Roy Acuff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roy Acuff
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Acuff in 1950
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roy Claxton Acuff |
| Also known as | King of Country Music |
| Born | September 15, 1903 Maynardville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | November 23, 1992 (aged 89) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1932–1992 |
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Roy Claxton Acuff (born September 15, 1903 – died November 23, 1992) was a famous American country music singer, fiddler, and music promoter. He was known as the "King of Country Music." Roy helped change country music from just string bands to focusing more on singers. This made country music popular all over the world. Even other famous singers like Hank Williams said Roy was the biggest star in country music.
Roy Acuff started his music career in the 1930s. He became famous with his group, the Smoky Mountain Boys. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1938. Even when his music became less popular later, he stayed a key person at the Opry for almost 40 years. In 1942, Acuff and Fred Rose started Acuff-Rose Music. This was the first big country music publishing company in Nashville. They signed artists like Hank Williams and the Everly Brothers. In 1962, Roy Acuff was the first living person to join the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
Roy Acuff was born on September 15, 1903, in Maynardville, Tennessee. He was the third of five children. His family had lived in the mountains of Virginia and the Carolinas for a long time. Roy's family was well-known in Union County. His grandfather was a state senator, and his other grandfather was a doctor.
Roy's father played the fiddle, and his mother played the piano. Their home was a popular place for local gatherings. Roy learned to play the harmonica and jaw harp early on. He also entertained people by balancing farm tools on his chin.
In 1919, Roy's family moved to Knoxville. Roy went to Central High School. He sang in the choir and acted in school plays. But his biggest love was sports. He was great at three sports in high school. After graduating in 1925, he was offered a scholarship for college, but he turned it down. He played baseball for small teams around Knoxville and worked odd jobs.
In 1929, Roy tried out for the Knoxville Smokies, a minor-league baseball team. But he got very sick from sunstroke during spring training. This ended his baseball career. He was ill for several years and had a nervous breakdown in 1930. While recovering, he started playing his fiddle more. His father gave him records of famous fiddlers, which helped shape his style.
Music Career Begins
Medicine Shows and Early Bands
In 1932, Roy Acuff joined a "medicine show." These shows traveled around the southern Appalachian region. Entertainers like Roy would perform to attract crowds. Then, the show's leader would sell special medicines. Roy learned to sing very loudly because there were no microphones. This skill helped him later on the radio.
In 1934, Roy started playing local shows in Knoxville. He became well-known there. He formed a band called the Tennessee Crackerjacks with guitarist Jess Easterday and Hawaiian guitarist Clell Summey. They played on Knoxville radio stations WROL and WNOX.
Later, the group added bassist Red Jones and changed their name to the Crazy Tennesseans. Fans loved how clear Roy's voice sounded on the radio. His song "The Great Speckled Bird" became very popular. This helped the band get a record deal in 1936. They recorded many songs, including their famous "Wabash Cannonball".
Joining the Grand Ole Opry
In 1938, the Crazy Tennesseans moved to Nashville to try out for the Grand Ole Opry. Their first tryout didn't go well. But their second one impressed the Opry's founder, George D. Hay. They were offered a contract that year.
On Hay's advice, Roy changed the band's name to the Smoky Mountain Boys. This name honored the Great Smoky Mountains where they grew up. Soon after, dobro player Beecher (Pete) Kirby, known as Bashful Brother Oswald, joined the band. Roy's strong singing and Kirby's dobro playing gave the band a unique sound. By 1939, they were one of the most popular acts at the Opry.
In 1940, Roy and his band went to Hollywood. They appeared in the movie Grand Ole Opry. Roy also acted in other movies, like O, My Darling Clementine (1943) and Night Train to Memphis (1946).
Roy and his band also performed at big tent shows across the Southeast. Huge crowds would come, causing traffic jams for miles. From 1939, Roy hosted the Opry's Prince Albert radio show. He left the Opry for a short time in 1946 after a disagreement.
Acuff-Rose Music Company
In 1942, Roy Acuff and songwriter Fred Rose started Acuff-Rose Music. Roy wanted a company to publish his own songs. But he soon realized other country artists needed help too. Many artists were not treated fairly by bigger music companies.
Thanks to Fred Rose's connections and his talent for finding new artists, Acuff-Rose quickly became very important in country music. In 1946, they signed Hank Williams. In 1950, they had a huge hit with Patti Page's song "Tennessee Waltz".
Political Interests
In 1943, Roy Acuff became a member of the Freemasons in Nashville. Later that year, he invited Tennessee Governor Prentice Cooper to a special Opry show. The governor refused and said Roy's music made Tennessee look like the "hillbilly capital." A journalist told Roy this and suggested he run for governor himself.
Roy didn't take it seriously at first. But in 1948, he accepted the Republican Party's nomination for governor. Even though Roy was famous, his opponent, Gordon Browning, still won the election. But Roy's campaign did help make the Republican Party stronger in Tennessee.
Later Career and Legacy
After leaving the Opry for a while, Roy toured the Western United States. His record sales went down as new, younger artists became popular. He eventually returned to the Opry. In 1965, he was in a serious car accident and thought about retiring. He made fewer appearances but sometimes performed with his bandmate Bashful Brother Oswald.
In 1972, Roy's career got a boost when he appeared on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken. A big moment came on March 16, 1974. The Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House. The first show there opened with a huge picture of Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys. A recording of their 1939 performance played. That night, Roy even showed President Richard Nixon how to yo-yo!
In the early 1980s, after his wife Mildred died, Roy moved into a small house at Opryland. He was in his 80s but still performed daily. He often arrived early to the Opry and helped with small jobs backstage. In 1988, he received the Golden Plate Award. In 1991, he was given the National Medal of Arts and a lifetime achievement award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was the first country music artist to get this high honor.
Death
Roy Acuff passed away at Baptist Hospital in Nashville on November 23, 1992. He was 89 years old. He is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville.
Songs and Impact
Many of Roy Acuff's songs had strong Christian messages. Examples include "Great Speckled Bird" and "Lord, Build Me a Cabin." These songs often used old traditional melodies. He also sang popular songs of his time, like "Tennessee Waltz." He recorded his own version of "Wreck on the Highway".
Roy Acuff and the Crazy Tennesseans recorded "Wabash Cannonball" in 1936. The more famous version with Roy singing was recorded in 1947.
In 1979, the Roy Acuff Theatre opened at Opryland, named in his honor. Dunbar Cave State Natural Area was a place Roy owned from 1948 to 1963. Two museums have been named after him: the Roy Acuff Museum at Opryland (now closed) and the Roy Acuff Union Museum and Library in his hometown. Roy Acuff also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Images for kids
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Acuff in 1950
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THC marker in Maynardville, Tennessee, near where Acuff was born
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A life-sized statue of Roy Acuff sits on a pew alongside a statue of Minnie Pearl in the lobby of Ryman Auditorium.
