Red Simpson

Arizona-born but raised in Bakersfield as the youngest of 12 children, Red Simpson is best known for his string of traditional country trucking songs.

During the Korean War, serving on a naval hospital ship, Simpson formed a band called the Response Ramblers. He set out to become a professional musician after his discharge, and eventually replaced Buck Owens as a featured act at the Bakersfield county music landmark, The Blackboard.

In 1965, Simpson’s career took off when Capital Records recruited him to record songs about trucking. His first hit, Rock, Truck, Roll, became a Top 40 country hit, followed by an album with the same name.

As a songwriter, he scored his first number-one hit, Sam’s Place, which was recorded by Buck Owens in 1967. Simpson spent seeral years as a full-time songwriter. In 1971, Simpson returned to performing with his top-five hit, I’m a Truck.

In 1976, he signed with Warner Brothers to produce Truck Driver’s Heaven, followed by a series of duets with Lorraine Walden including, Truck Driver Man and Wife. In 1979, Simpson’s last chart appearance was with The Flying Saucer Man and the Truck Driver.

Although Red no longer tours, he performs frequently in the Bakersfield area.