Tennessee Ernie Ford

Real name: Ernest Jennings Ford

Born: February 13, 1919 Bristol, Tennessee
Died: October 17, 1991

Played the trumpet in his school band +++ Later worked as radio DJ and began singing country songs +++ Was signed by CAPITOL records in 1949 +++ His first recording, "Mule Train" reached the TOP 10 +++ Further hits, incl. "Shotgun Boogie", an own composition, and "Ballad of Davy Crockett" followed +++ Had his biggest success and only no. 1 in 1955 with the classic "Sixteen Tons" +++ Last chart entry at no. 100 with "Glad Rags" in March 1959 +++ Had his own TV show between 1955 and 1965 +++