Vernon Dalhart

Marion Try Slaughter (April 6, 1883 – September 14, 1948), better known by his stage name Vernon Dalhart, was an American country music singer and songwriter who recorded music prolifically from 1917 into the 1930s. He aspired to be an opera singer, and began his career this way, but soon began recording country music inspired by his roots in farming and ranching. His recording of the classic ballad "Wreck of the Old 97" was the first country song reputed to have sold one million copies, although sales figures for pre-World War Two recordings are difficult to verify. Dalhart has since faded into relative obscurity.