This month, I’ll step away just a bit from strictly southern gospel to tell the story and highlight the accomplishments of a man who did as much as anyone to bring Christian music to the forefront of popular culture.
Ford’s story begins on February 13, 1919 in Bristol, Tennessee, where he was born to a family that was not unlike many other families in that part of Tennessee…one that went to church twice on Sunday, and probably many more times during the week. Young Ernest Jennings Ford grew up singing from his earliest recollections, and he developed skills on various musical instruments as well in his youth. He also grew up in the infancy of radio, and since he was gifted with a naturally big, expressive voice, sought a career in the fledgling medium.
He found work as an announcer in his hometown of Bristol at station WOPI, where he read news and made other announcements for the station. Then in 1939, when he turned 20, the young Ford attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he studied classical music as well as voice. Clearly, the youngster had plans on using his voice in a big way...although no one could realize what was in store in that regard for young Ernie Ford.
When World War II came, Ford, like many other young men his age, opted to serve his country in the war effort…and 1st Lieutenant Ford served as the bombardier on a B-29 Superfortress flying missions over Japan.
After the war, Ford moved to California and resumed his radio career, hosting an early morning country music radio show over station KFXM in San Bernardino. Then, as now, disc jockeys used gimmicks to stand out from their competition, and Ford’s was a character he created called “Tennessee Ernie”, a caricature of a hillbilly. It was on that show, known as the “Bar Nothin’ Ranch”, that Ford first became known as “Tennessee Ernie”, and the nickname stuck with him for the rest of his life.
Ford’s show became popular, and as a result, he was hired away to do the same show for a much larger station, Pasadena’s KXLA. There he met Cliff Stone, a popular personality in the area who hosted a show called “Dinner Bell Roundup”, and joined the cast of that show as a singer, while continuing his morning show there. He also joined the cast of Stone’s “Hometown Jamboree” western TV show. As luck (or providence) would have it, Stone was also a part-time talent scout for the young Capitol record label, and Stone brought Ford to Capitol’s attention. In 1949, while still doing the KXLA morning show, Ford signed a contract with Capitol Records, beginning a 37-year association with the label.
Right away, Ford proved to be a hitmaker for Capitol. His first record for them, a cover of Frankie Laine’s huge pop hit “Mule Train”, got his record career off to a flying start. Many of his next few singles were hard-driving western boogie tunes, such as “Anticipation Blues”, “Shotgun Boogie”, and “Blackberry Boogie”, backed by the Hometown Jamboree Band which included guitarist Jimmy Bryant and steel guitarist Speedy West, and sometimes Capitol artist Merle Travis. Ford showed his versatility early by teaming up with fellow Capitol artist Kay Starr for a huge pop crossover hit in 1950, “I’ll Never Be Free”.
Eventually, Ford was able to quit his morning radio show and concentrate on recording. In 1953, he left the Hometown Jamboree show to take over for famed bandleader Kay Kyser on NBC’s revival of the latter’s quiz show, “Kollege of Musical Knowledge”. Ford also guested on a few episodes of “I Love Lucy” as country bumpkin “Cousin Ernie”.
In 1955, Ford’s career would take another major turn. He recorded a version of Travis’ coal-miner’s lament “Sixteen Tons”. It shot to the top of the charts quickly, becoming #1 on the pop charts for eight straight weeks. The song became one of the biggest selling singles in recorded history, and cemented Ford as a national singing star. “Sixteen Tons” became Ford’s “sugar stick”, to borrow a gospel music phrase.
Ford kept making hits and records for Capitol…interesting albums like “This Lusty Land”, a collection of historical American songs. And still, amidst all that, he continued to make records of hymns and Christian songs, all of which were well received, and over time, he became known primarily for those recordings, and not so much his secular material from the past.
No album Ford made was more indicative of where his first musical love lay than “Great Gospel Songs”, a 1964 album he recorded with the Jordanaires and veteran gospel quartet pianist Boyce Hawkins. The album was the closest thing Ford made to a gospel music album…all 12 songs being southern gospel standards and done in a straightforward gospel quartet style. Ford even sang the bass parts when he wasn’t singing the melody lines. The album was another Ford million seller, but in addition, it earned Ford a Grammy for the Best Inspirational Recording of 1964. The album remains a gospel music classic o this day(I’m listening to it as I writethis portion of the article).
1965 saw Ford’s last top ten single, “Hicktown”…and the end of his daytime TV show, though he would continue to be a TV staple, appearing as a guest on many shows in subsequent years. And he continued to sing songs of faith and inspiration everywhere he appeared.
Ford remained solidly identified with gospel music…in 1978, he recorded another album with the Jordanaires for Word…and he hosted a pair of gospel music specials for PBS fund drives, called “The Great American Gospel Sound”, which featured Ford and a number of his singing friends performing gospel music, including the Jordanaires and the Happy Goodman Family. Those shows resembled the Gaither Homecoming videos of years later. As Ford predated the likes of Oprah Winfrey with his daytime talk show in 1962, he predated Gaither some twenty years later with his own specials.
Ford was also honored in other ways…he has been bestowed with three stars on Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame. In 1984, he was given the highest honor awarded to an American civilian when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then President Reagan, and in 1990, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Sadly though, Ford encountered liver problems in the 1980s which curtailed
his activity. Those problems culminated when he fell ill at a State dinner at the White House hosted by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, and died after a
hospital stay on October 17, 1991...exactly 36 years after “Sixteen Tons” was first
released, and just one day shy of the one-year anniversary of his induction into the
Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Gospel Music Association belatedly rewarded Ford for his contributions to gospel music by posthumously inducting him into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1994.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 02/01/2007
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Category: SG History 101
Comments: 17
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Apparently I forgot to include one important fact with regard to Ernie Ford when I wrote the article...that being the fact that not only did Ford sell some 80 million records for Capitol, he sold about 40 million for his various recordings of Christian music, all bolstering the idea that Ford popularized hymns and gospel music to arguably more people that any other recording artist.
It's a measure of the kind of man and Christian witness that Ford was that he insisted on recording as many hymns and gospel songs as he could, as well as before his large radio and TV audiences. He certainly didn't sing those songs because he had to, he did because he WANTED to...because he loved the music and its message that much.
Morning glory and evening grace,
Giving the world a smile each day,
john.sogospelnews.com
Thanks John, it warmed my heart to read about a gospel singer I grew to love in my early childhood.
Good article about a man that I loved early in my life. I still remember listening to "Sixteen Tons" when I was in the seventh grade, living only 100 miles or so from Tennesse Ernie's home town.
Once again John, great article about a man who is a pillar of our culture. Thanks.
"Tennis Shoe" Ernie Ford, as Don Baldwin often called him, was heard singing "Sixteen Tons" in every nook and cranny of our culture. It was an inescapable hit that had everyone singing along. Today's young people have no hit of its magnitude for comparison. Considering the size of the media, the US total population and the impact of the entertainment industry of the time, no one today has a hit like "Sixteen Tons".
One other correction in my article I must make(before someone else does first)...
"Mule Train" was not Ford's first single, nor even his first hit single. His first single was 1949's "Milk 'Em In The Mornin' Blues"...and his first hit single was his third single, "Smoky Mountain Boogie", also released in 1949. "Mule Train" was his first pop hit, and his eighth single.
Hope you all still liked the article anyway.
Morning glory and evening grace,
Giving the world a smile each day,
john.sogospelnews.com
1963 I was staying with my sister and enjoyed to listen to her record by Tennesse Ernie Ford. Hymns so beautiful and what a voice this man had! Last month in a thrift store I was surprised to see the very same picture I had seen on this record on a cassette! The songs he sang 51 years ago on that record now feel my heart with joy again, as I play it in my car. God certainly blessed him to bless so many.
Hi John,
I wonder if any of those television specials that included the Jordanaires & Happy Goodmans are available to purchase today?
I wish I knew! I also loved the Happy Goodmans and was delighted to hear them in person twice in my life. Maybe contacting educational television would get them to make some cd's and cassettes to sell on their program. Surely that was GREAT gospel music.
I was thrilled to see John include those shows for PBS, "That Great American Gospel Sound." I remember seeing both episodes when I was a kid. I think they aired in 1978 and 1980.
I actually have the first episode (I found in a video store several years ago, and bought it off the store). The Goodmans do "I Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey", "I Believe He's Coming Back" and TEF joins them on "John the Revelator" (which he also fumbles over the second verse. I have tried to find a copy of the second one, which rumor has was the final appearance by the Goodmans with Howard and Vestal. They resigned the group after they taped the special.
If anyone has a copy of that second episode, I'd love a copy of it. I remember them doing "We're Almost Home" and "O Say But I'm Glad."
Both videos are available over at Amazon.com
"Bless your little pea-pickin heart" I believe was a familiar quote from TEF. Yes, as a child visiting a cousin in Memphis TN. around 1961 or so, I heard "Sixteen Tons". What a smooth voice! As stated earlier by others, his impact and talent is very rarely matched in our society. To think that he did such a great job before the modern day gimmicks of "stacking vocals", computerized instrumentation, etc. boggles the mind. I guess what I apprecate most is his "down-home" presentation of himself, quite differrent from modern day egotistical maniacs. This is an American legend that I hope will last forever!
Ernie Ford was one of the great baritones of his time. His deep commitment to family and his Lord showed in his music and his life. Ernie had such a great spirit about him, and he was a natural comic. What fun we all had watching him during the 50's. I was in high school when his show was such a success. How I wish life and television was now as it was then.
My Momma's favorite...'nuff said!
Paul Jackson / The Prophets
http://www.pauljacksongroup.com/blog
I am looking for the record "This Old House" I don't remember who sang it. Can you help me out?
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