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 Maynardville (city in Tennessee, United States), Died November 23, 1992 (Nashville (capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, vocalist, violin, composer, lyricist, songwriter, arranger, lead vocal, instrumentalist

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

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 144 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia CCO4518 10-in. 3/11/1946 That glory bound train Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia CCO4519 10-in. 3/11/1946 Waiting for my call to glory Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia CCO4520 10-in. 3/11/1946 Gone, gone, gone (but not forgotten) Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CCO4521 10-in. 3/11/1946 Tell me now or tell me never Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CCO4700 10-in. 12/16/1946 The tear stained letter Cumberland Mountain Folks ; Molly O'Day String band, with male & female vocal duet composer, lyricist  
Columbia CCO4893 10-in. 11/18/1947 When they take that last look at me Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CCO4894 10-in. 11/18/1947 This world can't stand long Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia CCO4895 10-in. 11/18/1947 I saw the light Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble vocalist, leader  
Columbia CCO4896 10-in. 11/18/1947 Heartaches and flowers Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CCO4897 10-in. 11/18/1947 The songbirds are singing in heaven Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia CCO4898 10-in. 11/18/1947 Unloved and unclaimed Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, songwriter, leader  
Columbia CCO4899 10-in. 11/18/1947 I had a dream Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia CCO4900 10-in. 11/19/1947 Thank God Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble vocalist, leader  
Columbia CCO4901 10-in. 11/19/1947 You'll reap these tears Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia CCO4902 10-in. 11/19/1947 Its just about time Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia CCO4903 10-in. 11/19/1947 I'll always care Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CCO4904 10-in. 11/19/1947 It's so hard to smile Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia CCO4905 10-in. 11/19/1947 The waltz of the wind Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Columbia CCO4906 10-in. 11/19/1947 A sinner's death Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CCO4907 10-in. 11/19/1947 The midnight train Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO40410 10-in. 1/15/1949 Were you there when they crucified my Lord Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader, arranger  
Columbia CO40411 10-in. 1/15/1949 Sweeter than the flowers Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO40412 10-in. 1/15/1949 Tennessee waltz Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO40413 10-in. 1/15/1949 The pale horse and his rider Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO40414 10-in. 1/15/1949 Gray eagle Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
(Results 76-100 of 144 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Roy Acuff ," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313.

Roy Acuff . (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313.

"Roy Acuff ." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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