Biography for
Tennessee Ernie Ford More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

13 February 1919, Bristol, Tennessee, USA

Date of Death

17 October 1991, Reston, Virginia, USA (liver disease)

Birth Name

Ernest Jennings Ford

Mini Biography

Composer, singer and author, educated at the Cincinnati Conservatory. He appeared at the London Palladium, and made many records. He also owned a cattle ranch in California. Joining ASCAP in 1958, his popular-song compositions include "Hogtied Over You", "Kiss Me Big" and "Softly and Tenderly".

IMDb Mini Biography By: Hup234!

Spouse

Beverly Wood	(11 June 1989 - 17 October 1991) (his death)
Betty Heminger	(18 September 1942 - 26 February 1989) (her death) 2 children

Trivia

Country singer.

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990.

His remains are buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California.

His many albums of hymns and sacred music for Capitol and Ranwood records were among the top-sellers in their field, with "Hymns" (1957) and "Sing a Hymn with Me" (1961) both achieving Gold Record status.

Used his influence to give many young performers their first break in show business, including San Francisco-area disk jockey turned TV personality Jim Lange (later of "The Dating Game"), and most notably, the singing duo the Everly Brothers.

The album "Hymns" (1956) was on the USA Billboard Album charts for 350 consecutive weeks.

Made the first tour of the Soviet Union with a country-western stage show (including Roy Clark) in 1974.

His book "Tennessee Ernie Ford's Book of Favorite Hymns" was a best-seller in its fleid when it was published in 1962, and a companion record album on Capitol Records was released later that same year.

His popular TV program "The Ford Show" was not named after him, although many assumed so, but after his sponsor, the Ford Motor Company.

He also sang the title song in the movie River of No Return (1954)starring Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe. It was released as a single and did well on the record charts.

His biggest hit "Sixteen Tons" was credited as being the first Rock and Roll big hit and for kicking off the Rock and Roll era of the 1950s.

Father of Jeffrey Buckner Ford.

While it never affected his professional work, nor was it ever publicized (for fear of how it would impact his career), Ford battled all his life with a drinking problem, something which ultimately undermined his health. In October, 1991, he collapsed after leaving a White House dinner and died at an area hospital a few days later, exactly one year to the day after being elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 1600 Vine Street, for Recording at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard, and for Television at 6311 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Personal Quotes

"Bless your little pea-pickin' hearts."

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