Eddy Arnold
Born in 1918 at Henderson, Tennessee, Richard Edward Arnold rose from a farmboy's life to that of a favored local performer, and he remembers riding mules to and from musical events while making that transition.
By 1936 he was appearing on local radio, and then was picked up by Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys.
By the mid-1940s, Eddy was signed as a solo act by RCA, and had Colonel Tom Parker, later Elvis Presley's manager, handling his career.
His big hits started rolling at this time, including 'I'll Hold You in My Heart,' 'Just a Little Lovin' Will Go a Long Way' (co-written by Arnold and Zeke Clements), 'Bouquet of Roses,' 'Texarkana Baby,' 'Kentucky Waltz,' 'I Really Don't Want to Know,' 'My Everything,' 'Cattle Call,' 'Tennessee Stud' and 'AnyTime.'
Eddy, deliberately deepened his vocals for a surer pop appeal. Likewise his image changed. In his early performing davs he had been the Tennessee Plowboy and sometimes hick act with blackened teeth and outlandish overalls.
He later appeared in a Tuxedo. Without doubt the first crossover country artist with his huge hits Make the World go Away and What's He Doing In My World. Selling in excess of 70 million records throughout his career Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966
Eddy Arnold died on Thursday 8th May 2008 aged 89