Music has played an integral part in every soap for decades. From love themes for favorite couples to dramatic stings that heighten the tension after a particularly compelling argument or stunning revelation. But what may be unknown to some is the fact that many of your favorite soap stars actually have a hand in creating or performing some of the music industry’s biggest hits.
Which Soap Star was It?
All of these actors are either an alum of a long-ago classic – like All My Children – or they are currently starring in, or are alums of, one of the four remaining daytime dramas – The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital. The Young and the Restless.
And all of them are singers who saw at least one of their tunes gain a spot on the coveted Billboard Hot 100. But only one of them did so with a ditty inspired by the exploits of frontiersman Davy Crockett.
But who can that actor be? Was it Bobbie Eakes (ex-Krystal Carey, AMC), Ronn Moss (ex-Ridge Forrester, BB), Bill Hayes (Doug Williams, DAYS), Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco Jones, GH), or Michael Damian (ex-Danny Romalotti, YR)?
Bobbie Eakes
For a time – the mid-to-late 1980s to be specific – actress Bobbie Eakes served as frontwoman for the band Big Trouble. The group released one self-titled CD, and its lead single, Crazy World, peaked at Number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Ronn Moss
In 1977, Moss’s band, Player, achieved ranking success, thanks to their hit single Baby Come Back. It remained Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks and it peaked at Number 10 on the U.S. R&B Charts. A second single, This Time I’m In It for Love, landed at Number 10 on Billboard.
Jack Wagner
Though it took some time, Wagner’s debut single All I Need eventually secured the Number 2 spot on the Hot 100 back in 1984 – but it was kept out of the winner’s circle by a little ole tune that a few may remember: Like A Virgin by Madonna.
Michael Damian
Throughout his illustrious career, Damian has achieved eight top 40 hits – including a Number 1 ranked single entitled Rock On (a song originally performed by David Essex from the Dream a Little Dream soundtrack).
Bill Hayes
Hayes was far from the first, or the only, person to record The Ballad of Davey Crockett. Actor Fess Parker and a folk singing group called The Wellingtons beat him to it, and many more – including performer Tennessee Ernie Ford – would follow. But it was Hayes’ version that made it to Number 1 on Billboard. It would remain there for a week, and wind up charting at Number 7 for the entire year of 1955.
So, if you guessed that the soap star in question was Bill Hayes, then you were absolutely correct!
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