Roy Acuff

Roy Claxton Acuff (September 15, 1903 – November 23, 1992) was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the "King of Country Music", Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful. In 1952, Hank Williams told Ralph Gleason, "He's the biggest singer this music ever knew. You booked him and you didn't worry about crowds. For drawing power in the South, it was Roy Acuff, then God."

Acuff began his music career in the 1930s and gained regional fame as the singer and fiddler for his group, the Smoky Mountain Boys. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1938, and although his popularity as a musician waned in the late 1940s, he remained one of the Opry's key figures and promoters for nearly four decades. In 1942, Acuff and Fred Rose founded Acuff-Rose Music, the first major Nashville-based country music publishing company, which signed such artists as Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers. In 1962, Acuff became the first living inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 15, 1903 (Maynardville), Died November 23, 1992 (Nashville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, violin, composer, lyricist, songwriter, Musical group, arranger, instrumentalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 127 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia HCO2207 10-in. 1/28/1947 Wabash Cannon Ball Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Columbia HCO2208 10-in. 1/28/1947 There's a big rock in the road Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia HCO2209 10-in. 1/28/1947 Po' folks (all the time) Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia HCO2211 10-in. 1/28/1947 Blue eyes crying in the rain Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia HCO2213 10-in. 1/28/1947 The devil's train Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia HCO2214 10-in. 1/28/1947 Short-changed in love Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia HCO2241 10-in. 2/24/1947 It's just that same old line Jimmie Lawson String band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia C3700 10-in. 4/29/1941 Be honest with me Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C3701 10-in. 4/29/1941 Worried mind Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C3702 10-in. 4/29/1941 Things that might have been Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia C3703 10-in. 4/29/1941 You're my darling Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C3704 10-in. 4/29/1941 It won't be long (till I'll be leaving) Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C3705 10-in. 4/29/1941 Just inside the pearly gates Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet vocalist, Musical group, lyricist, composer, leader  
Columbia C3706 10-in. 4/29/1941 I know we're saying goodbye Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia C3707 10-in. 4/29/1941 Brother take warning Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C3708 10-in. 4/29/1941 The great judgment morning Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C3711 10-in. 4/29/1941 You are my love Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia C3712 10-in. 4/29/1941 Branded wherever I go Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia C3713 10-in. 4/29/1941 No letter in the mail Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C3714 10-in. 4/29/1941 Are you thinking of me darling? Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia C3715 10-in. 4/29/1941 I called and nobody answered Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia C4311 10-in. 12/19/1944 Blues in my mind Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C4312 10-in. 12/19/1944 (I heard a) silver trumpet Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C4313 10-in. 12/19/1944 Easy rockin' chair Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Columbia C4314 10-in. 12/19/1944 It's too late now to worry anymore Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
(Results 26-50 of 127 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Roy Acuff ," accessed April 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313.

Roy Acuff . (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313.

"Roy Acuff ." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313

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