Eddy Arnold
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Eddy Arnold
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Eddy Arnold’s style of country music was, of course, a far cry from the primitive Appalachian stylings of, say the
Carter Family or the typically nasal fare normally associated with the Grand Ole Opry and other such radio shows of the 40's and 50's. Neither did he display any of the down-home corn, the "by-cracky nonsense," as he put it. "Once we . . give respect to our music, then people will respect us." He didn’t "cross over." To him there was no line. He espoused the same belief (rationalization?) we hear from many of today’s singers of country-pop. Music is music and he didn’t want to be known as a country singer or a pop singer, just a good singer, without the limits. Well, he got his wish. He expanded the limits and became respected and admired by country fans, pop fans and the just plain general public. He was (and is) welcomed in all circles with open arms and appreciative ears.
Arnold was born in Henderson, Tennessee on May 15, 1918. As he grew up there on the farm, his mother taught him to play guitar and he practiced in between doing his chores. While he was in his teens, his father died and they lost the farm so he struck out to find his way in the music business. Like practically all young, aspiring entertainers, he gigged around anywhere he could just to have a place to play and sing and, hopefully, to make a buck or two. He hooked up with Pee Wee King’s band as lead singer and, in 1943, joined the Opry as a solo performer. But, being a farmer who didn’t like fences, Eddy felt the Opry’s rules and regulations were too restrictive and he left them after five years so he could reach a wider audience. He would also be able to keep the percentage of earnings the Opry demanded. Being a self-proclaimed "tight wad," it didn’t sit well with Arnold for somebody’s hand to be in his pocket unless they were really doing him some good. By that time, the Opry was holding him back more than helping and it was time for the rooster to fly the coop.
Someone who did do Arnold some good was Col. Tom Parker, who later managed
Elvis Presley. During their eight-year alliance, Parker’s deft hand guided the career of the Tennessee Plowboy to new heights. In 1952, Eddie became host of his own TV show, "Eddy Arnold Time." He was the first country entertainer to do so and the show had a four year run and was carried by ABC, CBS and NBC. He was a man of many "firsts." First to have nine songs in the top 10 in the same year. That was in 1948. The most consecutive top 10 charters, 67 of ‘em. And the most singles (92) to reach the top ten. He, in fact, spent a phenomenal 145 weeks of his illustrious career in the number 1 slot. He outsold everybody except
Elvis and the Beatles and was only recently eclipsed in the country market by the dynamo entrepreneur, Garth Brooks.
If you wanted to put together a songbook of the greatest ballads of all time, you wouldn’t need to look much beyond the songs of
Eddy Arnold. Such memories come flooding back with just the mention of such titles as "Bouquet Of Roses," "Just A Little Lovin’ (Will Go A Long Way)," "Anytime" and "Make The World Go Away." From the flattop and steel guitars and western clothing of his early years to the tuxedos, orchestras with string sections and choruses of his prime,
Eddy Arnold endeared himself to millions of fans all over the world for the easy way he sang a song and for the true gentleman he always presented himself to be. Now in retirement, he continues to be ever the gentleman and remains the Ambassador of Country Music.
Cal Adams
If the
Tennessee Plowboy had plowed furrows as smooth as the songs he sang, he could have been growing creamed corn. With a voice unlike any other and an easy, gentle manner,
Eddy Arnold
easily crossed musical bridges and opened the doors of polite society to the sounds of what was previously considered uncouth hillbilly music.
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