EDDY ARNOLD-ROCKING ALONE IN AN OLD ROCKING CHAIR.wmv

Eddy Arnold, the smooth crooner of such classics as "Make The World Go Away" and "What's He Doing In My World," is the epitome of county-politan sophistication. So one might think that calling him "The Tennessee Plowboy" was just a marketing gimmick.

But Richard Edward Arnold was born on May 15, 1918, in Henderson, Tenn., to a farming family and he not only plowed behind a mule, he rode the mule to his first singing engagements. After his father died on Eddy's eleventh birthday, Arnold had to watch the family farm sold at auction. He never forgot it.

Besides singing anywhere he could, the young Arnold worked (and slept) in a funeral parlor. Then, in 1940, he finally got a break. Pee Wee King gave him a job with the Golden West Cowboys. That meant Arnold appeared regularly on the Grand Ole Opry, besides regularly having something to eat.

In 1943, he struck out on his own with his own radio program on WSM. Soon he had a recording contract in his own right and a regular hosting spot on the Grand Ole Opry with "Cattle Call" as his theme song. An early manager was Tom Parker -- as in Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' eventual manager.

A parade of hits followed, and he found himself the hottest thing in country music. From November 1947 through January 1949, Arnold had six songs at No. 1 on the country charts, with only one other artist reaching No. 1 during that period. In late 1948, Arnold had an amazing six songs in the Top 10 at once. Sometimes called the Country Perry Como, he was also a hit on mainstream shows like Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan.

In the mid-1960s, as his chart success started to cool, Arnold turned to lush, heavily orchestrated recordings that revitalized his career, winning a whole new audience for country music. He continues to record and look after his myriad business interests. Many of the latter are in real estate, for Arnold never forgot losing the land he grew up on.

While his current style of country music has sometimes been criticized by the more traditional performers, there is no arguing with the fact Arnold helped introduce Nashville and country music to the world. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.

He donated hundreds of his career-related items to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum which placed them on a special exhibit in 2003.

After losing Sally, his wife of 66 years, in March 2008, Arnold passed away on May 8, 2008, at the age of 89.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• MUSIC
• COUNTRY
• EDDY
• ARNOLD

[musicmandon1]

I thought I'd listen to the master to try and get the words right before I do my version of this old gem. I knew he had done it, but am hearing it by him now for the first time. I've heard enough other versions to know I can do it well. He must have been really young when he did this one. For me, this is better than Bob Wills' version, and that's saying a mouthful. You have to get up early in the morning to do better than Bob Wills.

[oldtexasmusic]

@musicmandon1 Yes, he was in the first part of his career when he recorded this but I know not the year or album. Little Roy Wiggins is on the steel and IMO, his pure country songs were during that time. Eddy beat most all in the late 1940s. In fact, in 1948 he had the NUMBER 1 country song for the entire year but for a short span where Jimmy Wakely had a song at number 1.Bob Wills was very active during the 1940s.

[potluck42]

BE ASSURED HOW YOU TREAT YOUR PARENTS IS HOW YOUR CHILDREN WILL TREAT YOU

[oldtexasmusic]

@potluck42 It is all in God's hands.

[DixielandBaker]

a long time ago back in the late 40s early 50s my older brother would take me to see eddy arnold at the medowbrook on RT.23 in cedargrove nj. back then country music was verry big here. we had WAAT radio station in newark with don larken as the DJ. the show was called the HOME TOWN FROLIC. we got nothing now. thank GOD for XMRADIO like the roadhouse now called willies roadhouse on XM56.

[oldtexasmusic]

@DixielandBaker Thanks for the interesting history. When you think about it, with the so called talent in Nashville today, we don't even have a Grand Ole Opry anymore.

[pattykake19]

That's very true, because some people don't teach their children to respect their elders; Like when we were growing up. I love talking to old people. Of course, I'm no spring chicken myself, anymore. Ha/ha. Thanks alot. Good work.

[oldtexasmusic]

@pattykake19 Seems like there is less concern for the grannies now than there was back a few years, like when this song was recorded.

[pattykake19]

A beautiful song, and sad but true for many elderly people. People need to try to take more care of our elderly. We'll be old someday. Thanks for posting.