Pee Wee King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pee Wee King
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Pee Wee King c. 1944
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski |
| Born | February 18, 1914 Abrams, Wisconsin, United States |
| Died | March 7, 2000 (aged 86) Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Accordion, fiddle |
| Years active | 1930s–1969 |
Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski (born February 18, 1914 – died March 7, 2000) was a famous American country music artist. He was known by his stage name, Pee Wee King. He was a talented songwriter and recording artist. He is best known for helping to write the classic song "Tennessee Waltz".
Pee Wee King helped bring the musicians' union to the Grand Ole Opry. A union is a group that helps workers get fair pay and good working conditions. He was one of the first musicians in Nashville to be part of a union. He also made sure his band members were part of the union. He also served on the board of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Musical Start
Pee Wee King was born in Abrams, Wisconsin. His family was Polish American. He lived in Abrams when he was young. He learned to play the accordion from his father. His father was a professional polka musician.
In the 1930s, Pee Wee King toured with Gene Autry. Gene Autry was a famous cowboy singer and actor. King also made cowboy movies with him.
Joining the Grand Ole Opry
Pee Wee King joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1937. The Grand Ole Opry is a famous country music show. It is held in Nashville, Tennessee. His father-in-law, J.L. Frank, helped him join.
Creating "The Tennessee Waltz"
In 1946, Pee Wee King was the leader of a band called the Golden West Cowboys. He worked with the band's singer, Redd Stewart. Together, they wrote "The Tennessee Waltz". They were inspired by another song called "The Kentucky Waltz". That song was by bluegrass musician Bill Monroe.
King and Stewart first recorded "The Tennessee Waltz" in 1948. It became a very popular country music song. This was mostly because of Patti Page's famous version of the song.
Pee Wee King's TV Show
In 1949, Pee Wee King had his own TV show. It was called The Pee Wee King Show. It was on WAVE-TV in Louisville, Kentucky. His band, the Golden West Cowboys, performed on the show. It was a half-hour show broadcast on Monday evenings.
Songwriting and Innovations
Pee Wee King wrote or helped write over 400 songs. He recorded more than 20 albums. He also released 157 singles. Some of his other famous songs include "Slow Poke" and "You Belong to Me". He wrote these with Chilton Price and Redd Stewart.
His songs brought new styles to country music. He introduced waltzes, polkas, and cowboy songs. These styles became popular in country music. In 1970, King became one of the first members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Breaking the Rules at the Opry
The Grand Ole Opry had strict rules about instruments. They did not allow drums or trumpets. Pee Wee King used these instruments in his stage shows. However, he could not use them when his band played at the Opry.
He only ignored this rule once. It was in April 1945, after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. The Opry show was canceled. But many fans still came. So, the management asked King to perform his stage show. He used his full band, with drums and a trumpet. When asked about it later, King said he was just doing his stage show as asked. Another musician, Bob Wills, had also used drums at the Opry a year earlier.
New Styles and Outfits
Pee Wee King's band also brought new things to the Opry stage. They started doing on-stage dancing. They also wore special 'rhinestone cowboy' outfits. These outfits were designed by Nudie Cohn. These sparkly outfits later became very popular. Many Nashville and country musicians wore them, including Elvis Presley.
In 1974, Pee Wee King was honored for his contributions. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1991 and 1992, Pee Wee King joined producers Randall Franks and Alan Autry. They worked on a Christmas CD called Christmas Time's A Comin'. It featured the cast of the TV show In the Heat of the Night. King performed "Jingle Bells" with the cast. This CD became a very popular Christmas release.
Pee Wee King passed away from a heart attack. He died in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 86.
Discography
Albums
- Pee Wee King, RCA Victor, 1954
- Waltzes, RCA Victor, 1955
- Swing West, RCA Victor, 1956
- Country Barn Dance, RCA Camden, 1965
- Ballroom King, Detour, 1982
- Hog Wild Too!, Zu Zazz, 1990
- Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys (6-CD box set), Bear Family, 1995
- Pee Wee King's Country Hoedown (live radio performances), Bloodshot, 1999
Popular Singles
Pee Wee King had many popular songs. Here are some of his singles that reached the music charts:
| Year | Single | Chart Position (US Country) |
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| 1948 | "Tennessee Waltz" | 3 |
| 1949 | "Tennessee Tears" | 12 |
| 1949 | "Tennessee Polka" | 3 |
| 1950 | "Bonaparte's Retreat" | 10 |
| 1951 | "Tennessee Waltz" (re-release) | 6 |
| 1951 | "Slow Poke" | 1 |
| 1952 | "Silver and Gold" | 5 |
| 1952 | "Busybody" | 8 |
| 1954 | "Changing Partners" | 4 |
| 1954 | "Bimbo" | 9 |
| 1954 | "Backward, Turn Backward" | 15 |
