan. 29, 2020.) Although she and Doyle were divorced not long afterwards, neither artist ever remarried. He died Oct. 16, 1982, at age 52.
For several seasons she was a featured artist on iconic Red Foley’s ABC network show Jubilee USA, made guest shots on Dick Clark’s pop program American Bandstand, and on Jimmy Dean’s popular self-titled ABC network program, and of course Acuff garnered guest spots for label vocalist Bowes on WSM’s historic Grand Ole Opry, prior to becoming a member. At one stage of her career, she was called The Cinderella Girl of the Grand Ole Opry. By 1963, she moved to Decca Records and again started releasing singles that year.
Margie’s final chart entry was a Top 20 answer song to a Johnny Cash smash “Understand Your Gal” a take-off on “Understand Your Man,” in 1964. Among other song successes she cut were “Big City,” “Overnight,” “Lost” and “Look Who’s Lonely.” Some have criticized Doyle for not concentrating on helping his talented wife succeed further, while instead aiding unknown Loretta Lynn’s climb up the ladder of success (though nine years Margie’s senior).
Nonetheless in 1966, Margie made her screen debut in a musical movie “The Gold Guitar.” By 1969, Bowes left Decca and recorded one more time for Stop Records in the early 1970s. In 1971 she made final Opry appearance after having visited all 50 states and participated in two overseas tours, as well. “The Note” in 1970 was one of her last singles. Some of her albums, include “Hickory Hits,” “Margie Bowes,” “Blue Dream” and “Ladies of 1950s’ Country.” She continued to perform and came back in 1990 to perform again with other well known artists that were televised from the Grand Ole Opry.
Sad to say, a 1995 automobile accident caused severe damage to a foot which, following several earlier surgeries, had to be amputated in 2004 to save her life. Since that time, Margie ran her publishing company from home, and took up other hobbies like writing and designing cards, and painting pictures. She died following a lengthly illness in Brentwood, Tennessee on January 29, 2020.
(Edited from Wikipedia and & Brooks & White obit)