Born Dan Waren Folger in San Rafael, California , while he was a small boy his family moved to Midland, Texas , where he would make friends with future Roy Orbison collaborator Joe Melson .[ 2]
His and his friends' interest in music led to a move to Nashville, Tennessee , in the 1960s. There, under Don Gant , Folger wrote songs for Acuff-Rose Music including the song "Amy", which appeared on the 1969 album, Roy Orbison's Many Moods Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs , and Glass Bubble, among others.[ 1]
As a performer, Folger recorded four singles (eight songs) for Hickory Records between 1962 and 1966, and another single for Elf Records in 1967. Several of these singles were co-written by Folger and Melson.[ citation needed ]
Perhaps Folger's best-known composition is "Weeping Annaleah", a song co-written with Mickey Newbury . It was recorded by Newbury, Tom Jones , The Box Tops , Gordon Waller , Bob Shane , and (under the title "Sleeping Annaleah") by Nick Cave .[ 1]
In 1998, Folger resided at the Salvation Army for several years in East Texas , where he played in a religious band on Sundays.
He died in Bentonville, Arkansas in 2006, at the age of 62.[ citation needed ]