Roy Acuff was born in Maynardville, Tennessee, to Ida Carr and Simon E. Neil Acuff (a Baptist preacher, judge and tenant farmer), the third of their five children. Originally, Acuff didn't plan to be a singer. Acuff sang in the church choir as a schoolboy, but he was more interested in sports, particularly baseball. Not only was he attracted to the sport, he had a wild streak — after his family moved to Knoxville, he was frequently arrested for fighting. Acuff continued to concentrate on playing ball, eventually becoming strong enough to earn a tryout for the major leagues. However, that tryout never took place. Before he had a chance to play, he was struck by a severe sunstroke while he was on a fishing trip; after the sunstroke, Acuff suffered a nervous breakdown. While he was recovering, he decided that a career in baseball was no longer possible, so he decided to become an entertainer. He began to learn the fiddle and became an apprentice of Doc Hauer, a local medicine show man.
While traveling with the medicine show, Acuff learned how to be a performer -- he learned how to sing, how to imitate, how to entertain, how to put on a show. Soon, Acuff joined the Tennessee Crackerjacks, who had a regular slot on Knoxville radio station WROL. Although he was performing frequently, he wasn't making any significant headway, failing to become a star in Tennessee. One song changed that situation -- "The Great Speckled Bird," an old gospel tune that had become popular with the Church of God sect. After another radio entertainer wrote the words out to the song, Acuff began performing it in his shows. Quickly, he became popular throughout the eastern part of Tennessee and was asked to record the song by ARC, a record label with national distribution. Acuff headed north to Chicago for a recording session, which resulted in 20 different songs. In addition to "The Great Speckled Bird," he recorded "Steamboat Whistle Blues" and "The Wabash Cannonball," another Tennessee standard that featured the singer imitating the sound of a train whistle; he also made a handful of risqué numbers during these sessions, which were released under the name the Bang Boys.
Music career
He then turned his attention to his father's fiddle and began playing in a traveling medicine show, often performing in blackface. He toured the Southern United States and eventually formed a band called "The Crazy Tennesseans".
In 1936, he recorded his two most enduring songs, the traditional The Great Speckled Bird and The Wabash Cannonball. He debuted at the Grand Ole Opry two years later. He was booked as a fiddler, and he should have played the Turkey Buzzard for a square dancing segment, but he decided to try and sing The Great Speckled Bird. His decision was not well received, however. Acuff became a regular on the Opry, forming a backing band called the Smoky Mountain Boys, led by friend and Dobro player Bashful Brother Oswald. By 1940 he was the star of the show.
The Great Roy Acuff LP (1964)Acuff's recording of The House of the Rising Sun on November 3, 1938 is the first known commercial recording of the song. He released several singles in the 1940s such as The Wreck on the Highway, Beneath That Lonely Mound of Clay and The Precious Jewel. During the 1940s he also appeared in eight movies.
In 1942, a man of many talents, he formed a music publishing venture with Chicago songwriter Fred Rose. Acuff-Rose Music became a country music phenomenon, owning huge numbers of copyrights including those by Marty Robbins, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and all of the songs of Hank Williams.
As his record sales declined in the late 1940s and 1950s, Acuff spent most of his time on the road, becoming one of the hottest tickets in country music. In 1962 he was the first living musician elected to The Country Music Hall of Fame. By the 1970s Acuff performed almost exclusively with the Grand Ole Opry, at Opryland USA, greatly legitimizing it as the top institution in country music. He made one rare appearance at Carlton Haney's Camp Spring Bluegrass Festival in 1971.
For his contribution to the recording industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located on 1541 Vine St. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1991.
Political career
Acuff had a brief affair with politics, losing campaigns for the governor of Tennessee as a Republican in 1944 and 1948. In 1970, he campaigned for his friend Tex Ritter in his bid for the GOP nomination for a U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee.
Trivia
A popular legend is that Japanese troops during World War II would enter battle yelling, "To hell with Roosevelt! To hell with Babe Ruth! To hell with Roy Acuff!"
Acuff was initiated as an Entered Apprentice at the East Nashville Freemasonry Lodge in 1943, and raised to Master Mason in 1944. He was made a 33rd Degree Mason on 21 October 1985.
Acuff is thought to be one inspiration for Henry Gibson's character Haven Hamilton in Robert Altman's film Nashville. The fictionalized character was reportedly a composite of several well-known musicians, including Acuff and Hank Snow.
Acuff on recording: "A little secret of my policy in the studio ... whenever you once decide that you are going to record a number, put everything you've got into it. Don't say, 'Oh, we'll take it over and do it again' because every time you go through it you lose just a little something ... [l]et's do it the first time and to hell with the rest of them" - on the classic album Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
U.S. Olympian high jumper Amy Acuff is his distant cousin. Some sources erroneously list her as his daughter.
Wreck of the Old '97
Roy Acuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind time
This is not 38 but it's old 97
You must put her into Spencer on time"
He looked round and said to his black, greasy fireman
Shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
With a line on a three mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
And see what a jump we made
He was goin' down the grade making ninety miles an hour
When his whistle began to a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
And scalded to death by the steam
So come all you ladies, you must take a warning
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return
The song Wreck of the Old 97 is a ballad that tells the story of a deadly train crash that occurred at a place called Stillhouse Trestle in Danville, Virginia, on September 27, 1903. The song begins by describing how the train's engineer Steve was given instructions in Monroe, Virginia, that he needed to reach Spencer on time, even though he was operating on an older model train, Old 97. Steve knew the risks of operating an older train, but he was determined to make it to his destination on time. As the train approached White Oak Mountain, Steve told his fireman to pile on a little more coal, so they could make it up the steep hill. However, the train's air brakes failed, and the train was launched onto a 75-foot trestle. Steve was unable to stop the train, and it crashed, killing eleven people including Steve.
The lyrics of the song convey the tragedy of the train crash and emphasize the danger that American railroad workers faced every day. It also tells a moral lesson to never speak harsh words to one's true loving husband as they may leave and never return. The song became popular in the 1920s and 30s and was covered by many artists. It is considered a classic of American folk music.
Line by Line Meaning
They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
The orders were assigned to Steve from Monroe, Virginia.
Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind time
Steve was warned that he was not adhering to the schedule.
This is not 38 but it's old 97
Steve was informed about the old but valuable locomotive - 'old 97.'
You must put her into Spencer on time"
Steve was instructed to ensure timely arrival of the train at Spencer station.
He looked round and said to his black, greasy fireman
Steve talked to his black filthy fireman amid the chaos.
Shovel on a little more coal
Steve ordered his fireman to add more coal to the engine.
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
The train will cross White Oak Mountain.
You can watch old 97 roll
You can witness the steam engine moving forward with full steam.
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
The journey from Lynchburg to Danville is difficult with 3 miles of curvy road.
With a line on a three mile grade
The engine climbs uphill with 3 miles of winding tracks.
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
On that part of the journey, Steve encountered brake failure.
And see what a jump we made
After losing the brakes, the train jumped off the rail and crashed.
He was goin' down the grade making ninety miles an hour
Steve was rushing at the speed of 90 miles per hour while on a declining course.
When his whistle began to a scream
The steam whistle started screaming due to the growing danger.
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
Steve was discovered amidst the severely damaged engine holding the throttle.
And scalded to death by the steam
The steam that emerged during the crash severely burned Steve to death.
So come all you ladies, you must take a warning
The song concludes by warning women to pay attention to their husbands.
From this time on and learn
Women should learn from Steve's story.
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
Women should avoid using harsh words while talking to their beloved partners, like Steve.
He may leave you and never return
Being constantly disrespected can push your partner away from you forever.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Roy Acuff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Laine
This is my favorite rendition of the classic railroad ballad.
kunekune
Roy Acuff...the Opry was never the same after the good Lord called him home.
christopher wilson
Wonderful rendetition. Best ever.
john tabler
I picked stockpicker #97 at my last job because of this song thanks
Elmer Larimer
Roy Acuff good singer
Zach Boyd
You're back?
Hasel joy Onglao
yes it si your favorite me to