Tennessee Ernie Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tennessee Ernie Ford
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Ford in 1957
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ernest Jennings Ford |
| Born | February 13, 1919 Bristol, Tennessee, US |
| Died | October 17, 1991 (aged 72) Reston, Virginia, US |
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| Years active | 1949–1991 |
| Labels | Capitol Records, Word Records |
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Ernest Jennings Ford (born February 13, 1919 – died October 17, 1991), known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was a famous American singer and TV host. He was very successful in country, pop, and gospel music. People loved his deep voice and friendly humor. He is especially remembered for his hit songs "The Shotgun Boogie" and "Sixteen Tons".
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Early Life and Radio Career
Ernest Ford was born in Bristol, Tennessee. When he was young, he loved listening to country music on the radio and seeing musicians play.
Ford started his radio career in 1937 as an announcer at a station called WOPI-AM. He then studied classical music in Ohio. After that, he worked at different radio stations. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corps as a bombardier. He taught others how to drop bombs, but the war ended before he went to Japan.
After the war, Ford worked at radio stations in California. At one station, he hosted a morning country music show. To stand out, he created a funny character called "Tennessee Ernie." He pretended to be a wild, exaggerated country person. This character became very popular! Soon, he moved to another radio station, KXLA, and continued his show.
Becoming a Star
Ford joined a popular country music show called Dinner Bell Roundup as a singer. A talent scout from Capitol Records noticed him. In 1949, he signed a contract with Capitol Records. He also became a local TV star on a show called Hometown Jamboree.
In the early 1950s, Ford released many country songs. Several of them became hits. Songs like "The Shotgun Boogie" were exciting and fast-paced. He also had a big hit with "I'll Never Be Free", which he sang with pop singer Kay Starr.
Ford became even more famous in 1954. He played a country character named "Cousin Ernie" in three episodes of the popular TV show I Love Lucy. This made him a household name across the U.S.
The Hit Song "Sixteen Tons"
In 1955, Ford had a huge and unexpected hit song called "Sixteen Tons". It was a song about the tough life of a coal miner. The song was first recorded by Merle Travis in 1946. It talked about the hard experiences of miners, including Merle Travis's own family.
The song had a serious and sad tone, which was different from other pop songs at the time. It included famous lines like:
You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt.
Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go;
I owe my soul to the company store...
Ford's version of "Sixteen Tons" became incredibly popular. It was number one on the country music chart for ten weeks and number one on the pop chart for seven weeks! The song sold over twenty million copies. It made Ford a huge star and became his most famous song.
The Ford Show and Later Career
After the success of "Sixteen Tons," Tennessee Ernie Ford got his own TV show. It was called The Ford Show and aired on NBC from 1956 to 1961. The show was sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, which was a clever play on his last name.
A special part of The Ford Show was that Ford always ended each episode with a religious song or hymn. He insisted on this, even though some TV network officials were worried about it. But viewers loved it, and the hymns became the most popular part of his show. He also earned the nickname "The Ol' Pea-Picker" because of his famous saying, "Bless your pea-pickin' heart!"
Later Years and Achievements
In 1956, Ford released his first gospel music album called Hymns. This album stayed on the Billboard charts for a very long time. His album Great Gospel Songs won a Grammy Award in 1964.
After his NBC show ended, Ford moved his family to California. From 1962 to 1965, he hosted another TV show called The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show. He also appeared on other TV shows, like The Dolly Show and Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters, in the early 1980s.
Ford was involved with a group called the Commemorative Air Force. This group works to preserve old war planes. Ford, who was a bombardier in World War II, helped them and even recorded their theme song.
Tennessee Ernie Ford received many honors for his work. He has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio, music, and television achievements. In 1984, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is a very high award in the U.S. In 1990, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. After he passed away, he was also added to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1994 for his contributions to gospel music.
Personal Life
Tennessee Ernie Ford was married to Betty Heminger from 1942 until she passed away in 1989. They had two sons, Jeffrey and Brion.
Ford passed away on October 17, 1991, in Reston, Virginia. He was buried in Palo Alto, California, with his second wife, Beverly Wood Ford, who passed away ten years later.
Discography
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See also
In Spanish: Tennessee Ernie Ford para niños
