Eddy Arnold (May 15, 1918) is an American country music singer. May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Country music, also called country and western music or country-western, is an amalgam of popular musical forms developed in the Southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, Celtic Music, Blues, Gospel music, and Old-time music. ...

Early years

Born Richard Edward Arnold in Henderson, Tennessee, he made his first radio appearance in 1936. During his childhood, he suffered through the death of his father and the loss of the family farm. When he turned 18, he left home to try to make his mark in the music world. Henderson is a city located in Chester County, Tennessee. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Eddy Arnold's formative musical years included early struggles to gain recognition until he landed a job as the lead male vocalist for the Pee Wee King band. By 1943, Arnold had become a solo star on the Grand Ole Opry. The dream of a recording contract finally became a reality when Arnold was signed by RCA. In December of 1944, he cut his first record. Although all of his early records sold well, his initial big hit did not come until 1946 with "That's How Much I Love You." The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. ... RCA, formerly an initialism for the Radio Corporation of America, is now a trademark used by two companies for products descended from that common ancestor: Thomson SA, which manufactures consumer electronics like RCA-branded televisions, DVD players, video cassette recorders, direct broadcast satellite decoders, camcorders, audio equipment, telephones, and related... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

Managed by Col. Tom Parker, who later went on to control the career of Elvis Presley, Arnold began to dominate country music. In 1947-48 he had 13 of the top 20 songs. He successfully made the transition from radio to television, appearing frequently in the new medium. In 1955, he upset many in the country music establishment by going to New York to record with the Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra. The pop oriented arrangements of "Cattle Call" and "The Richest Man (In the World)" helped to expand his appeal. Colonel Tom Parker (b. ... Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock n Roll, was an American singer, song producer and actor. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

With the advent of Rock and Roll, Arnold's record sales dipped in the late 1950's. He continued to try to court a wider audience by using pop-sounding, string-laced arrangements, a style that would come to be known as the Nashville Sound. Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The Nashville sound in country music arose during the 1950s in the United States. ...

Second career

After Jerry Purcell became his manager in 1964, Arnold embarked on a "second career" that surpassed the success of the first one. In the process, he realized his dream of carrying his music to a more diverse audience. Already recorded by several other artists, "Make The World Go Away" was just another song until it received the Arnold touch. Under the direction of producer Chet Atkins, and showcased by Bill Walker's arrangement, and the talents of the Anita Kerr Singers and pianist Floyd Cramer, Arnold's soaring rendition of "Make The World Go Away" became an international hit. Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential country guitarist and record producer in country music. ... Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 - December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the Nashville Sound. ...

Bill Walker's precise, intricate arrangements provided the lush background for 16 straight Arnold hits that sparkled through the late 1960's. Arnold started performing with symphony orchestras in virtually every major city. New Yorkers jammed prestigious Carnegie Hall for two concerts. Arnold captivated the Hollywood crowd at the Coconut Grove. He also had long sold-out engagements in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. An orchestra is a musical ensemble used most often in classical music. ... The Empire State Building (right) and the Chrysler Building (left) are easily recognized symbols of New York City to the world. ... Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Manhattan, New York City. ... ... Alternate spelling: see Cocoanut Grove (disambiguation). ... This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ... Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada, on the border between California and Nevada, with approximately two-thirds of the shoreline in California. ...

Reasons for success

There are many reasons for Eddy Arnold's incredible success. From the beginning he stood out from his contemporaries. He never wore gaudy, glittering outfits. He sang from his diaphragm, not through his nose. He avoided honky-tonk themes, preferring instead to sing songs that explored the intricacies of love. Under surface of the human diaphragm. ... A honky tonk was originally a type of disreputable musical variety show common throughout the southern and southwest United States, also called honkatonks, honkey-tonks, tonks or tunks. ...

Arnold also benefitted from his association with some marvelous musicians. The distinctive steel guitar of the late Roy Wiggins highlighted early recordings. Charles Grean, once employed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, played bass and wrote early arrangements, adding violins for the first time in 1956. Chet Atkins played on many of Arnold's records, even after he started serving as producer. Arnold also benefited from the management of Col. Parker, who guided his first career, and Jerry Purcell, who masterminded the second. Major Glen Miller Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American jazz musician and band leader in the Swing era. ... Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential country guitarist and record producer in country music. ...

Of course, the most important factor for his success is his voice. Steve Sholes, who produced all of his early hits, called Arnold a natural singer, comparing him to the likes of Bing Crosby and Caruso. Arnold worked hard perfecting his natural ability. A musical trip through the his catalog reveals his progression from young singer to polished performer. Harry Lillis Bing Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was one of the most popular and influential American singers and actors of the 20th century whose career flourished from 1926 until his death in 1977. ... Enrico Caruso Enrico Caruso (February 25, 1873 – August 2, 1921) was one of the most famous tenors in the history of opera. ...

Arnold's longevity is simply amazing. For more than 50 years, he has transcended changing musical mores. His recent concerts attract three generations of fans. He also serves as an inspiring role model; in a field often awash with alcohol and drugs, he has remained temperate. In an era where marriage vows are often taken lightly, Eddy and Sally Arnold have been together for 60 years.

Arnold has been honored with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame (in 1966), voted Entertainer Of The Year and received the Pioneer Award. Over his career, Eddy has sold over 85 million records and had 147 songs on the charts, including 28 number 1 hits on Billboard's "Country Singles" top. Among his recordings are songs for mothers and children, hymns, show tunes and novelty numbers. But, undoubtedly, Eddy Arnold is best known for his inimitable way with a love song. This official history of the Country Music Hall of Fame skirts the scandals well-documented by veteran Music Row historian Stacy Harris. ... The EFF Pioneer Award is an annual prize for people who have made significant contributions to the empowerment of individuals in using computers. ... An example of a Billboard Magazine. ...

Selected hits

Some of his hits include: (numbers in parentheses are positions on country charts)

• "Cattle Call" - June 1955 (#1)
• "Just Call Me Lonesome" - August 1955 (#1)
• "Tennessee Stud" - June 1959 (#5)
• "Molly" - January 1964 (#5)
• "What's He Doing in My World" - March 1965 (#1)
• "Make the World Go Away" - October 1965 (#1 / #6 Pop)
• "I Want to Go With You" - January 1966 (#1)
• "Last Word in Lonesome is Me" - April 1966 (#2)
• "Tip of My Fingers" - June 1966 (#3)
• "Somebody Like Me" - September 1966 (#1)
• "Lonely Again" - January 1967 (#1)
• "Misty Blue" - April 1967 (#3)
• "Turn the World Around" - July 1967 (#1)
• "Here Comes Heaven" - October 1967 (#2)
• "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" - August 1968 (#1)

Album cover for Ella Fitzgeralds Misty Blue. ...

See also

• Best selling music artists - World's top selling music artists chart.