From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Jun 17, 2002  1:50 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Red Foley
 
RED FOLEY (By Shaun Mather)

Born Clyde Julian Foley, 17 June 1910, Blue Lick, Kentucky
Died 19 September 1968, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Country singer Red Foley was one of the artists responsible for making
Nashville the home of country music, thanks to his work on the Grand Old
Opry. He reportedly sold over 25 million records between 1944 and 1965 and
was one of the first members of the Country Music Hall Of Fame when he was
inducted in 1967.
Born Clyde Julian Foley in rural Kentucky he learned guitar and harmonica at
an early age and whilst in college joined the Cumberland Ridge Runners on
the National Barn Dance on radio WLS in Chicago. Seven years later he
joined the newly formed Renfro Valley Barn Dance where he remained until
1939. He returned to the National Barn Dance and starred with Tex Ritter in
the western movie, The Pioneers.
He signed a lifetime contract with Decca Records and immediately hit with
Smoke On The Water (# 1 country for 13 weeks in 1944), in the process
becoming the first major artist to record in Nashville. In 1946 he joined the
Grand Old Opry where he emceed the Prince Albert Show segment. Hits
with his new backing band The Cumberland Valley Boys included New Jolie
Blonde, Tennessee Saturday Night and his best remembered song,
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy (# 1 in 1950, also for 13 weeks).

In 1951 he became the first million seller on the gospel charts with Peace
In The Valley. Three years later he joined the Ozark Jubilee which aired on
ABC TV staying for six years. After a performance in Fort Wayne, Indiana
in 1968 he suffered a fatal heart attack. I won't mention that one of his
daughters was married to wild rocker Pat Boone - damn, I just did!

Recommended listening:
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy : The Best Of Red Foley 1944-1958 - Edsel
Hot Country Boogies - Rockateer
Stay A Little Longer - Jasmine.
Further reading: Reta Spears-Stewart, Remembering the Ozark Jubilee.
Springfield, MO : Stewart, Dillbeck & White Productions, 1993.
More info: http://www.bellenet.com/foley.html