Dale Houston

HOUSTON, DALE - 67, of Seminary. Mr. Houston passed away Thursday at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg. Mr. Houston was a musician and a native Covington Countian. He recorded numerous songs during his career that spanned some 5 decades. Dale partnered with Grace Broussard in the early 1960's and the two recorded many hit songs together. "Dale and Grace" had two number one hit songs on the Billboard Chart. The songs "I'm Leaving It Up To You" and "Stop and Think It Over" both earned the duo Gold Records with Over 1 million copies of each record sold. Dale Houston received a number of awards and honors during his career and among those he was most proud of include; Performance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand show, 2 Gold Records, induction into the State of Louisiana's Hall of Fame (2000), Louisiana's Living Legend Award (2000), induction into the Texas Music Hall of Fame (1998), induction into the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame (1998), induction into the Delta Music Hall of Fame (2007), service as Grand Marshal of the Okatoma Festival, along with his singing partner Dale Broussard in 1995, A 1995 Resolution by the Covington County Board of Supervisors honoring Dale and Grace, and The Key to the Town of Seminary awarded in 1995. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude Houston and Essie Walters Houston. Survivors include; 4 sons, Rusty Houston of Lafayette, LA., Chuck Houston of Monroe, LA., Gary Wilson of Little Rock, AR., and Jeffrey Dale Houston of Baton Rouge, LA.; 2 daughters, Vicki Lynn Houston-Hogg of Monroe, LA., and Robin Houston Cannatella and her husband John of Baton Rouge, LA.; a brother, Don Houston and his wife Barbara of Cutoff, LA.; 2 sisters, Judy Sykes and her husband Tom and Claudette Cascio, all of Sanford; his singing partner Grace Broussard of Prairieville, LA.; 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Visitation will be Monday from 6 until 9 pm at the Wade-Nowell Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 3 PM Tuesday at Wade-Nowell Funeral Home in Collins. Interment will be in Smyrna Cemetery, Rev. Glen Shoemake and Rev. Kendall Walters will officiate. Mr. Troy Shondell will give a musical tribute to Mr. Houston. Pallbearers are Todd Thurman, Terry Thurman, Ethan Cascio, Woody Lyons, Joseph Jansen, Tim Webb, Eddie Pierce, Tong Pierce, and Gary Lott. Serving as Youth Pallbearers are Brent Thurman and Preston Thurman. Honorary Pallbearers are Don Owens, Johnny Koonse, Chuck Payne, Ron Campbell, and Roy "Shorty" Carruth. Wade-Nowell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.