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: leader, vocalist, violin, composer, lyricist, songwriter, Musical group, 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 132 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia CCO4904 10-in. 11/19/1947 It's so hard to smile Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CCO4905 10-in. 11/19/1947 The waltz of the wind Roy Acuff and his 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 and his 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 and his 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 and his 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 and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO40412 10-in. 1/15/1949 Tennessee waltz Roy Acuff and his 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 and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO40414 10-in. 1/15/1949 Gray eagle Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
Columbia CO40415 10-in. 1/15/1949 Dance around Molly Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
Columbia CO40416 10-in. 1/15/1949 Black Mountain rag Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
Columbia CO40417 10-in. 1/15/1949 Pretty little widow Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys Square dance leader  
Columbia CO40418 10-in. 1/15/1949 Smoky Mountain rag Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
Columbia CO40419 10-in. 1/15/1949 Lonesome Indian Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
Columbia CO40420 10-in. 1/15/1949 Bully of the town Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
Columbia CO40421 10-in. 1/15/1949 Polk County breakdown Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band leader  
Columbia CO42586 10-in. 12/18/1949 Jesus died for me Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO42587 10-in. 12/18/1949 If I could hear my mother pray again Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO42588 10-in. 12/18/1949 The day they laid Mary away Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO42589 10-in. 12/18/1949 It's all right now Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO45066 10-in. 1/16/1951 Baldknob Arkansas Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO45067 10-in. 1/16/1951 A plastic heart Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO45068 10-in. 1/16/1951 Advice to Joe Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader, songwriter  
Columbia CO45069 10-in. 1/16/1951 When my money run out (I lost all my friends) Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia CO45070 10-in. 1/16/1951 Your address unknown Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys String band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
(Results 76-100 of 132 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Roy Acuff ," accessed November 23, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313.

Roy Acuff . (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 23, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313.

"Roy Acuff ." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/300313

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