Tennessee Ernie Ford
b. Ernest Jennings Ford, 13 February 1919, Bristol, Tennessee, USA, d. 17 October 1991, Reston, Virginia, USA. It is difficult to categorize a performer with so many varied achievements, but Ford can be summarized as a master interpreter of melodic songs and hymns. The fact that he was able to combine singing with his strong faith gave America's best-loved gospel singer great satisfaction. When only four years old, he was singing "The Old Rugged Cross" at family gatherings, and from an early age, he wanted to be an entertainer. He pestered the local radio station until they made him a staff announcer in 1937 and he also took singing lessons. He subsequently worked for radio stations WATL in Atlanta and WROL in Knoxville, where he announced the attack on Pearl Harbor. He joined the US Army Air Corps in 1942 and married a secretary, Betty Heminger, whom he met at the bombardier's school. After the war, they moved to California and he worked as an announcer and a disc jockey of hillbilly music for KXFM in San Bernardino. He rang cowbells and added bass harmonies to the records he was playing and so developed a country yokel character, Tennessee Ernie. He continued with this on KXLA Pasadena and he became a regular on their Hometown Jamboree, which was hosted by bandleader Cliffie Stone. He was also known as the Tennessee Pea-Picker, using the catchphrase "Bless your pea-pickin' hearts" and appearing on stage in bib overalls and with a blacked-out tooth.

Listen to Tennessee Ernie Ford at Finetune.

Albums
Top Tracks
  • Sixteen Tons
  • Ballad of Davy Crockett
  • Just a Closer Walk With Thee
  • Mule Train
  • Shall We Gather At the River
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