February 9, 1914 - September 6, 1984

The Texas Troubador

One fall night in 1965, former Texas Troubadour Jan Kurtis recorded the only known studio recording of an Ernest Tubb concert. The session happened at the Magic Castle Ballroom on the outskirts of Seattle, Washington. Jan, who owned Camelot Recording Studios, made the tape with his portable stereo recording system. Kurtis' Apex 354-2 tape machine captured the true magic of Tubb in his milieu, rambling through the music that made him famous. All the while, Jan had no idea that over a quarter century later his material would be available on Compact Disc (CD) for thousands of endeared Tubb fans. Kurtis collaborated with Rhino Records and released the material on CD in late 1989. For many of his fans, the CD was a welcomed masterpiece, because it was the first issue of an original Tubb recording since the mid-'70s. Ernest Tubb was known the world over and he wowed millions of country and western music fans for over forty years.

Ernest Dale Tubb, the Texas Troubadour, was born on a ranch near the town of Crisp, Texas on February 9, 1914. His father, Calvin Robert Tubb was a foreman on a 300-acre cotton farm. Ernest was the youngest of five children. During the depression, his family moved to San Antonio where Ernest landed a job as a soda jerk. Despite the depression, Tubb was determined to become a professional singer. As a youngster, he came to admire a popular yodeler, Jimmie Rodgers. Although he never got to meet Rodgers, who had lived in nearby Kerrville, Ernest patterned his style after him.

In 1933, Ernest was singing on radio (KONO) in San Antonio, Texas, twice a week. He met Rodgers' widow, Carrie, who gave him one of Jimmie’s guitars. Tubb invited Carrie to listen to him on the program. Several months later Mrs. Rodgers telephoned Ernest and told him she wanted to help him, so she contacted RCA Records. RCA executives arranged and conducted a recording session with Tubb at the Texas Hotel in San Antonio (1936). That was the first record Tubb cut. During the session he recorded the songs The Passing of Jimmie Rodgers and Jimmie Rodgers' Last Thoughts. These songs were released on the RCA Bluebird label. However, RCA didn't promote the records, so they did not sell well.

In 1939, Tubb moved to San Angelo, Texas where he appeared on station KGKO. Universal Mills, makers of Gold Chain Flour was his sponsor and Tubb became the Gold Chain Troubadour. Ernest was discouraged with RCA's lack of interest in promoting his music. So with the help of Mrs. Rodgers, Tubb secured a recording contract with the newly formed Decca Records. On April 4, 1940, Tubb and Decca engaged in their first recording session. Tubb recorded two songs at that first session; Blue Eyed Elaine, written in honor of his then wife Elaine and another self penned song called I'll Get Along Somehow.

Throughout his career, Tubb composed more than a hundred songs, including the famous Walking the Floor Over You. The song became a million-seller in 1942 and gained Ernest his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Tubb's successful Opry debut led to his eventual stardom. In 1943, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee and joined the Opry. In the mid-'40s, Tubb's stature in the country music field began to be felt throughout the industry. Due primarily to his efforts, Decca began using the term country instead of hillbilly music.

Tubb's biggest hits for Decca during the war years were Take Me Back and Try Me One More Time, Yesterday's Tears, Keep my Memory in Your Heart, Tomorrow Never Comes and Careless Darlin'. Three No. 1 singles during that time charted including, Soldier's Last Letter, It's Been so Long Darling and Rainbow at Midnight. Tubb was a steady producer of top-10 material. Filipino Baby, Driving Nails in My Coffin, Don't Look now (But Your Broken Heart is Showing), So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed, I'll Step Aside and Seaman's Blues, kept him in the top-10 fold.

In 1947, Tubb founded the Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Nashville and later made arrangements with WSM for broadcasting the Midnight Jamboree. The show was broadcast immediately following the Opry broadcast each Saturday night. In September of that year, he headlined the first country music show ever to appear in New York City's Carnegie Hall.

Although Ernest had six songs on the charts in 1948, it was a bittersweet year as he and Elaine were divorced. Forever is Ending Today, That Wild and Wicked Look in Your Eye, Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue), Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello, completed his 1948 top-10 catalogue. Slipping Around, Floyd Tillman's ode to adultery, had been a simultaneous No. 1 hit for Tubb, Tillman, Texas Jim Robertson and a duo for Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely, when they recorded their respective versions in 1949. Tubb remarried in 1949, his new wife being Olene Adams.

In the late '40s and early '50s, Tubb teamed up with Red Foley, who in 1967 joined him in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Ernest recorded a No. 1 duet with Foley called Goodnight Irene, which topped the national charts that year. Tennessee Border No. 2, Don't be Ashamed, Hillbilly Fever No. 2, Strange Little Girl, Too Old to Cut the Mustard and No Help Wanted No. 2, completed his and Foley's top-10 paring.

Meanwhile, as a solo artist, Tubb continued to chart major singles. Letters Have no Arms , I'll Take a Back Seat for You, I Love You Because, Unfaithful One, Throw Your Love my Way, You Don't Have to be a Baby to Cry, (Remember me) I'm the One Who Loves You and Blue Christmas, were all big hits for Ernest in 1950.

Tubb remained very active on the charts throughout the '50s. Don't Stay too Long, Hey La La, Driftwood on the River, Blue Christmas, Missing in Action , Somebody's Stolen my Honey, Fortunes in Memories and Divorce Granted, kept Tubb in the top-10 arena. John Klenner and Bob Miller composed Driftwood on the River. Tubb maintained his chart presence with The Yellow Rose of Texas, Thirty Days, Mister Love and Hey, Mr. Bluebird. Mr. Bluebird was a duet with the Wilburn Brothers. Tubb recorded almost 200 single records from the outset of his career until the early ‘80s. Ernest released several other successful songs including Waltz Across Texas, Journey's End and Jealous Loving Heart. His album repertoire for Decca was massive. Loretta Lynn became his primary female singing partner during the ‘60s. They teamed up for a series of five singles and three albums. Their major hits included Mr. and Mrs. Used-to-Be, Our Hearts Are Holding Hands and Who's Gonna Take the Garbage Out.

Meanwhile, Half a Mind and Thanks a Lot, were his final top-10 songs and Another Story, became his last top-20 single. The Troubadours at that time were made up of lack Drake (bass guitar), Leon Rhodes (lead guitar), Buddy Charlton (steel guitar), Jack Green (drums), Cal Smith (rhythm guitar) and Johnny Wiggins (the bus driver). In June, 1967, Jack Green left the Troubadours to launch his own recording career. Tubb was instrumental in the developing the career of Loretta Lynn, Marty Robbins, Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Stonewall Jackson. Cal Smith was a Troubadour who spent several years as a featured vocalist and emcee in Tubb's road show before launching his solo career.

A barnstorming concert performer for more than four decades, Ernest was one of country music's top selling entertainers. During his long prestigious career, Tubb rarely raised the price of his concert appearances. At one time he was averaging 300 dates a year crossing the country in his tour bus he called the Green Hornet. He continued playing the Opry and doing the road shows right into the ‘80s. On October 8, 1973, Ernest Tubb and the Troubadours headlined a five day Country Music Jamboree at Vacation Chalets, Clermont, Florida.

In 1979, coinciding with Tubb's 65th birthday, a tribute album came out on Cachet Records titled Ernest Tubb: The Legend and the Legacy. The album project, which was a surprise to Tubb was recorded and produced by Pete Drake. Among the artist who voices were overdubbed on the album were Willie Nelson, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Ferlin Husky, Simon Crum, Merle Haggard, Charlie Daniels, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty, Johnny Paycheck, Justin Tubb, Cal Smith, Waylon Jennings and Vem Gosdin. Also that year a 2LP set of the project was issued. His last appearance on record was in 1982, singing with Hank Williams Jr. and Waylon Jennings on Leave Them Boys Alone. Although his chart activity waned during the ‘70s, he continued to host his Midnight Jamboree radio show.

Tubb made three pictures, Fighting Buckaroo and Riding West for Columbia studios in 1942 and Jamboree for Republic in 1944. Ernest was the recipient of numerous awards including, the Founders Award (MCN 1978), Pioneer Award (ACM 1980), Hall of Fame (CMA 1965) and Living Legend (MCN, 1984). Ernest was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1965.

Throughout his 46 years of recording and performing, Ernest Tubb gave the world many great moments on record and on stage. When he finished recording, Tubb had accumulated 49 top-10 singles from a total of 91 chart entries. Ernest Tubb passed away on September 6, 1984.

"Thank God for giving us Ernest Tubb, who had the foresight to make Country Music what it is today for all of us."--Pete Drake.

Today Tubb's original recordings are readily available. Several single compact disc (CD) units comprising his biggest hits make up a massive Tube catalog. Rhino Records released the CD Live, 1965 in late 1989. Step One Records released a CD called The Ernest Tubb Collection (1988). In 1991, MCA began reissuing material of Hall of Fame members on CD. The single CD Ernest Tubb (1991), features 16 of his biggest hits. However, none of these or any of his single CD units begin to exemplify Tubb’s vast recordings. However, Bear Family Records has released five box sets comprising his entire commercial recordings. In 1991, Bear Family released Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello, a 5 CD box set covering Tubb's most fertile years 1947 to 1953. They followed with Yellow Rose of Texas, a 5 CD box set tracing his career from 1954 to 1960. Either of the above CD sets will amply satisfy your urge for Ernest Tubb music.




Above pictured box sets are currently available at


Career Highlights

Born in Crisp, TX

Major label - Decca Records

Try Me One More Time (1944) - his first Top 10

Soldier's Last Letter (1944) - his biggest hit

On Billboard charts from 1944 - 1979

58 Top 10 Hits

Major Awards/Achievements

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1965)

Ernest Tubb Home Page

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Revised: 11/29/1999 | Thanks for visiting!