Country, Western & Gospel Music

A History And Encyclopedia Of Composers, Artists & Songs

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	Hayride, Shreveport, La., 1953-4; Ed Sullivan, CBS-TV, 1956; Steve Allen Show, 1956; Milton Berle Show, NBC-TV, 1956; and toured U. S. with Elvis Presley, 1954-7. Formerly played with Gene Vincent, Jim Reeves, and Lefty Frizzell. Co-writer of Let Me Carry Your Books and Winter Vacation, 1958. Movies: Loving You, Para­mount, 1957; Jailhouse Rock, MGM, 1957; and King Creole, Paramount, 1958. Address: 3629 Penick Street, Shreveport, Louisiana. Ford, Benny F. "Whitey," "The Duke of Paducah." b. 5/12/ 01, De Soto, Mo. Entertainment experience: KTHS, Hot Springs, Ark., 1924; Orchestra leader, Ark. Travel­ers; Okla. Cowboys, with Otto Gray, Owen Gray, and Momie Gray; M. C. for Gene Autry; NBC Plantation Party, Cincinnati, Ohio, for 9 years; St. Louis, Mo., 1937; WLW, Cincinnati, Ohio; Renfro Valley Barn Dance, Renfro Valley, Ky.; Also on WSM Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tenn.; WLAC-TV, Nashville, Tenn.; and Ring­master for his circus, 1960—. Business enterprises: Poul­try Farm, Brentwood, Tenn.; and Owner of 3-Ring Circus, U. S. A. Address: Box 8, Brentwood, Tennessee. Ford, Ernest Jennings, "Tennessee Ernie Ford." b. 2/13/19, Fordtown, Tenn.; w. Betty Jean Heminger; s. Jeffery Buckner, 10; and Brion Leonard, 7. Schools attended: Elem. Sch., Bristol, Tenn.; high sch., Bristol, Tenn., 1937; Va. Intermont College, Bristol, Va., 1937; Cincin­nati Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1939. Ra­dio announcer before World War II. Entertainment ex­perience: WOPI, Bristol, Tenn., 1937; WATL, Atlanta, Ga., 1939; WNOX, Knoxville, Tenn., -41; KFXM, San Bernardino, Calif., 1945; KXLA Hometown Jamboree, Pasadena, Calif., 1948; College of Musical Knowledge, NBC-TV, 1953; ABC Radio, 1952; CBS Radio, 1953; I Love Lucy, CBS-TV, 1954; Daytime Show, NBC-TV, 1955; Ford Show, NBC-TV, 1956. Records for Capitol Records (since 1949). Albums: Tenn. Ernie Ford Spirituals; Tenn. Ernie Ford Hymns; This Lusty Land; Sixteen Tons, 1955; A Friend We Have, with the Jordan-air es; Gather Around; Nearer the Cross; Sing a Hymn with Me; etc. Songs recorded: Sixteen Tons; Shot-Gun Boogie; The Cry of the Wild Goose; Mule Train; I'll
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