David Houston was an American country singer, born Charles David Houston, best known for the 1966 hit “Almost Persuaded.” He died on November 30, 1993, in Bossier City, Louisiana. The cause of death was a brain aneurysm.
His name is also shared by lawyers, salons, restaurants and other local businesses. This article covers the singer, who is the subject behind searches for his songs, wife, obituary and cause of death. Other people and businesses with the same name are outside its scope.
Below you will find a quick facts table, his chart history, his marriages as far as they can be verified, and the circumstances of his death. Where sources disagree, the article says so instead of picking a side.
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David Houston Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Charles David Houston |
| Known As | David Houston |
| Date of Birth | December 9, 1935 (one low-quality site lists 1938) |
| Age at Death | 57 |
| Birthplace | Bossier City, Louisiana, USA |
| Died | November 30, 1993, Bossier City, Louisiana |
| Cause of Death | Ruptured brain aneurysm |
| Profession | Country music singer |
| Genre | Country |
| Known For | “Almost Persuaded” (1966) |
| Awards | Two Grammy Awards (1967) |
| Label | Epic Records (1963 to 1977), then independent labels |
| Ancestry | Descendant of Sam Houston and Robert E. Lee, per biographies |
| Burial | Rose-Neath Cemetery, Bossier City |
| Current Status | Deceased |
Some searches use “Paul David Houston” or “Steven David Houston” as his name. The sources reviewed give his name as Charles David Houston. No source reviewed supports Paul or Steven for the singer.
Who Was David Houston?
He was a Grammy-winning country singer whose popularity peaked between the mid-1960s and early 1970s. He grew up in Bossier City, Louisiana.
As a teenager he became a regular on The Louisiana Hayride. His career later stalled, and he worked as an insurance underwriter before returning to music.
David Houston Early Life and Family Background
Find a Grave describes him as a descendant of Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, and of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Other biographies repeat this lineage. He was also reportedly the godson of 1920s pop star Gene Austin.
| Detail | Information |
| Hometown | Bossier City, Louisiana |
| Early Platform | Louisiana Hayride |
| Notable Ancestors | Sam Houston, Robert E. Lee (per biographies) |
| Reported Godfather | Gene Austin |
| Early Detour | Insurance underwriting |
His parents’ names were not found in the reliable sources reviewed. This article does not guess them.
Career: From Louisiana Hayride to Epic Records
Producer Billy Sherrill signed him to Epic Records in 1963. His debut hit for the label was “Mountain of Love,” which reached No. 2 on the country chart.
“Almost Persuaded” began a run of Top 5 singles that lasted through 1973. One biography counts twenty-four top ten hits through 1974.
Career Highlights
- 1963: “Mountain of Love” gave Epic Records its first real hit.
- 1966: “Almost Persuaded” became his signature song.
- 1967: He won two Grammy Awards for it.
- 1967: He scored back-to-back No. 1 hits with “With One Exception” and “You Mean the World to Me.”
- 1970s: He joined the Grand Ole Opry and toured with Barbara Mandrell.
- 1974: His last Top 10 country hit, “Can’t You Feel It.”
Career Timeline
| Year | Career Stage | Key Development |
| 1950s | Teen performer | Regular on Louisiana Hayride |
| 1963 | Epic signing | “Mountain of Love” peaks at No. 2 |
| 1965 | Rising star | “Livin’ in a House Full of Love” reaches No. 3 |
| 1966 | Breakthrough | “Almost Persuaded” tops the country chart |
| 1967 | Peak year | Grammys and more No. 1 singles |
| 1968 | Continued success | “Have a Little Faith” and “Already It’s Heaven” |
| 1970 | Duet success | “After Closing Time” with Barbara Mandrell |
| 1974 | Final Top 10 | “Can’t You Feel It” |
| 1977 | Label change | Final Epic period ends; Starday album released |
| 1993 | Death | Final Opry appearance on November 6 |
David Houston Songs
The songs below are the ones people search for most. Chart positions come from the sources reviewed. Songs with no cited position are listed without one.
| Song | Year | Notes |
| Mountain of Love | 1963 | No. 2 country; different song from the Harold Dorman tune |
| Livin’ in a House Full of Love | 1965 | Reached No. 3 |
| Almost Persuaded | 1966 | Nine weeks at No. 1; two Grammys |
| With One Exception | 1967 | No. 1 country |
| You Mean the World to Me | 1967 | No. 1 country |
| My Elusive Dreams | 1967 | Chart-topping duet with Tammy Wynette |
| Have a Little Faith | 1968 | No. 1 country |
| Already It’s Heaven | 1968 | No. 1 country |
| Baby, Baby (I Know You’re a Lady) | 1970 | No. 1 country, per one reference |
| After Closing Time | 1970 | Duet with Barbara Mandrell |
| I Love You, I Love You | 1974 | Duet with Barbara Mandrell |
| Can’t You Feel It | 1974 | Last Top 10 country hit |
Chart years for a few singles vary between reference sites. The table follows the year given in the sources reviewed.
“Almost Persuaded”: The Song That Defined His Career
The song brought him two Grammy Awards and some pop recognition. It was written by Glenn Sutton and Billy Sherrill.
It spent nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart. The song tells of a married man who resists temptation in a bar. That theme is why “Almost Persuaded” is often called a classic “almost cheated” song.
| Detail | Information |
| Release Year | 1966 |
| Songwriters | Glenn Sutton, Billy Sherrill |
| Country Chart | No. 1 for nine weeks |
| Awards | Two Grammys, 1967 |
| Albums | Almost Persuaded (1966) |
David Houston Albums
| Album | Year | Notes |
| Almost Persuaded | 1966 | Reached No. 1 on the country albums chart |
| David Houston’s Greatest Hits | 1968 | Compilation |
| The World of David Houston | 1968 | Compilation |
| David Houston’s Greatest Hits, Volume II | Late 1960s/1970s | Includes “Nashville” |
| The Many Sides of David Houston | 1973 | Studio album |
| David Houston | 1977 | Released on Starday |
Find a Grave credits him with 27 albums and almost 60 singles over three decades. That total is a memorial-page figure, not a verified discography count.
Grand Ole Opry Years
One biography places his Opry membership in 1971; another source says he performed on the Opry from 1972. That is why this article does not give a single confirmed start year. His last Opry appearance was on November 6, 1993.
David Houston Wife: What Is Documented?
Reliable biographies reviewed say little about his marriages. One reference page says Katherine Jane Guillotte, a Bossier City singer and songwriter, married him on October 19, 1987, and was his widow. The same page says an earlier marriage is mentioned in some sources but is not independently confirmed.
The source is a secondary site, not a major news outlet. The details should therefore be treated as reported, not confirmed.
| Detail | Information | Status |
| Later Spouse | Katherine Jane Guillotte | Reported |
| Marriage Date | October 19, 1987 | Reported |
| Earlier Marriage | Referenced by some sources | Unconfirmed |
| Children | Not reliably confirmed in sources reviewed | Not confirmed |
This article does not profile family members who are private individuals.
David Houston Cause of Death
He suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm in late November 1993 and remained in a coma for five days before dying on November 30. He had played the Opry only weeks earlier. He was 57.
Evidence Check
- Confirmed: He died on November 30, 1993, in Bossier City.
- Source: Multiple biographies, plus Find a Grave for the burial.
- What It Shows: Several independent write-ups agree on a brain aneurysm.
- What Remains Unclear: No autopsy or medical record was found, so details beyond the aneurysm are not established.
David Houston Obituary and Burial
Find a Grave lists his burial at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City. A 1993 newspaper obituary is cited in secondary references as “David Houston; Singer, 57.” The full text was not available for this article.
Age: How Old Would David Houston Be Today?
He was born on December 9, 1935. As of October 6, 2026, he would be 90, turning 91 on December 9, 2026. He died at 57.
| Detail | Information |
| Date of Birth | December 9, 1935 |
| Age at Death | 57 |
| Age if Alive (Oct 2026) | 90 |
| Birthplace | Bossier City, Louisiana |
| Evidence Status | Confirmed by most sources; one outlier lists 1938 |
David Houston Net Worth
One celebrity-data site lists $1.2 million. That figure has no cited basis and sits on a page that also gives a wrong birth year. It should not be treated as reliable.
| Financial Detail | Information |
| Estimated Net Worth | Unverified figure of $1.2 million |
| Main Income | Recording, touring, Opry performances |
| Status | Unconfirmed estimate |
No reliable public salary figure has been confirmed.
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Other People Named David Houston
Many search terms in this topic refer to other people or businesses, not the singer. These include attorneys, an Oklahoma City listing, a salon, a taco business and “King David” hotel searches. They were not researched here. Some related searches are also for other well-known people with different surnames, such as Houston-based businesses with “David” in the name.
- Searches for a lawyer, attorney or realtor point to local professionals.
- “OKC,” “Glasgow” and “Kilwinning” searches point to location-based listings.
- Searches for “football” or “Murphy” could not be tied to the singer.
- This article does not link any private individual to the singer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was David Houston?
David Houston was an American country singer, born Charles David Houston in Bossier City, Louisiana. He is best known for “Almost Persuaded.”
What is David Houston’s most famous song?
It is “Almost Persuaded” from 1966. It spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the country chart.
What was David Houston’s cause of death?
He died of a ruptured brain aneurysm on November 30, 1993. He was in a coma for five days beforehand.
How old was David Houston when he died?
He was 57 years old.
Who was David Houston’s wife?
One secondary source names Katherine Jane Guillotte, who reportedly married him in 1987. An earlier marriage is mentioned but unconfirmed.
Did David Houston win a Grammy?
Yes. He won two Grammy Awards in 1967 for “Almost Persuaded.”
Is “You Mean the World to Me” by David Houston a No. 1 hit?
Yes. The 1967 single reached No. 1 on the country chart.
Was “Paul David Houston” his stage name?
No source reviewed supports that. His name is given as Charles David Houston.
Where is David Houston buried?
He is buried at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City, Louisiana, per Find a Grave.
Conclusion
David Houston was a Louisiana country singer who turned a teenage start on The Louisiana Hayride into a Grammy-winning career. “Almost Persuaded” remains his best-known recording. His run of No. 1 hits, duets and Opry appearances made him a major voice of the late 1960s.
He died in 1993 at 57 after a ruptured brain aneurysm. Details about his marriages and finances are thin in reliable sources, so this article marks them as reported or unconfirmed. Anyone searching for a lawyer, salon or business with the same name is looking for a different David Houston.