Rachael Goodson
Music of Appalachia
October 26, 2017
Dr. McCollough
Roy Acuff “Don't be a blueprint. Be an original.” This quote by Roy Acuff himself describes what he was, he paved the way for future country artists as well as radio itself. Roy Acuff is one of the most influential people when it comes to shaping what is known today as country music. Especially when it comes to music in Tennessee, his home state. Roy Acuff did not always want to be a musician, but he considers himself lucky to have become one. Roy Acuff was born on September 15, 1903 in Union County in Tennessee to Ida and Simon E. Neill Acuff, the third of their five children. School did not appeal to him in the early years he was frequently in trouble even though he showed some interest in poetry. In 1919, the family moved to Fountain City, and he attended Central High School. He left school and developed a reputation as a fighter which landed him in court quite a few times. He was on the track to become a professional baseball player until he suffered a sunstroke and had a nervous breakdown. He was bedridden for many months, this is when he learned to play the fiddle.
“In 1931, Acuff …show more content…
“After a stint developing his performance skills and showmanship as a singer and fiddler with a medicine show, Acuff recruited a group of local musicians and landed a program on Knoxville’s WROL radio station. In 1936 a talent scout for the American Record Corporation heard Acuff singing “The Great Speckled Bird” and signed him to a recording contract.” “The Great Speckled Bird” is arguably Roy Acuff’s most well-known song with it being what got him signed to a record company. The recording listened to was at the Grand Ole Opry in 1940 with his current band Roy Acuff And The Smoky Mountain Boys. The song is actually a southern hymn that was written by a reverend based off of Jerimiah
Music of Appalachia
October 26, 2017
Dr. McCollough
Roy Acuff “Don't be a blueprint. Be an original.” This quote by Roy Acuff himself describes what he was, he paved the way for future country artists as well as radio itself. Roy Acuff is one of the most influential people when it comes to shaping what is known today as country music. Especially when it comes to music in Tennessee, his home state. Roy Acuff did not always want to be a musician, but he considers himself lucky to have become one. Roy Acuff was born on September 15, 1903 in Union County in Tennessee to Ida and Simon E. Neill Acuff, the third of their five children. School did not appeal to him in the early years he was frequently in trouble even though he showed some interest in poetry. In 1919, the family moved to Fountain City, and he attended Central High School. He left school and developed a reputation as a fighter which landed him in court quite a few times. He was on the track to become a professional baseball player until he suffered a sunstroke and had a nervous breakdown. He was bedridden for many months, this is when he learned to play the fiddle.
“In 1931, Acuff …show more content…
“After a stint developing his performance skills and showmanship as a singer and fiddler with a medicine show, Acuff recruited a group of local musicians and landed a program on Knoxville’s WROL radio station. In 1936 a talent scout for the American Record Corporation heard Acuff singing “The Great Speckled Bird” and signed him to a recording contract.” “The Great Speckled Bird” is arguably Roy Acuff’s most well-known song with it being what got him signed to a record company. The recording listened to was at the Grand Ole Opry in 1940 with his current band Roy Acuff And The Smoky Mountain Boys. The song is actually a southern hymn that was written by a reverend based off of Jerimiah