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 101-125 of 127 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia CO45072 10-in. 1/16/1951 Pliney Jane Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Columbia CO45904 10-in. 5/11/1951 Doug Mcarthur Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band leader, vocalist  
Columbia CO45905 10-in. 5/11/1951 In the shadow of the Smokies Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Brunswick SC63 10-in. 11/3/1938 Blue Ridge sweetheart Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet Musical group, leader  
Brunswick SC72 10-in. 11/3/1938 The great shining light Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo songwriter, vocalist, Musical group  
Brunswick B14 10-in. 3/22/1937 Tell Mother I'll be there Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Brunswick MEM40 10-in. 7/5/1939 Smoky Mountain moon Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, leader  
Brunswick SC60 10-in. 11/3/1938 What would you do with Gabriel's trumpet Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet vocalist, Musical group, leader, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick SC68 10-in. 11/3/1938 Smoky Mountain rag Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader, vocalist, Musical group  
Brunswick SC71 10-in. 11/3/1938 That beautiful picture Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal duet lyricist, composer, vocalist, Musical group  
Brunswick DAL944 10-in. 4/11/1940 Come back little pal Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Brunswick DAL948 10-in. 4/11/1940 Beneath that lonely mound of clay Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, leader  
Brunswick DAL949 10-in. 4/11/1940 The streamlined cannon ball Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, instrumentalist, violin, leader, lyricist, composer  
Brunswick DAL951 10-in. 4/12/1940 Farther along Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Brunswick DAL952 10-in. 4/12/1940 Blue eyed darling Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Brunswick DAL953 10-in. 4/12/1940 The precious jewel Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Brunswick DAL956 10-in. 4/12/1940 Lonesome old river blues Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin  
Brunswick DAL958 10-in. 4/12/1940 Mule skinner blues (Blue yodel #8) Roy Acuff ; Smoky Mountain Boys Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, Musical group, instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Brunswick DAL967 10-in. 4/11/1940 Just to ease my worried mind Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, Musical group, leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer, lyricist  
Decca NA 9202 10/27/1955 Goodbye Mister Brown Roy Acuff ; Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9203 10/27/1955 Mother hold me tight Roy Acuff ; Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9204 10/27/1955 Crazy worried mind Roy Acuff ; Kitty Wells vocalist  
Decca NA 9205 10/27/1955 Along the China coast Roy Acuff vocalist  
Decca NA 9529 10/19/1956 It's hard to love (and not to be loved) Roy Acuff ; The Smoky Mountain Boys vocalist, Musical group, leader  
Decca NA 9530 10/19/1956 Plant some flowers by my grave Roy Acuff ; The Smoky Mountain Boys vocalist, Musical group, leader  
(Results 101-125 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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