Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music | Acuff, Roy

(Claxton), American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter; b. Maynardville, Tenn., Sept. 15, 1903; d. Nashville, Dec. 23, 1992. Acuff was raised in the Tennessee mountains and originally hoped to be a professional baseball player. However, a bad case of sunstroke as a teenager left him bedridden; during his recovery he began to play the fiddle and later appeared as a singer and guitarist. Acuff formed a band in the early 1930s and began touring and appearing on radio. He made his first recordings in 1936 and two years later became a featured artist on Nashville's GRAND OLE OPRY radio program. Acuff became famous with his renditions of The Great Speckled Bird, Wabash Cannonball, and Wreck on the Highway. He also composed Precious Jewel and was active as a music publisher. In 1962 he became the first living musician to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1988 he celebrated his 50th anniversary at the Grand Ole Opry.