
Pat Boone
On June 1, 1934, Charles Eugene Patrick Boone, a direct descendant
of
the American pioneerDaniel Boone was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee,Pat Boone wed Shirley Foley, daughter
of country music icon Red Foley, they have four daughters, Cherry,
Lindy,
Laury and Debby Boone who’s top selling “You Light Up
My Life”
was the top selling single
of 1977.
Boone’s career began as a multiple winner of the Ted Mack Amateur
Hour
and the Arthur Godfrey TV show. A recording contract with Dot records
followed with “Two Hearts” beginning a Hit Parade run
of more than 60
recordings over a dozen years that included 6 chart topping #1 hits,
20 top
ten hits, 13 certified Gold singles, two Gold and one Platinum
album.
In the mid 1950’s Pat’s popularity equaled
that of Elvis Presley who
appealed mostly to teens, while Pat Boone’s clean-cut image
and white
buck shoes was a favorite of both teens and adults.
It was Pat Boone’s recordings of “Ain’t
That A Shame,” “At My Front Door,”
“Long Tall Sally,” “Tutti Frutti," “I’ll
Be Home,” “Don’t Forbid Me,” and
“I Almost Lost My Mind” that introduced a wider audience to the
music
of black performers in an era when their songs were seldom heard
on radio.
Pat is credited with building the bridge that black artists would
cross
over into mass appeal acceptance. Pop treatment of R&B songs
led
to their being played by radio disc jockey's who were largely unaware
of them prior to Pat's version reaching the top of the charts.
His recordings brought financialsuccess to the writers
and publishers of R&B music.
Pat Boone’s biggest
hits included “Love Letters in the Sand,”
“Friendly Persuasion,” “Why Baby Why,” “Remember
You’re Mine,”
“A Wonderful Time Up There,” “It’s Too Soon To Know,” “Sugar
Moon,”
“If Dreams Came True,” “Moody River” and “Speedy
Gonzales.”
Another of Pat’s #1 hits, “April Love” not only
topped the Hit Parade
it was nominated for an Academy Award.
Pat also wrote the theme
song for the movie “Exodus” and had a
leading role in 15 motion pictures including the 1960 blockbuster
“Journey to the Center of the Earth.”
Pat Boone is honored with three stars on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame
for his many contributions to music, television and motion pictures.
