Roy Acuff - Wabash Cannonball (live) [1978]

[Travisab1]

May God bless Roy!!!

[huntingun1]

To Dadsgirl; I don't know why your dad was taken. I have had many of my loved ones taken away. Please!! Don't give up your faith in God! Just realize who the enemy is.

[firexice13]

His voice, I just love it!!!

[pierregremdc]

Absolutely beautiful music right there!

[MrRazorblade999]

I guess Roy had shoulder pads this time...

[The3retic]

la country la pire invention des americain c'est pourri

[dadsgirl0423]

HOW MY BELOVED FATHER LOVED THIS MUSIC. I MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW DADDY. I DIED THE DAY I LOST YOU NOVEMBER 19, 2008. HOW COULD GOD LEAVE ME HERE WITHOUT YOU? I FEEL SO LOST AND EMPTY. PLEASE GOD LET ME BE WITH MY FATHER.

[vaughnrock]

He was real country!!! I wish we had this music again.

[bcberryfarm]

harmonica player is the only person in the world able to whistle like a train better than Boxcar Willie.... unreal.



[jrnyval]

:) He's my cousin.... well, he was when he was living....

[acoleen1]

@jrnyval He's my great uncle... 2nd or 3rd cousin to my grandpa Roy Acuff! :-)

[doublesdeuce]

@acoleen1 He is my son ;)

[MegaMusic1964]

I think this was in '82 not '78.

[carlislim]

justin bieber

[evilmonkeyinacloset]

thanks for uploading this, buddy. much appreciated! The question is: Do you have any more?

[evilmonkeyinacloset]

I'm related to this guy... My great grandfather's cousin...

[professionalbullshit]

damn that martin d28 sounds good...i know i own one haha

[gunmanbryan243]

Roy is my uncle I only saw him one time before he died he was my grandmas brother miss him good uncle

[francaisemichif]

the king!roy acuff!not like todays pop country!

[broken1394]

Acuff lived up until the '70's??? Hot darn - I never knew that - That boy lasted decades - I'm gonna knock up stew & think about that. Then I'm gonna go watch some Porky pig.

p.s. l'm from Birmingham

[Banjomountain]

@broken1394 Roy died in 1992. It's amazing and wonderful that he lived so long! He was born in 1903, so he was 91 when he died. Ironically, his long-time band member, Oswald, lived to be 91 too.

[blackdog525]

I found it... forgive me; I'm actient(LOL)

[blackdog525]

Why isn't there a favorite tab?

[cj9001]

This has always been one of my favorite since I was a kid! I was fortunate to hear him sing it at an Opry matinee show. 

[theredarrow78]

This is a country music classic.

[nczyla]

I'll still be listening to this even after the world ends. That's how awesome this song is.

[hooahsanantonio]

Wish I could've went to one of his concerts.

[pyrofella]

Although I prefer to listen to Aussie Country - this song is a classic --- I never get sick hearing it... RIP Roy Acuff and Brother Oswald.... thanks

[khadremar]

This is great music, this song has 10 mil singles sold.

Thats more then Telephone - Lady Gaga

[mattinthehouse11]

as George Jones said, "Who's gonna fill their shoes..."



[TheGmdriver]

this is great!! Onie Wheeler is from Senath Mo!! i grew up not to far from senath in the little town of Arbyrd. I remember watching this on 50 years of country music. Thanks for posting it!! great memories.

[jeffnmaggiesmom]

My father once told me of a story of a long ago relative named roy acuff i never heard of him anywhere before but he insists that i have a famous country singer for a distant cousin my dad was born in 1935 well at least i know hes not imaginitive now however i can not track the ancestory so far

[kenrealmccoy1]

Roy Acuff ,1903 to 1992, still the Pride of Maynardsville Tennessee. A full Head of steam to you Roy always.

[TheMaureennm]

This song gives me chills. Long live music that touches the soul.

[ronaldt491]

Helped get us through the Disco era!!!

[MezumeTS]

i damn like it ;D.... I don't get it...I listen to hardrock maybe bit of blues rock, jimi hendrix-like rock, but...I never thought i'll get that much into all kinds of country music...

[gussedup]

it has been a long time since i heard this in real life!! my little boy has this song on his train video but it is not the same!!

i never knew roy but i use to own the dance hall onnie wheeler owned at cape girardeau,mo.onie lived at sikeston,mo. then!

[gussedup]

it has been a long time since i heard this in real life!! my little boy has this song on his train video but it is not the same!!

i never knew roy but i use to own the dance hall onnie wheeler owned at cape girardeau,mo.

[jehovahuponyou]

Didn't ole Roy Boy finally explode?

[squidoogeek]

Wow, has it been a while since I heard this. You can't beat a true classic like this.

[harmonica74]

Excellent stuff...

[MrJmocz]

You can try to do it like Hank but you never will. You try try try and i cry cry cry

[msrobin987]

I have precious memories of Roy teaching my brother and myself yo-yo tricks when I was a kid. He was like another Grandpa to us. We never realizedat the time how famous he was. He was a great guy!!

[HotNFla]

Thanks for posting this video, it is so much fun to look back at yesterdays Country Music Artists..Love it!! Mr. Acuff maintained his voice for a long time.Great song!

[ceaserdd]

this song and performance is only second to the star spangled banner !!!!

wonderful post - do more !!!!

[SuperDeadend13]

always knew my Grandma was drunk when I would here this full blast at 4am when I was a kid.One of My many favorites, as Hank 3 says Pop-Country really sucks..

[mjpk6269]

"Howard Forrester... with his Strrrrrrrrrradivarius"!

[itsjustjuwah]

I have an old map of Opryland that Roy Acuff autographed for my Dad in the 70's.. so cool.

[graverobber35]

This is among the top 10 country songs

[GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

heinza - you have to understand that when a lot of us were growing up Roy Acuff was bigger than life.. he was like a God to us.

Such great memories.. He loved the fans and his public, never failed to be gracious and sign autographs.

A true class act!

[Jrebindixie]

.....awesome!!!! RIP Roy , Os and the rest of the Smoky Mt Boys. I'm gald y'all didn't live to see what country music has become. The so called country music of to day is an insult to our music. Jreb

[pedalman]

This song is from his album "great train songs" a fabulous album which I still have .

[Tannimd]

My grandfather used to sing this song to us when my brother and I were kids. Thanks for posting.

[diavlosuelto]

This performance was on a 1978 TV special titled "50 Years of Country Music", said either to be filmed in New York City (huh?) or at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Tennessee, which makes a hell of a lot more sense. It was hosted by Roy Clark and Dolly Parton.I had the pleasure of viewing it on a bad Betamax copy back in '79. I can't seem to find where to get a DVD or etc of this great show. If anyone would know how/where to get a copy of it, that would be greatly appreciated. It's country gold.

[pyrofella]

Brother Oswald on Dobro.... it doesn't get much better than that!

[goodoldbill]

love it

[TheFrontrowkid]

I think I llearned how to square dance in the school auditorium, listening to this song. I got to meet Roy Acuff at a Western film festival at Knoxville and got his autograph on some photos.

[gummies100]

who could sing it better?

[SumFLip4rm4o8]

I work with his cousin!

[ronaldt491]

And realize this was in the middle of the Disco/Jimmy Carter Era. But we survived in spite of both of those!!

[honjohn0007]

Thanks for sharing....a true classic..

[honjohn0007]

Thanks for sharing....a true classic.

[pylgrym]

A good fast web connection and a mouse for every wheelchair in Retirement America! We will never be at a loss for memories . . . Ol Charlie an Gene, n Onie Wheeler! Daddy Claxton!

[MrJohanasBilderberg]

My grandfather used to sing this song to me as a child.

I had not thought of him in years and sat here like a baby crying over this video.

Thank you for posting this.

[bluehorizonjoy]

@MrJohanasBilderberg My grandfather played the harmonica and guitar and sang this, it was my favorite !!!! I cry too, I will never forget those beautiful, simple times and my PopPop !!

[Tannimd]

@MrJohanasBilderberg My grandfather sang this to us when we were little as well. It always brings a smile. 

[OrrBobby4]

What a collection of talent! brings tears to the eyes

[hotdog1960]

I like TRADITIONAL country music, my wife refuses to listen to this music. But she listens to "country radio", which I tell her is NOT country music.

[bighick2006]

I could watch this clip everyday!! thanks for posting it!!

[viddrome]

Thanks! Good old fashioned boot-kicking music!

[TheGmdriver]

This is THE KING OF COUNTRY. If not for Roy Acuff, their wouldnt be any Alan Jacksons,Garth Brooks etc. I love this clip.Thank you sooo much for posting it. I remember seeing the original with my mom and dad. God bless you and Roy!!

[stokes57]

Fantstic!!!! This IS country music, not that garbage thats on the radio today. Why do people even listen to that crap

[ArisztidZ]

Now THIS is country music (and one of my favorite recordings of this song). Thankyou for posting this.

[hankbob2000]

This is from a great 3-hour TV special in 1978 called "50 Years of Country Music." I cassette-taped it back then and I still listen to it to this day. On that same show Johnny Cash performed "One Piece at a Time," accompanied by a very funny film about the car. He actually did eventually have the '49-'70 Caddy built and it's featured in the film. It was a fantastic show that deserves to be released on DVD. By the way, the Johnny Cash segment is on YouTube.

[Willtap]

Saw this the first time around and was very impressed by the music and the talent of Roy Acuff, a man who`s voice, and music, influenced one of the Greatest Country singers of all time. Roy Acuff, a legend of Country Music who`s talent and influence in the field of Country Music during the 1940`s, and 1950`s, must never be forgotten. This is real Country.

[OLDDOG502]

Grandpa's Favorite. Grew up Listen to this from as long as I can remember.

Thank You, for the post and refreshing of the memories of then.

[ReneeNme]

My ma' and sister were lucky enough to meet and greet with Roy as he was strolling through OpryLand on his way to a show at the museum. He was also kind enough to stop and allow them to take a couple of pictures of him by the pillar of a pavillion at the park. We have them in one of our family albums. Kewl !!!

[jceades1950]

No one will ever take the title "The King of Country Music" from this man. It shall be his for eternity, just as Miss Kitty Wells will always be "The Queen".

[martinmary555]

I will always love Roy!!! martinmary555 catch my video

[Eatyaup]

This is what country music should get back to !!!!  It's Roots!!

[mattybock]

i don't know who the hell george straight is, and i don't want to know. i know that roy, johnny cash, waylon, willie and the old men are the kings of country. this is real country. not that bawly, electric, self-pity, drinking over a girlfriend, pop-shit. why can't it go back to the way it used to be? why can't it be good?

[mrblindfreddy9999]

i must be a dill never heard this bloke before right up there with hank and miss kitty 2 best singers who ever lived

[Tammy6880]

i was raised on music like this my whole childhood..gotta love all the classics..loretta lynn,patsy cline,kitty wells,roy acuff,george jones,hank williams sr.,bill monroe,conway twitty,waylon jennings,willie nelson,merle haggard,oak ridge boys,statlin brothers,and sooooo many more artist made country..i just wish country wasn't so pop/rock like..i can't stand all this new stuff...drive me nuts to hear it on the radio.

[yough56]

now here's a legend!! i had the honor,of seeing him in person!

[baldie194859]

he,s good with that yo yo.

[alstrand]

Well, Roy's great, but so is the fact this is one of the few youtube videos where - when you look at the comments - there aren't two people yelling at each other.

[greaserleo]

what the fuck! - he makes a sound of a steam train whistle!!!!!! how does he do that

[theElvisZone]

somehow this legendery song reminds me chuck berry's Promised Land do you feel the same?

[kimblers]

@theElvisZone Very similar. I never thought of it till you pointed it out. But many of the older songs borrow a traditional rythem and tune. Even Amazing Grace is three other songs.

[dogsee1]

oswald was the grteatest

[zoarces]

King of Country Music

[095013]

Reminds me of going to Opry Land with my daddy going up. Loved it. Love you daddy

[jason4485]

This song almost makes me cry...reminds me of my late grandpa, this was his favorite song. He said "warbash" just like roy.

[74horseman]

Great, cant be beat

[BrennanBarrier]

ROY ACUFF!!! WHOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO

[countrymusicfan11]

my 4th great uncle is roy acuff go uncle ROY

[IntoWisOutdoors]

We took the tour of the Grand Ole Opry House several years ago! We learned so much about Roy,...... He truely loved & was the caretaker of the Opry House & Museum!

Oh the stories of days gone by were priceless! I would highly recomend the tour of the Grand Ole Opry to anyone!

I could just feel it in the air that Roy was still with us walking the halls!

We were there 1 day before Trace Adkins was to join the Opry as a member!

[Doogleburg08]

hes my Great great uncle also!

[zipper714]

ole roy - black balled hank from the grand ole opry

[wbowdle]

classic country is CLASSIC nothing else like it

[heinza1983]

I'm delighted to read so many enthusiastic reactions to this post of mine. I didn't really expect it, but maybe that's because I know very little about country music, especially being a 26yo Italian never been to the US ^^ glad to have been making people happy with this post. Long live Roy, Oz and the Opry. I agree, for the little that I know country music, I can barely listen to anything recent, which most often shouldn't even be labelled as country music! Love this song, love the dobro!

[B7aug5]

D'accordo, en reguardo a modern country music.

Bisogna venire a Nashville, mio amico.

Visiterò l'anno prossimo l'Italia.

Roy è grande. E la musica naturale che è così buono con.

Mi dispiace per mi Italiano

[heinza1983]

Hey, your Italian is pretty good!

Have fun in Italy and.. help spreading the country sound ;)

I actually live in Australia, where country music is pleasingly a bit more popular than Italy.

One day I'll visit Nashville and the Opry for sure.. when I can..

cheers

[hankbob2000]

This is from a great 3-hour TV special in 1978 called "50 Years of Country Music." I cassette-taped it back then and I still listen to it to this day. On that same show Johnny Cash performed "One Piece at a Time," accompanied by a very funny film about the car. He actually did eventually have the '49-'70 Caddy built and it's featured in the film. It was a fantastic show that deserves to be released on DVD. By the way, the Johnny Cash segment is on YouTube.

[hotdog1960]

@hankbob2000 I took pictures of the "one piece at a time" car in 1977 at the House of Cash Museum. I still talk about it to this day. While there I met Johnny Mother, and Carlene Carter. I had run out of film, and Carlene took me to a store to buy some, since she told me she had to go there and get something. I just remember how nice she was to me on the way there and back.

[beticanoa]

@heinza1983 I am from Spain and 2 years ago, luckily I discovered this video, now I love country music

[tmdaninla]

@heinza1983 one of my dad's favorites, he grew up in E. Kentucky, by Olive Hill, birthplace of Tom T. Hall ...thanks....BTW was just over in your beautiful country, in La Spezia, Florence, Venice, Pisa, Roma...esp. love the Tuscany area...so beautiful, like Kentucky

[countrybible]

This is priceless, what year was this recorded?

[graverobber35]

What a collection of talent  on stage at one time!

thanks for posting

[Waljoy]

Thank you for posting this - I think I remember seeing it live several years ago, and wondering then who would ever replace this legend. I don't think anyone has. I appreciate this very much, thank you once again!!

[MrJdg78]

good song,nice band also like the singin not singing lol

[y00sta]

i have the great speckled bird,but this is all new to me i dont how topost

[jack91723]

if country was the bible both hank williams and roy would be saints!!!

[46r11]

Probably the best there was. Wayne

[ceaserdd]

me too, bro.

played this song w Roy and the fella all the way from TN to NJ. this will always b part of the america that i love !

[IrwinMinistreis]

I always love to hear the king of Country roy Acuff, but I would like if someone has it, is for them to post one of him singing theGreat Speckle Bird , thank you.

[yough56]

i had the honor, of seeing MR Acuff!

[orangetrainman]

this is a great vidieo thanks for posting it

orangtrainman

[thewindbelow94]

Great song. At Kansas State we have game rituals to this song.

[ceaserdd]

tell us about the game rituals. we wanna know about them !! we all love this song !!

[DanJ30]

A legend! Roy Claxton Acuff was as good as classic Country got...

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

I love this great classic!

It does not get any better than this!!

Thank you!!!

George Vreeland Hill

[mandolinman2006]

This is awesome! Does anybody know where there is a video of Roy Acuff actually playing his fiddle on here? I've seen some footage a few years ago but don't remember where.

[bfeme]

roy plays his fiddle on the song turkey buzzard it is on here

[SoftWolfTread]

What happened to country music? It's been taking over by a bunch of GQ models posing as cowboys and singing overproduced pop songs.

This is beautiful.

[manny5442]

Why isn't there any Music like this anymore instead of that CRAP they are trying to peddle as Country Music?

[46r11]

@manny5442 You sure hit it right on the nose, country music today can't compare with the old stuff. Today its all about how much noise you can make and how big a hat you wear, half of them can't even sing in key - Wayne

[popt1942]

@46r11

 Amen Brother and dont rorgit that allmighty dollar the real reason the most of them are in it for in the rirst place

[ceaserdd]

@manny5442 U R RIGHT !!!!

[4957ace]

@manny5442

thank you sooo much for sharing this great music......my dad and I listened to these great songs on...78 records... love this music.

[syourke3]

@manny5442 The corporations took over the popular music "industry" years ago and turned it into total crap - like everything else that corporations control. Real musicians haven't a chance these days unless they go straight to the public, live.

[moonhop]

This song and the great speckled bird are two of my favorite songs. Roy Acuff was awesome. Thanks for posting.

[vudukmafia]

the piano player was jimmy riddle from riddle and phelps on hee haw

[46r11]

Oswald was the greatest on the Dobro, but you already know that. I saw him with Mac Wiseman singing (I'll be all smiles tonight). Mac was great to, Wayne in Canada.

[BraniFan777]

Great song, I remember my father playing it on guitar and singing along back in the late 60's. :)

[SPDaylight]

The Wabash Cannonball was a real train that ran from Detroit to St. Louis on the Wabash Railroad. The train ran until Amtrak took over in 1971

[LuckyStarAT]

Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar

as she glides along the woodland, through the hills and by the shore.

Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear that lonesome hobo squall.

You´re travelling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannonball Railroad!!!

[Rockstar6422]

I love Roy Acuff but right now he is in RIP and my Friend Angel Acuff loves him too and infact thats her cusion

[dano4734]

doogleburg08

Roy was a national treasure, and I think in Heaven he knows how much his music meant to all of us

God Bless you Roy

Sadly missed

[nightstalkersasslt]

wooooh wooooh assume that talent boys.

[ForceRecon75]

As a young man in the 70's, I wish I would have realized the wonderful talent that was alive and singing then.

[jcad1009]

Watch Brother Oswald having a ball, playing harmonics and sliding during the harmonica break.

[Jrebindixie]

....Brother Oswald was to Roy, what Luther was to Johnny. Both were GREAT, sure miss 'um. Jreb

[mds58]

happy birthday

Rest in Peace

[tefisher1984]

Happy 105th birthday Roy Acuff!

[Doogleburg08]

Roy Acuff is my Great Uncle.. i never met him because he died 3 months before i was born. but i wish i could have met him it woulda been great.

[musiccollektr]

he makes the list its good

[SPDaylight]

While it didn't go to all teh places in the song the Wabash Cannonball was a real train. It ran from Detroit to St. Louis on the Wabash railroad until Amtrak took over

[SUNSNARE06]

very interesting, thanx for that

[daprez45]

Now this is country music!

[JJohnston4Life]

Pure County man... Two thumbs... lol,

[mac26x98]

I was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY in the early to mid 50's and got to the Grand Old Opry at the Ryman Autorium about every Saturdy night for the show. As I remember they let let servicemen in free after the primetime show. I think I lived throught the best times of the Opry and it's performers. I loved it and still do, there will never be another like it. They got to commercial after leaving the Ryman, moving to the new Opryland out by the river. mac26-32

[txstoryteller]

Now THAT was country music!! The King of Country Music will Live on; I will never forget him!!  Roll on Wabash Cannonball!! :D

[madmanduck]

The new country music is all about selling records to an R&B, man-hating crowd...this is the best country music ever....BRING IT BACK, CHESNEY AND GRETCHEN!

[Pickinbuddy]

Roy was certainly one of the greatest ever!

I remember in the summer of 1966 when he was on the Jackie Gleason Show on TV and he just TORE the roof off the place with "Wabash Cannonball"; "Tennessee Central #9"...and I think "Night Train to Memphis". Jackie had him close the show at the end. That was 42 years ago--and I NEVER forgot that!

[usmc354]

I do declare this is my favorite version of this American classis RIP Roy Acuff and Brother Oswald

[jaebooks]

This is from a 1978 TV Show titled "50 Years of Country Music", that was broadcast in germany in 1984. I was 16 then and I recorded the sound from the TV with a simple Cassette Recorder and listened to it about 1.000 times. This was my 1st contact with the legends of early country music, who are all gone now except very few. This version of Wabash Cannonball was my very favorite song from the show, I recalled almost every note until today. I almost cried when I found that version here. Thanks.

[JohnES3362]

All the great ones are gone now.......

[shittenboat]

yeah,man,too bad:(

[jcad1009]

"The King of Country Music" - one of the most influential singers ever. Influeced Hank Sr. and George Jones among many others. No one will ever fill his shoes on the Opry. He was one of the true originals!

[Racin28]

Nobody did it better that The King and His Smokey Mountain Boys. Mr. Roy, Charlie Collins, Onie Wheeler, Howard Forrester, Jimmy Riddle and "Bashful Brother Oswald" let me ride the Cannonball many a saturday night. Thanks for posting this wonderful video.

[bilbob89]

great old classic song

thanks for posting

[VPN714]

i agree this is the best version.

[11241944]

This is THE man! no one did it better. I was born in 44 and have heard them all, but none like this one.  and all the players Thanks Bill

[1975grandville]

This is the best version of this song. What a great artist!

[BUTCHCRAB]

nostalgia!!!! When I was a kid (1945), spent a year in bed (romantic feaver??) would spend hours listening to the radio... the oprey was a favorite, and this song was so popular then... tks for the post

[jtls8]

Was able to see perform in person; one of the greatest!

[gd7we]

A true classic,both man and song.Many fine musicians have performed this song but no one has compared to Roy Acuff and the Smokey

Mountain Boys.This was my first record (about

five yrs.old,early 1940's.)Maybe that's why

I'm a train buff today.

[Northtide]

I sometimes wonder if the "Oprey" or "Mr Roy" was the real country icon.

Thank you for a great post of a great man.