He was married for almost 50 years to Betty Heminger, who died in the late 1980s. Ford, who died Thursday at age 72, was given a military funeral with an honor guard in Palo Alto, Calif. Friends and colleagues praised Ford's rich baritone and his loyalty, honesty, patriotism and "homespun philosophy. And all of these activities serve to illustrate Ford's extraordinary range as a singer and performer, of music and comedy, and an appeal that cut across regional and cultural -- and even national -- lines. The musical variety program was a staple of the NBC schedule until 1961. Tennessee Ernie Fords lifetime: Thursday, February 13th, 1919 to Thursday, October 17th, 1991, was 26,544 days, equaling 3,792 weeks exactly. See the article in its original context from. In high school he sang in school stage productions and in a glee club, and he spent so much of his spare time at the local radio station, WOPI, that after his high school graduation in 1937 he was hired as a disc jockey. Birth. Ford's program was notable for the inclusion of a religious song at the end of every show, a tradition he recalled during his days as a cast member on Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree live radio and TV show. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. His unprecedented achievements earned him numerous accolades, including:three stars in The Hollywood Walk of Fame--for Radio, RecordsandTelevision. Survivors include his wife, Beverly Ford, and two sons of his first marriage, Jeffrey Bucknew Ford and Brion Ford. Ford died in H. C. A. Reston Hospital Center, in Reston, Virginia, on October 17. His first album of inspirational music, entitled simply, "Hymns" -released in 1956- remained on Billboard magazine's Top Pop Albums chart an unbelievable277 consecutive weeks. All rights reserved. He moved around the country in the year leading up to America's entry into World War II, holding announcer jobs in Atlanta, Georgia, and Knoxville, TN. There was an error deleting this problem. Tennessee Ernie Ford A Sad Life by Dennis Pollock Most young people today would have no idea who Tennessee Ernie Ford was or what he did. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. In November of 1963 -seven years after its release-Hymnswas recognized by the label's Alan Livingston, as the largest-selling LP ever recorded by a Capitol artist. HOMETOWN Bristol, TN, United States of America BORN February 13, 1919 Similar Artists Roger Wagner Chorale Jimmy Dean : Ernest Jennings Ford. Love is not easily put into words, and she was the "Love" of our lives! Ramona Chapman. RESTON, Va. - Tennessee Ernie Ford, whose bass voice boomed out on the multimillion-selling record "Sixteen Tons" and on his TV variety show spanning two decades, died today after a long illness. [1][2] Ford was interred at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, California. He began working with Cliffie Stone's son Steve Stone early in that decade, which led to a revival of his presence on the sales charts with Country Morning, released in 1973, which yielded a brace of new singles including one hit, "Printers Alley Stars." He became popular in the area and was soon hired away by Pasadena's KXLA radio. But today, Tennessee Ernie Ford remains one of the most popular and beloved entertainersAmericaand the world have ever known. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This is a carousel with slides. Dirty Linen: "After more than 40 years, these albums remain as fitting testaments to the music of that pivotal time in American history. Find similar music that you'll enjoy, only at Last.fm. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. His last interview was taped on September 23, 1991, by his long-time friend Dinah Shore for her TV show, and was later aired on December 4 that year. A native of Savannah, Ga., he was a graduate of Savannah State College and did graduate work at Yale and Howard universities. Weve updated the security on the site. Brion Leonard Ford, youngest son of Bristol, Tenn., native and country music legend Tennessee Ernie Ford, died Friday at his home in White House, Tenn., of lung cancer at age 56. As a young woman, she danced with the Washington Ballet and other companies and toured the country as part of a dance act called Janne and Anthony. Brion was full of mischief., There was an indefatigable sense of life in Brion, Buck Ford said. He graduated from George Mason University. After that, his work consisted primarily of recordings, touring and occasional television specials and guest appearances. ", His biggest hit, "16 Tons," sold two million copies within nine weeks, and ultimately sold more than 20 million records worldwide. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Drag images here or select from your computer for Ernie Tennessee Ernie Ford memorial. By 1939, he'd moved to Cincinnati, OH, and was studying at that city's Conservatory of Music. Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee, USA. These performances only helped him maintain and broaden crossover appeal, and at the same time he was a downright ubiquitous figure on country music variety shows of the period, including the Old American Barn Dance. Make sure that the file is a photo. The Tennessee Ernie Show (The 1953 Radio Shows), Volume Two. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. However, he moved to a different location in 1939 to study music at the Cincinnati . Tennessee Ernie Ford also appears in this compilation Tracks of Disc 1 1. Ford had a successful career in the 1950s and 1960s, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Ford, who died Thursday at age 72, was given a military. I Love Lucy. He possessed a tremendous amount of emotion and range as a singer.. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. We wish we could extend a happy birthday wish to him, but it's been more than 20 years since he died at age 72. Today,forty seven yearsafter his now-legendary 1954 national debut onI Love Lucy,Cousin Ernieremains one of classic television's most enduring characters. Failed to delete memorial. She said when he would return to Bristol, he often brought his two sons along. He returned for the announcing job in 1939 and did it from 1939 to 1941 in stations from Atlanta to Knoxville. Tennessee Ernie Ford, a radio DJ turned country singer turned TV star, ended all his shows with a hymn. Geni requires JavaScript! Sixteen Tons (15 tracks), currently priced at $14.07 with free shipping offers three new tracks, Catfish Boogie, PHILADELPHIA LAWYER and Everybody's Got A Girl But Me. All I Have To Do Is Dream 7. 3 Copy quote. Ford sold more than 24 million gospel music albums. In 1938, the young bass-baritone left the station and went to study classical music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio. For the time, it was a bold and powerful statement for a popular entertainer of Ford's stature to be making on live television, especially in the face of the initial objections from Madison Avenue and the network. TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD, COUNTRY SINGER, DIES By Bart Barnes October 18, 1991 Tennessee Ernie Ford, 72, the country and western singer who was best known for his recordings of gospel hymns and. Cliffie Stone, a part-time talent scout for Capitol Records, brought him to the attention of the label. Tennessee Ernie Ford Ernest Jennings Ford :: a biography Born Ernest Jennings Ford on February 13th, 1919 in Bristol, Tennessee, Tennessee Ernie Ford has made an indelible impact on America and the world through his unparalleled accomplishments in radio, records and television. Jesus welcomed Ramona Chapman into his arms Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. Tennessee Ernie Ford. Throughout his legendary careerspanning over 50 years, Ernie Ford's early successes as a radio personality led to his signing with Capitol Records in 1949. Survivors include a sister, Grace M. Griffin of Silver Spring. 1959. He retired in 1979. Brion Ford was born Sept. 3, 1952, in San Gabriel, Calif. His brother said he was strong of voice and character traits inherited from his father. Indiana State Police said he suffered a heart attack and that his car went off the road and down an embankment, striking a clump of trees. In 1939, he left the station to pursue classical music and voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio. CD: $9.62. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? From 1956 to 1965 he was a primetime network television host, making "Bless your little pea-pickin' hearts" a household catch phrase and providing powerful exposure for Ford's increasingly middle-of-the-road music. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. He also owned a cattle ranch in California. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. On behalf of everyone from the Ford family, I want to tell everyone in Bristol that the people in Bristol and the city of Bristol meant so much to Brion, Buck Ford said. One year later, on Thursday night,October 4th, 1956, the result of that search aired coast-to-coast with the network's broadcast premiere ofThe Ford Show StarringTennesseeErnie Ford. Earlier he was a retail manager for Giant Food, a distribution clerk for the Postal Service and a building supervisor for the Fairfax County Department of Recreation. Make Room for Daddy. Add to your scrapbook. Listen to Sixteen Tons, Union Dixie and more from Tennessee Ernie Ford. Ford was born in Bristol, Tennessee, United States,[1] to Maud (ne Long) and Clarence Thomas Ford. It was a catchy, soft-rock arrangement of a song about the hardships of life in the coal mines, written by Merle Travis in 1947. Mr. Moore retired from the DEA in 1987 after 18 years with that agency's mid-Atlantic regional laboratory. Man in the Saddle. What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? He recorded more than 80 albums during his singing career and sold more than 24 million albums of his gospel music. Oh Lord, yes, Bibee said. By that time the quality of his country albums had become uneven and none of his releases were selling well. He became popular in the area and was soon hired away by Pasadena's KXLA radio. He can be reached at features@bristolnews.com. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Son of Clarence Thomas Ford and Maud Lee Ford [6], He released almost 50 country singles through the early 1950s, several of which made the Billboard charts. "Americais a nation richer in spirit because ofTennesseeErnie Ford", 2020by TEF Enterprises, LP. He is preceded in death by: his Father, Franklin D. Ford; two. Within nine weeks of its release, two million recordings of "Sixteen Tons," had been sold, and it topped the popularity charts throughout the spring of 1956. [3] He was also a bombing instructor at George Air Force Base, in Victorville, California. By the 1970s, however, it had begun to take an increasing toll on his health, appearance and ability to sing, though his problems were not known publicly. I tell you, I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rockers! RAMONA CHAPMAN OBITUARY. He was born in Bristol, Tennessee, sang in the school choirs and played the trombone in the band. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Tennessee Ernie Ford first charted in 1949. Beverly Wood and Tennessee Ernie Ford were married for 2 years before Tennessee Ernie Ford died aged 72.. About. You can always change this later in your Account settings. In 1937 he began his career at WOPI Radio in Bristol. Try again later. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. To differentiate himself, he created the personality of "Tennessee Ernie," a wild, madcap exaggerated hillbilly. Born Ernest Jennings Fordon February 13th, 1919 in Bristol, Tennessee, Tennessee Ernie Ford has made an indelible impact on America and the world through his unparalleled accomplishments in radio, records and television. Tennessee Ernie Ford Song list Just As I Am, Without One Plea (1835) Sixteen Tons (1955) More Songfacts: Station to Station David Bowie David Bowie's "Station to Station" is over 10 minutes long. Ford would have turned 94 years old today. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Alta Mesa Memorial Park. "Tennessee Ernie Ford"Beloved Husband of Beverly, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Beardstown. After his discharge from the service in 1946 he went to live in San Bernardino, California and landed an announcer's job with KXLA in Pasadena. Welcome to E.H. Ford Mortuary, proudly serving the Memphis, Tennessee area. As prime-time's # 1 half-hour variety showfor five years,The Ford Showfeatured all the ingredients of the top variety shows of the day; Hollywood's greatest guest stars, top-of-the-line production, and terrific music. Composer, singer and author, educated at the Cincinnati Conservatory. Dec 10, 2015 - His best selling album to date from the Grammy winner. The song's authorship is attributed to Travis by, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters, "Tennessee Ernie Ford Dies at 72; Folksy Singer Recorded '16 Tons', "On 'Portrait Of An American Singer,' Tennessee Ernie Ford's Early Songs Shine", "Show 2 Play A Simple Melody: American pop music in the early 1950s [Part 2]", "Tennessee Ernie Ford: Country Music Star Turned Multi-Media Success Story", "Tennessee Ernie's Last Interview Will Be Broadcast Dec. 4", "Tennessee Ernie Ford's Overwhelming Success Led to His Later Downfall, Son Says", Sixteen Tons The Story Behind the Legend, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tennessee_Ernie_Ford&oldid=1131280001, United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II, Television personalities from Los Angeles, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Farther Down the River (Where the Fishin's Good)", "The Devil Ain't a Lonely Woman's Friend", This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 11:52. Ernest Jennings Ford. 1951 Sixteen Tons 12 1955 Rock. At KFXM, in San Bernardino, Ford was hired as a radio announcer. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. (Did You Ever Get) That Feeling In The Moonlight? That little one, he was the one you had to watch. 0 cemeteries found in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, USA. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. You could sense Jeffrey Buckner Buck Ford smiling through the phone Monday from nearly 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles at the mention of his little brother, Brion. Ford has been awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for radio, records and television. Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Helen V. Doney of Beltsville; three children, Richard T. Doney of Columbia, Clair Cahill of Downingtown, Pa., and Linda Meister of Littleton, Colo.; a brother, David Doney of Chinook; a sister, Joyce Johnson of St. Paul, Minn.; and three grandchildren.