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.
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