biography

Born on Christmas Day in Oklahoma. Yvonne started singing and yodeling at the age of two (2). At the age of eleven she won a contest playing classical piano. She also plays the guitar and bass. While still in high school Yvonne playing guitar and her sister Mary playing the accordion teamed up as a duet song and tap dance act and made many appearances including an appearance with Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger. Yvonne and Mary "The McGowan Sisters" known as "The Oklahoma Sweethearts" continued their appearances and had a radio show on "K.A.S.A. Radio" in Elk City, Oklahoma, where they appeared with the Melodiers. Shortly thereafter the girls joined an all girl western troupe, Billye Gale & The Hollywood Cowgirls, and toured the Orpheum Theater Circuit and The Fox Intermountain Circuit. Continuing her career Yvonne made appearances with Art Perry & His All Girl Band in Kansas City, Mo. as well as appearing with the Cumberland Mtn. Folks on "K.W.F.T. Radio" in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Returning to Oklahoma Yvonne became a featured vocalist with Merl Lindsay's popular TV-Radio western swing dance band.

Yvonne moved on to television to become a favorite and popular vocalist with "The Chuck Wagon Gang" on W.K.Y. TV (presently KFOR-TV) in Oklahoma City.

Yvonne soon signed her first recording contract with Capitol Records and was one of the first female country singers to be signed, joining only two others. Capitol changed her name to "Yvonne O'Day" and recorded her first session in Nashville which resulted with a country hit "Snowflakes".

Country recordings: "Yvonne O'Day": "Snowflakes", "I Just Want To Be With You", "Kisses On Paper" & "Baby I Go For You".

Soon Capitol moved her talents to the pop field and recorded her with "The Van Alexander Orchestra" in Hollywood and changed her name to "Vonnie Taylor" for all pop releases.

Pop recordings: "Vonnie Taylor": "Love Is A Gamble", "This Is The Thanks I Get", "When You're Making Love To Me" & "Does It Hurt You To Remember".

As "Vonnie Taylor" Yvonne joined "The ABC-TV Ozark Jubilee" with Red Foley in Springfield, Missouri.

Moving over to Columbia Records whereas; Columbia again changed her name to "Vonnie Mack" for recordings and was backed by the Jordonaires" and the "Anita Kerr Singers". During this time she made a tour with "Pee Wee King and Minnie Pearl". Her second session with Columbia she was known as "Jean Dee".

Recordings for Columbia "Vonnie Mack": "I Live For You", "Please Forgive Me", "Blue Mountain Waltz" & "Slowly I'm Losing You".

Recordings for Columbia "Jean Dee": "Open Arms", "If You Don't Sombody Else Will", "Hey Punkin" & "You Don't Have To Tell Me".

As "Jean Dee" Yvonne moved over to "Decca Records" and during this time she made a tour with "Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys" and "Tommy Duncan" thru the Southwest into California and appeared with "Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys" during Bob's first engagement at The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

Recordings by "Jean Dee for Decca Records and backed by The Jordonaires: "Sweethearts On Parade"and "Day By Day Your Love Grows Sweeter".

Moving on Jean Dee recordings for Phillips Records: "My Greatest Hurt" and "Nothing Down".

Recordings for Spar records "Yvonne DeVaney": "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day", "Step Into My World", "We'll Make It This Time", & "You'll Come Home To Mama".

Recordings for King records "Jean Dee": "Dim The Car Lights" and "You're The Only Thing That Really Matters To Me".

Recordings for Chart Records "Yvonne DeVaney": "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" and "Back To Loneliness".

Recordings for Compo Records "Yvonne DeVaney": "Ten Million And Two", "Sittin' In The Amen Seat", "Thank Heaven For Sending Me You", "Let Him Walk This Troubled Earth Again", "How Long Darling?", "I'd Like To Shake The Hand Of The Girl Who Finally Won", "All's Right With The World", "There's Gonna Be Love Everywhere", "Teach Me To Live Without You", "I'm Just Fool Enough", "Just For A Moment", "God Made An Angel (When he made me you)", "Anything To Stop The Hurt", "One Teardrop Too Long", "Take Me Back Into Your World", "Forever And One Day", "Wine From My Table", "Tell Me A Lie", "Mother's Spending Christmas With Jesus This Year" & "How Many Times Jesus?"

Continuing to write, sing and record Yvonne established "The YMD Music Group", "Sunny Lane Music Publishing Co." (ASCAP), "Country Classics Music Publishing Co." (BMI), "Compo! Publishing Co." (BMI) and "Compo Records".

Yvonne's writing career soon took off with her song "A Million And One" being recorded by Billy Walker (Country) Dean Martin, Vic Dana and Pat Boone (Pop) and many other artists doing covers. Over sixty five of her songs have been recorded by artists that include Dottie West, Wanda Jackson, Bonnie Guitar, Hank Snow, Hardin Trio, Carl & Pearl Butler, The Wilburn Bros. and the Cheltenham Singers (England). Nine of her songs have been recorded in Sweden by a Swedish Artist.

Yvonne has received a BMI Citation of Achievement Award for her writing and holds the honorary Commission Rank of Commodore in the Oklahoma Navy.

Latest writing and recordings include the latest CD album Compo! CRICD #2001 and cassette Compo! CRICS #2001. Ten (10) songs written by Yvonne and playing world wide in an album titled "A Good Thing".

Sabre Records "Texas Country Winners #3, Compact Disc TRSCD #20182, A compilation of twelve songs with various artists including Yvonne DeVaney and Wes Onley (Duet) performing "Back In Baby's Arms" in the number (1) track and Charlie Shaw performing "A Million And Two" in the number (7) track, written by Yvonne.