From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Wed Jan 2, 2002  1:16 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Harold Bradley
 
HAROLD BRADLEY

Born Harold Ray Bradley, 2 January 1926, Nashville, Tennessee

"Prolific" is the word to describe veteran guitarist Harold Bradley.
In December 1991, Bradley marked his 45th year as a studio musician.
He was part of the original "A Team" of Nashville superpickers, one of those
John Sebastian immortalized in his song "Nashville Cats." Bradley can be
heard on some of Elvis Presley's records and movie soundtracks, as well as
those of such entertainers as Marty Robbins, Hank Snow, Buddy Holly, Ivory
Joe Hunter, Pee Wee King, Webb Pierce, Hank Williams, Burl Ives, Connie
Francis, Joan Baez, Jim Reeves, Charley Pride, Leon Russell, The Everly
Brothers, Perry Como, Freddie Hart, Conway Twitty and Roy Clark.
He's played on such classic cuts as Red Foley's "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine
Boy," Ray Anthony's "Do the Hokey Pokey," Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock,"
Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry," Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely," Patsy Cline's
"Crazy," Johnny Horton's "Battle of Now Orleans," Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad
John," Roger Miller's "King of the Road," Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley
PTA." Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man," Eddy Arnold's "Make the
World Go Away," Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter," and The Everly
Brothers' "Ebony Eyes".
Harold Bradley can boast a trio of his own albums on the Columbia label :
"Misty Guitar," "The Bossa Nova Goes to Nashville" and "Guitar For Lovers
Only." His older brother, Owen (a member of the Country Music Hall of
Fame), was a strong early musical influence. First fascinated by the banjo,
Harold began learning to play the guitar, taking big brother's advice. While
still a teenager, Harold landed a much-coveted band spot with legendary
Ernest Tubb in 1943. After high school graduation, Bradley joined the Navy.
Upon his discharge in 1946, he studied at George Peabody College under the
GI Bill. To enhance his income Harold played on the Opry with Eddy Arnold
and Bradley Kincaid. His first recording session was Dec. 17, 1946, with
Pee Wee King and the Golden West Cowboys in Chicago. Two King songs
on which Bradley's contribution was notable are "Texas Toni Lee" and
"Tennessee Central Number Nine."
Harold Bradley is one of 12 musicians inducted into the Studio Musicians
Hall of Fame at RCA's Studio 8, now a museum operated by the Country Music
Foundation. Harold Bradley also won the National Academy of Recording Arts &
Sciences' "Superpicker" Award from 1974 through 1979. Who's Who In Country
Music listed Harold Bradley on its Most Valuable Player polls in 1977, '78
and '79. Bradley's credits also include co-producing 39 filmed 30 minute
variety shows titled "Country Style, USA,- with Owen Bradley." Featured for
this late 1950's TV series were many stars at The Grand Ole Opry. In
addition, Bradley was music director for the Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) fund-raising telethon, "Legends of Country Music," in 1985.
Among the cinematic soundtracks boasting Bradley's touch are "Kissin'
Cousins," "Clambake," "Stay Away Joe," "The Fastest Guitar Alive,"
"Sugarland Express," "A Walk In the Spring Rain," "Tick, Tick, Tick,"
"Breathless," "Smokey & The Bandit II," "Coal Miner's Daughter,"
"Six-pack," "Missing" and "Sweet Dreams. Bradley also appeared briefly
in Robert Altman's award-winning movie "Nashville."

Adapted from: http://www.countrypolitan.com/bio-harold-bradley.php