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Bloomington Native With #1 Hit Dies

WGLT | By Jon Norton,

Published February 5, 2016 at 6:37 AM CST

Bloomington native Joe Dowell died yesterday (February 4) at age 76. His publicist said he had a heart attack last weekend and never recovered. Dowell was briefly popular in the early 1960's with the #1 hit ballad "Wooden Heart." The song had already been a European hit for Elvis Presley when Dowell's version was released in America.

Dowell's other songs included "The Bridge of Love" and "Little Red Rented Rowboat." Following his hit songs, he recorded commercial voice overs and gospel songs. "Wooden Heart" by Joe Dowell

Jon Norton

Not a hunter, skier, ice fisherman or hockey player, Northern Minnesota native Jon Norton has adapted well to what he considers the warm climate of Central Illinois.

See stories by Jon Norton