2007

SG History 101 - Stuart Hamblin

This month, as last month, I want to examine the career of an artist on the borderline of the gospel music tradition we have all come to embrace. In this way, we can see the relationship between gospel music and other genres of music, and see that the various genres of music are more interrelated than we might first imagine.

The featured artist this month, like “Tennessee” Ernie Ford last month, first became famous as a star in the secular entertainment industry. But like Ford, once this artist realized the nature of his calling, the kind of music he became identified with was a bit different than the kind that first made him famous.

This month, we take a look at the work of a man who no less an authority on songwriting than Bill Gaither called “one of the outstanding lyricists” among songwriters…famed country performer, bandleader, erstwhile movie star and radio personality Stuart Hamblen, writer of some of the most outstanding songs in the history of gospel music.

Carl Stuart Hamblen was born October 20, 1908 in Kellyville, Texas to an itinerant Methodist preacher. Young Stuart spend most of his childhood traveling as his father’s work decreed, but as a boy he was exposed to the music and folklore of the black field hands and the cowboys working on the farms and ranches of the region. Stuart thus grew up in the authentic Western cowboy tradition, learning to ride, rope, and sing working the rodeos. It wasn’t long before music became his passion. Hamblen interrupted his education at the age of 18 to become arguably radio’s first “singing cowboy” on KAYO radio in Abilene. Three years later, Hamblen won a talent contest in Dallas and in so doing, earned an audition with the Victor Recording Company(later RCA Victor), and cut four sides for the label that year. Soon, Hamblen headed west for California, landing a job on powerful Los Angeles radio station KFI as “Cowboy Joe”, possibly the first radio cowboy ever to air in Los Angeles.

In 1930, Hamblen joined the “Beverly Hillbillies” (not to be confused with the much-later TV show), a Western singing group that at that time was a close rival of the Sons of the Pioneers. In 1931, Hamblen organized his own Western band, a group that included famous singing cowgirl Patsy Montana, and that group (under various names) was the focus of a radio program on station KFWB that would be a popular show for the next two decades. Along the way, he met and married Suzy Obee…they would go on to have two daughters and a very colorful marriage for the next 55
years.

Hamblen signed in 1934 with a brand new label, Decca Records, and his first record for the company, “Texas Plains”/”Poor Unlucky Cowboy” was only the second record the label issued. Those original songs would become Western classics, and it would begin a recording career that would ensure Hamblen recognition as one of the top country/western singer/songwriters of his day. Eventually he would make records for Columbia, RCA, and Coral.

About that same time Hamblen embarked on a movie career, appearing in a number of Western movies usually cast as a villain alongside stars such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and John Wayne. He also began breeding thoroughbred racehorses as well. In 1945, he became the first person to fly a horse to a race when he sent his prize racer, El Lobo, from Los Angeles to Bay Meadows (near San Francisco) for a race. After winning, El Lobo was flown back home the very same day.

Hamblen, like many others in the acting profession, began to cultivate a wild lifestyle, getting into drinking binges and occasionally landing in jail as a result. It didn’t seem to slow his career down much initially, indeed, two of his most famous original songs of the period (and needless to say, hits) were “I Won’t Go Hunting With You,Jake (But I’ll be Chasing Women)”, and “Remember Me (I’m the One Who Loves You), the latter recorded by artists such as Dean Martin and Johnny Cash.

In the late 1940s, Hamblen’s wife Suzy introduced her husband to a young up and coming evangelist, Billy Graham. Graham’s famous tent revival campaign, which would help make him famous, was being held in downtown Los Angeles. Graham’s preaching convicted Hamblen, who came on his radio program the following day and announced he was giving up drinking and gambling, selling his racehorses, and giving the rest of his life to Christ.

Almost immediately, Hamblen tried writing gospel songs…and although he was satisfied and happy with his change in direction, his career hit a snag. After starting up a radio program called the “Cowboy Church of the Air” in 1951, which was syndicated nationwide, Hamblen refused to do a beer commercial that the show’s sponsors wanted him to do, and for the first time in nearly 25 years, Hamblen had no radio program.

That incident led a political party called the Prohibition Party to ask Hamblen to run for President on their ticket in 1952. Hamblen ran a distant fourth to eventual President Dwight D. Eisenhower, but in so doing convinced many of the strength of his new-found convictions.

Just before all that, though, Hamblen’s friend John Wayne addressed him at a party, and asked Hamblen point blank, “You’ve had it tough ever since you got religion, haven’t you?” Hamblen answered, “Yes.”

Wayne followed with, “Do you have any regrets about doing that?” and Hamblen answered with a firm, “NO”.

Wayne then reportedly said, “It’s still hard to believe that you would be doing this (practicing Christianity).” To which Hamblen is reported to have replied, “Well, it’s no secret what God can do.”

This stopped Wayne in his tracks and made him think. A bit later, he came back up to Hamblen and said, “You know, that sounds like a good idea for a song.”

Thus, perhaps Hamblen’s most famous song, “It Is No Secret” was born. It became the first religious song to cross over onto the pop charts and become a national hit. Not only for Hamblen, but artists such as Red Foley (backed by the Andrews Sisters), Jo Stafford, Bill Kenny and the Song Spinners, and a young Elvis Presley all charted with the song. It was instrumental in starting a trend of the 1950s of songs with a spiritual bent becoming hits, such as "“I Believe” and “He” in addition to “It Is No Secret”. Needless to say, those songs also found their way into the repertoires of the top gospel singers of the day as well, and for years beyond.

A brace of gospel material followed from the pen of Hamblen…songs such as “His Hands”, “He Bought My Soul At Calvary”, “Until Then”, “Open Up Your Heart”, “How Big Is God”, "Teach Me Lord To Wait" and “Known Only To Him”, all of which are known today as classic gospel songs. In so doing, Hamblen, like Ernie Ford, became known primarily for his gospel work from that point on.

Even his huge pop hit of 1954, “This Ole House” (made a #1 hit by Rosemary Clooney) became a standard of gospel singers. The Statesmen sang that song en route to victory that year on CBS’ “Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts” TV program. And nearly three decades later, the Cathedral Quartet’s version of the song became one of the most popular songs featuring their popular bass singer, George Younce.

So Hamblen became a major contributor to gospel music history with his classic original songs. He would remain a wellspring that gospel singers would tap into for material for many years.

In subsequent years, Hamblen and his wife were featured on TV, toured prisons, reformatories, and youth organizations, and continued to appear as part of Billy Graham’s crusades. His “Cowboy Church of the Air” returned in 1971, this time originating from the Hamblens’ ranch in Southern California. In addition, the Hamblens began raising prize-winning Peruvian Paso horses, which were often featured in national horse shows, and in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Hamblen was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1970, and in 1972 the Academy of Country and Western Music gave him their Pioneer Award for being the first “singing Country and Western Cowboy in the history of broadcasting”.

And the honors kept coming…the Gene Autry Award in 1974 for the enrichment of America’s western musical heritage, and a star on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. On February 13, 1976, the City of Los Angeles proclaimed it “Stuart Hamblen Day”. In 1988, Hamblen received a Golden Boot Award…in 1994, he was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and he was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

Early in 1989, Hamblen underwent surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor, and he died a month after that delicate surgery on March 8, 1989. Hamblen was survived by Suzy, his wife of 55 years (who has since appeared on occasion on the Gaither Homecoming Specials), 10 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

And of course, he is survived by his 225 or so songs he wrote, spanning the western, pop, and gospel genres…three areas of music history he was a primary contributor to.

Stuart Hamblen is a major contributor to the history of southern-style gospel music, and the enduring popularity of the songs he contributed to the genre are proof of his immense stature and continuing influence therein.

SG History 101 - Tennessee Ernie Ford

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.

For the world famous entertainer known as “Tennessee” Ernie Ford sold over 40 million records of Christian music over a career than spanned almost 40 years…and in so doing, undoubtedly reached more people with the gospel in music than almost any other recording artist.

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.

The song’s success convinced NBC to make Ford the host of a primetime variety program, “The Ford Show”, not named for Ernie, but instead for the show’s sponsor, Ford Motor Company. In an effort to make the show distinctive, and also reflect Ford’s upbringing and heritage, the singer insisted on closing the show each week with a hymn or inspirational song. This provoked a negative reactionat first from the network, for they feared controversy over expressing religious sentiment on a national TV show. But Ford was adamant, and the hymn segment not only remained, it became the most popular portion of the show. Viewers were warmed and inspired by Ford’s heartfelt renditions of songs most all of them knew from their own childhoods. They were further charmed by Ford’s straightforward, unpretentious personality.

Closing hymns was a tried and true tradition of country music shows, but for some reason, major network TV and radio networks tended to avoid or shy away from such overt expressions of faith by their performers. But Ford was a man who could never forget his Tennessee roots, or all the gospel sings he attended as a youngster. And he correctly sensed that most of his audience felt the same way, so millions of viewers looked forward to the show’s closing hymn each week, not only because they were inspired by it, but they also enjoyed Ford’s way with such songs.In 1956, Ford took the unusual step for a popular mainstream entertainer of releasing a complete LP of Christian songs. Titled simply “Hymns”, the album was an immediate best seller, staying on the Billboard Magazine Album Charts for an incredible 277 straight weeks! (That’s over five years!) It remains one of the biggest selling albums of all time, and was the very first record of Christian songs to achieve “Gold Record” status. The success of “Hymns” foreshadowed the direction of Ford’s recording career in subsequent years.

Ford took another unusual step at the end of the 1961 television season. Tiring of the routine involved in a weekly TV show, he decided to stop doing the “Ford Show”, opting instead to move his family to Northern California and host a local morning talk show for ABC, which he did from 1962 to 1965. This despite multiple offers from NBC to continue that show for a hefty raise in pay. Ford, though, didn’t care about nor need the money; the quality of life he would lead with his family washis utmost concern. So Ford turned his back on the glitz and glamour of primetimefame, and settled down into a lifestyle that he felt was right and proper for he and his family.

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.

“Tennessee” Ernie Ford will doubtless go down in history as one of the premier  American entertainers of the second half of the 20th Century…but for fans of gospel music, he will be remembered for insisting on closing his TV shows with hymns every week for years, and for taking hymns and gospel songs before more Americans than just about any other singer in any other genre. Ernest Jennings Ford had a song to sing, and he sang it loud and long…for his friends and family, and foreveryone. He’ll always be a pivotal figure in the history of gospel music in America, and the world.