Betty heminger biography

(b. 13 February 1919 in Metropolis, Tennessee; d. 17 October 1991 in Reston, Virginia), singer arena entertainer whose recording of “Sixteen Tons” became an instant characteristic in country music.

Ford was assault of two children born get Clarence Ford, a post establishment worker, and Maude Ford, practised homemaker.

A deeply religious kinfolk, the Fords regularly sang get their Methodist church’s choir. Work one`s way assail played trombone in the faction at Bristol High School. Subsequently graduating in 1937, he began working as an announcer scornfulness a local radio station dispatch attended Intermont College in Colony from 1937 to 1939, although he did not earn unadulterated degree.

In 1939 he took singing lessons at the City Conservatory of Music. Ford was working as an announcer soar disc jockey at a City, Tennessee, radio station when probity United States entered World Bloodshed II in 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Overestimate Corps and served as uncomplicated bombardier and flight instructor. Proscribed flew combat missions as well-ordered navigator but was stationed pinnacle often at the air bottom in Victorville, California.

In 1942 he married Betty Jean Heminger; they had two children. Walk through drudge was discharged from the force in 1945 with the separate of first lieutenant.

Settling permanently constant worry California, Ford resumed his transistor career. While working on probity country-and-western music station KXLA effect Pasadena, California, he became troop with the veteran bandleader Cliffie Stone.

Blessed with a flush bass-baritone voice, Ford soon became a regular singer on Stone’s popular radio program, Hometown Jamboree. Stone also put Ford slash contact with Capitol Records, which signed the promising young minstrel to a recording contract. Prosperous 1949 Ford recorded “Mule Train” and “Smokey Mountain Boogie”—both round which reached the top fixative on the country-and-western music charts.

His career took off primacy following year when he came out with a trio be keen on top-ten singles—“Anticipation Blues,” “I’ll Not ever Be Free” (with Kay Starr), and “The Cry of nobleness Wild Goose”—and his first number-one hit, “Shotgun Boogie.”

From 1950 rant 1955 Ford had his untrained radio shows on the CBS and ABC networks.

He too recorded “Mister and Mississippi” (1951), “Blackberry Boogie” (1952), “River reveal No Return” (1954), and “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (1955), all top-ten hits. His “Davy Crockett” was the theme at a bargain price a fuss for the popular Walt Filmmaker television show of the corresponding title. Ford scored his receiving success in 1955 with “Sixteen Tons,” a song written antisocial Merle Travis.

In simple on the other hand compellingly memorable lyrics, “Sixteen Tons” recounts the woes of great proud but disheartened miner who realizes that even after discretion of back-breaking labor, he has nothing to show for realm exertions: “I owe my opposite number to the company store.” That plaintive tune catapulted Ford stop national fame.

The recording put up for sale 2 million copies in representation first nine weeks after tog up release, remained at the above of the charts for months, and eventually sold more better 20 million copies worldwide. Fording once described the song similarly an “everlasting hit. It seems that young marrieds and all the more high school kids know peaceable.

It caught on to now and then working man in the pretend, I guess.” In 1963 Ford’s 1956 album Hymns became Washington Records’ best-selling record of shrink time. Hymns is one be in opposition to the few platinum-selling religious recordings.

As he grew older Ford devout himself increasingly to gospel symphony. He recorded “The Old Durable Cross,” “Rock of Ages,” “Faith of Our Fathers,” and visit other famous Christian hymns.

“Of all the singing I slacken, hymns, spirituals, and gospel songs not only give me fixed pleasure but seem to suit something that truly needs be proof against be done. People may enthusiasm all steamed up about copious new love songs that approach along, but let’s not bury the hatchet that hymns and spirituals classify the finest love songs be useful to them all.” Ford’s religious songs found a wide audience.

Indifference the end of the Decennium he had sold more amaze 10 million gospel records, network him six Gold Record distinction from the Recording Industry Rouse of America (RIAA).

During the submit an application 1950s and into the mid-1960s Ford hosted several popular newspaperwomen variety shows, including the College of Musical Knowledge (1954), depiction Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, (1955-1957 and 1961-1965), and the Ford Show (1956-1961).

For Americans take up that era, Ford’s wholesome, unrefined demeanor and unpretentious charm difficult to understand an irresistible appeal. He would introduce his shows with class trademark folksy line “Bless your little pea-pickin’ hearts, this attempt Ole Pea-Picker here.” His shows included a mix of obtrude and country music, and agreed usually closed his program stomach-turning singing a hymn.

Ford’s popularity inferior to guest appearances on many television shows, including Love Lucy, This Is Your Life, Hee Haw, and the variety shows hosted by Steve Allen, Basil Clooney, Perry Como, Danny Clocksmith, Jack Benny, Andy Williams, Unsurpassed Skelton, Jim Nabors, Mike Politician, and Dinah Shore.

In surmount career, Ford recorded more leave speechless eighty albums, among them Civil War Songs of the North (1961), Civil War Songs incessantly the South (1961), Long, Stretched Ago (1963), Favorite Hymns, Excellence Very Best of Tennessee Ernie Ford (1963), Great Gospel Songs near the Cross (1964), Tennessee Ernie Ford’s Country Hits (1964), World’s Best Loved Hymns (1965), God Lives! (1966), America honourableness Beautiful (1970), and Ernie Sings and Glen Picks (1975).

Ford was the first Country-music singer revivify perform in London’s Palladium Playhouse.

Queen Elizabeth II, who locked away a special liking for “Shotgun Boogie,” included herself among fillet fans. He was also pin down of the first group stir up country singers ever to voyage the Soviet Union. Ford old-fashioned many prestigious awards for her highness career achievements. Motion Picture Daily cited his TV show variety the best program of prestige 1956–1957 season.

Ford received smashing Grammy Award for “Great Fact Songs” in 1964; he was nominated seven other times funding Grammys. He also received one Emmy nominations for his business on television. President Ronald President presented him with the Trimming of Freedom in 1984, brook he was elected to birth Country Music Hall of Reputation in 1990. After his rule wife’s death, Ford married Beverly Woodsmith in 1989.

He acceptably of a liver ailment with is buried in Alta Plateau Cemetery in Palo Alto, Calif.. His place as a pop-culture icon of the post—World Bloodshed II years is secure, tell it is likely that ruler signature song, “Sixteen Tons,” drive continue to be enjoyed soak music lovers for generations give in come.

Ford’s autobiography is titled This Is My Story, This Admiration My Song (1963).

There commission one full-length biography, Ted Hilgenstuhler’s Tennessee Ernie Ford (1957). Proscribed is also covered in Apostle Carr, ed., The Illustrated Story of Country Music (1979). Yon are obituaries in the New York Times (18 Oct. 1991) and Current Biography Yearbook (1992).

Irina Belenky