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Eddy Arnold ("The Tennessee Plowboy") was born on May 15, 1918 in
Henderson, Tennessee. He left home at 18, after the loss of his father and their family farm. After many struggles, he landed the lead
vocalist role for the
Pee Wee King Band. He became a solo star on the
Grand Ole Opry in 1943.
He was signed with RCA Victor and cut his first single "
Mommy Please Stay Home With Me," in 1944. His first big hit being "
That's How Much I Love You," came in 1946. In the years that followed he dominated
country music with the help of his manager
Col. Tom Parker (of
Elvis Presley fame). Between 1945 and 1956 every one of his 71 releases charted in the top ten.
He was also the first country singer to have his own TV show, "
Eddie Arnold Time," a musical showcase.
A few of his accomplishments and awards:
- He's had 147 songs on the charts and 28 number one hits.
- He's had more hits than any other country artist
- He's the only singer to have charted in seven consecutive decades
- His song, " Bouquet of Roses," stayed on the charts longer than any country song in history
- Indicted in The Country Music Hall Of Fame, 1966
- Country Music Assocation Entertainer of the Year, 1967
- Country Music Assocation Nomination Album of the Year, 1967
- Country Music Assocation Nomination Male Vocalist of the Year, in 1968
- Country Music Assocation Nomination Entertainer of the Year, in 1968
- Grammy Awards nomination for Best Country & Western Album for "My World," in 1966
- Grammy Awards nomination for Best Country & Western Single for ""Make the World Go Away," in 1966
- Grammy Awards nomination for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Male for "Make the World Go Away," in 1966
- "Pioneer Award" from the Academy of Country Music
- "Presidents Award" from the Song Writers Guild
- He received the National Medal Of Arts from President Bill Clinton at a ceremony in Constitution Hall, in 2002.
- He received "Artist of the Century Award" in Nashville, in, 2002
As you can see the list is very impressive, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Eddy Arnold truly is a living legend. Some of my earliest childhood memories revolve around watching him on TV, I thought he was old
then. He is someone who will never be forgotten.
Some of his albums include:
His number one hit songs:
Editors Note:
Eddy Arnold died from natural causes on May 8, 2008 in a nursing home in Nashville. He was 89 years old.
Sources:
http://www.eddyarnold.com
http://www.countrypolitan.com/bio-eddy-arnold.php
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?ean=78636685427
http://lostmind.100megsfree2.com/index.html
http://www.countrystars.com/legends/bios/arnold_e.html