David Houston was an American country singer best known for the 1966 chart-topper “Almost Persuaded.” He was born Charles David Houston on December 9, 1935, in Bossier City, Louisiana, and died there on November 30, 1993. His run of hits stretched from the early 1960s through the mid-1970s, including duets with Tammy Wynette and Barbara Mandrell.
Houston’s career took off when producer Billy Sherrill signed him to Epic Records in the early 1960s. “Almost Persuaded” became his signature song, spending nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart and winning him two Grammy Awards. That record for consecutive weeks at No. 1 stood for 46 years.
This article covers his early life, his major songs and duet partnerships, his marriages, and the circumstances of his death, drawing on Wikipedia, AllMusic, contemporary news obituaries, and genealogical records. Where sources disagree — such as his exact birth year — that disagreement is noted rather than papered over.
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David Houston Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Charles David Houston |
| Also Known As | David Houston |
| Date of Birth | December 9, 1935 (some sources, including IMDb, list 1938 — see note below) |
| Died | November 30, 1993, Bossier City, Louisiana |
| Age at Death | 57 |
| Birthplace | Bossier City, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Country music singer |
| Years Active | 1950s–1989 |
| Label | Epic Records |
| Spouse(s) | Katherine Jane “Kathie” Guillotte (m. 1987–his death in 1993); an earlier marriage is referenced in some sources but not independently confirmed here |
| Children | David Lewis Houston (with Katherine Guillotte) |
| Known For | “Almost Persuaded,” “Mountain of Love,” duets with Tammy Wynette |
| Grand Ole Opry Member | Since 1971/1972 (sources vary by a year) |
| Cause of Death | Ruptured brain aneurysm |
Who Was David Houston?
Charles David Houston (December 9, 1935 – November 30, 1993) was an American country music singer whose peak in popularity came between the mid-1960s and the early 1970s. He was a descendant of Sam Houston and General Robert E. Lee, and he became a regular on the Louisiana Hayride as a teenager.
His soaring tenor voice initially struggled to find work in the music business, and he ended up working as an insurance underwriter before his singing career took hold. His godfather was 1920s pop singer Gene Austin.
A note on his birth year: Most reference sources (Wikipedia, AllMusic, contemporary news coverage) give December 9, 1935. IMDb lists 1938. This article treats 1935 as the better-supported figure, since it appears in his Wikipedia entry, AllMusic biography, and a 1993 Associated Press-style obituary that reported he died “at the age of 57” — consistent with a 1935 birth.
Early Career: From the Louisiana Hayride to Epic Records
Record producer Billy Sherrill brought Houston into the fold in the early 1960s, when Epic Records was still a young label, and Houston brought the company its first real hit with “Mountain of Love.” That 1963 recording rose to number two on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart.
His follow-up, “Livin’ in a House Full of Love” (1965), performed just as well. These early hits set up his commercial breakthrough the following year.
“Almost Persuaded”: The Song That Defined His Career
“Almost Persuaded” was written by Glenn Sutton and Epic producer Billy Sherrill and first recorded by David Houston in 1966. The song tells of a married man who, drinking in a tavern, is nearly tempted by another woman but stops when he sees his wedding ring reflected in her eyes and remembers his vows.
Released in June 1966, it spent nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart starting that August and became a country standard. It also reached No. 24 on the Billboard pop chart, Houston’s only top-40 pop entry. That nine-week run at the top wasn’t matched again for more than 40 years, until Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” in 2012.
The song earned Houston two Grammy Awards — Best Country & Western Recording (sometimes cited as Best Country Single) and Best Male Country Vocal Performance, both in 1967.
Duet Career: Tammy Wynette and Barbara Mandrell
Houston’s duet work, especially with Tammy Wynette, became one of the most commercially important parts of his catalog.
- With Tammy Wynette: “My Elusive Dreams,” written by Billy Sherrill and Curly Putman, became a No. 1 country hit for the pair in October 1967 and gave Wynette her first No. 1 single. Their follow-up, “It’s All Over,” reached No. 11 on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1968 and was their second and final major duet hit. Both songs appeared on their sole joint studio album, “My Elusive Dreams.”
- With Barbara Mandrell: Houston recorded “A Perfect Match” with Mandrell, then a newcomer having released her debut album in 1971; the album spawned two Top 10 hits, “After Closing Time” (No. 6) and “I Love You, I Love You” (No. 6 the following year).
Notably, the Wynette-Houston partnership had a lasting effect on country music history beyond the songs themselves. While touring together with Wynette’s then-husband Don Chapel and George Jones, an argument with Houston’s management led Wynette and Jones to begin singing “My Elusive Dreams” together on stage — a moment biographers point to as the start of the romance that led to Wynette and Jones’s 1969 marriage.
Solo Hits and Chart Success
| Song | Year | Notes |
| “Mountain of Love” | 1963 | Peaked at No. 2; his breakthrough hit for Epic |
| “Livin’ in a House Full of Love” | 1965 | Also peaked at No. 2 |
| “Almost Persuaded” | 1966 | No. 1 for 9 weeks; won two Grammys |
| “With One Exception” | 1967 | No. 1 |
| “You Mean the World to Me” | 1967 | No. 1 |
| “Have a Little Faith” | 1968 | No. 1 |
| “Already It’s Heaven” | 1968 | No. 1 |
| “Baby, Baby (I Know You’re a Lady)” | 1970 | No. 1 |
| “Can’t You Feel It” | 1974 | His last Top 10 country hit |
“Almost Persuaded” began a string of Top 5 David Houston singles that lasted through 1973. Between 1967 and 1969 he reportedly reached No. 1 more times than any other country artist. He continued recording into 1989, though his commercial peak had passed by the mid-1970s.
David Houston Grand Ole Opry Membership
Houston joined the Grand Ole Opry — country music’s most storied institution — during the early 1970s. Sources give slightly different years for his induction, with some citing 1971 and others 1972; both agree he remained a member for the rest of his career. He had performed on the Opry since 1972, according to his 1993 obituary, and made his final Opry appearance on November 6, 1993, just weeks before his death.
David Houston Marriage and Family
Public records confirm one marriage with documented detail: his union with Katherine Jane “Kathie” Guillotte.
Katherine Jane Guillotte, a Bossier City singer and songwriter, married Houston on October 19, 1987, becoming his second wife and, after his death, his widow. The couple had a son together, David Lewis Houston. Their shared gravestone in Bossier City is inscribed “Together Forever” and “The Greatest Duet Partners in Life.”
Genealogical listings describe Guillotte as Houston’s “second wife,” which implies an earlier marriage, but this research did not turn up independently confirmed, reliably sourced details about a first wife’s identity or the dates of that marriage. Rather than guess, this article leaves that point unconfirmed.
| Family Detail | Information |
| Wife (documented) | Katherine Jane “Kathie” Guillotte Houston |
| Marriage Date | October 19, 1987 |
| Son | David Lewis Houston |
| Earlier Marriage | Referenced as implied by “second wife” descriptions; not independently confirmed |
| Katherine’s Later Life | Predeceased her husband’s fame by continuing as a Bossier City singer/songwriter; died February 23, 2003 |
David Houston Cause of Death
Houston suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm on Thanksgiving Day 1993 and never regained consciousness. He remained in a coma for five days before dying on November 30, 1993. He died at Bossier Medical Center in Bossier City, Louisiana, according to hospital spokesman Paul Hockett.
Evidence Check
- Confirmed: Cause of death was a ruptured brain aneurysm.
- Source: Contemporaneous 1993 news obituary (Roanoke Times wire report) and hospital spokesperson statement.
- What it shows: Houston’s death was sudden and medical, not linked to any other reported circumstance.
- What remains unclear: No further clinical detail (such as autopsy findings) is available in the sources reviewed, and none should be assumed.
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David HoustonLegacy and Current Status
Houston has been deceased since 1993; there is no current activity to report. His recordings, especially “Almost Persuaded,” continue to be reissued and covered, and his Billboard record for consecutive weeks at No. 1 remained the longest in country chart history for 46 years until Taylor Swift’s 2012 hit broke it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is David Houston’s most famous song?
“Almost Persuaded” (1966), which spent nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart and won two Grammy Awards.
How did David Houston die?
He died of a ruptured brain aneurysm on November 30, 1993, five days after collapsing on Thanksgiving Day.
Who was David Houston’s wife?
His documented wife is Katherine Jane “Kathie” Guillotte Houston, whom he married on October 19, 1987; they had a son, David Lewis Houston.
Did David Houston sing with Tammy Wynette?
Yes. Their duet “My Elusive Dreams” (1967) was a No. 1 country hit, and their follow-up “It’s All Over” reached No. 11 in 1968.
Was David Houston a member of the Grand Ole Opry?
Yes, he joined in the early 1970s and remained a member until his death, making his last appearance in November 1993.
How old was David Houston when he died?
Most sources say 57, based on a birth year of 1935; a small number of sources give a 1938 birth year, which would make him 54 — this article follows the better-supported 1935 date.
Did David Houston write “Almost Persuaded”?
No. It was written by Glenn Sutton and producer Billy Sherrill; Houston recorded it.
Conclusion
David Houston’s career was defined by one enormous hit — “Almost Persuaded” — and a decade of steady chart success that followed it, including a historically important duet partnership with Tammy Wynette. His record for consecutive weeks at country music’s No. 1 spot stood unbroken for 46 years.
He died young, at 57, from a ruptured brain aneurysm in 1993, leaving behind his wife Katherine and their son. Some details of his earlier personal life, including a possible first marriage, remain undocumented in reliable public sources and are presented here as unconfirmed rather than invented.
