RSS
Home
Grand Ole Opry Star George Hamilton IV to visit Salisbury
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Memories 1280 WSAT Radio in Salisbury, North Carolina in conjunction with Trinity Wesleyan Church presents Grand Ole Opry Star George Hamilton IV for a one night only concert appearance.
North Carolina native George Hamilton IV (born July 19, 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) fell in love with Folk and Country music at the tender age of 5 years old. His grandfather, a railroad man originally from Beaver Creek, North Carolina (Ashe County) used to sit young George on his knee and listen to the Grand Ole Opry. Although young, this was a defining time in his life. As George grew into a young man he dreamed of becoming a musician and singer for the Grand Ole Opry. While a child, his parents would send him out to Nashville, Tennessee on the bus. George recalls how his mother would pin a note to his jacket to identify him in case he got lost. While in Nashville, he would visit the Grand Ole Opry and long to be a part of it. He appeared on a program known as "The Junior Grand Ole Opry" at one point in his young travels.
On June 18, 1956, George began in earnest living his dream. On this day, while a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , he recorded the song "A Rose And A Baby Ruth", a Pop ballad. The song, written by another North Carolina native, John D. Louder Milk, recorded on the Chapel Hill recording label Colonial Records climbed to number 6 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart. The B-side of the recording ("If You Don't Know") showed heavy Country music aspirations. The success of "A Rose And A Baby Ruth", however, placed George into the "Teen Idol" category. He began about a three year touring schedule with artists such as Buddy Holly , Gene Vincent and the Everly Brothers. By 1960, the record achieved "Gold" status. Thus, a a move to Nashville was inevitable for a young man pursuing a passion for music. George, his wife ("Tink"), the first of three children and their Siamese cat made the move which would lead to greater exposure in the music industry for the future Grand Ole Opry member. George indicates that it took about a year before industry mainstays took him seriously, thinking it was a fad for the established Pop singer to cross over into the Country field. Nevertheless, on February 8, 1960 he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. An RCA recording contract was obtained and he soon began recording songs under the guidance of Chet Atkins. The song "Before This Day Ends" became his real break, and just two years later another John D. Loudermilk composition, "Abilene", became his signature song. The song spent 4 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Country Charts. Other songs such as "Fort Worth, Dallas or Houston" (Top 5-1964), "Steel Rail Blues", "Early Morning Rain", "Urge For Going", "Break My Mind", "Canadian Pacific" and "She's A Little Bit Country" proved successful, as well. The latter song was his last Top 5 hit. The music George recorded in the mid to late 1960s had more of a Folk music feel. This is accredited to George's relationship with Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. In an early meeting between the two George asked Lightfoot why there was such a difference between Country music in the U.S. (drinking, cheating, honky tonk songs, etc.) and Canada (freedom, love of the land, nature's beauty, etc.). Lightfoot's response was that Canada is a country about a hundred years younger than the U.S.; therefore they are still singing about their heritage and the Motherland of the British Isles.
In the 1970s, George began touring worldwide with performances and appearances in the former Soviet Union, Australia, the Middle East and East Asia. In March 1974 he was invited to be the guest lecturer at Moscow University. He spoke to students about the history of American Country music. George says that he prepared for his lecture by making translated copies of the information being delivered to the students. At the end of his class he asked his Soviet counterpart to ask the students if they had any questions. The students all began to laugh at this remark. Feeling he did something wrong, George inquired of the Soviet instructor as to why the students were laughing. The instructor explained that the students speak better English than he and do not need an interpreter. Among some of his other exploits abroad, George has hosted several British and Canadian television programs and has played himself in the British West End musical "Patsy" based on the life and times of Country music legend Patsy Cline. George's travels earned him the nickname "The International Ambassador of Country Music".
Today, George continues to travel nationally and internationally focusing mainly on faith-based concerts. He appears frequently on the Grand Ole Opry . In recent years, he recorded a live album with the Northern Irish group Live Issue. The concept of the album was based on the life of Joseph Scriven author of the Gospel standard "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". The two acts toured together in 2009. George was also the character "Wayne Wilson" in "Praise Band-The Movie". The movie told the story of a small town church struggling with growing pains and new influences used to build membership and faith.
The George Hamilton IV concert takes place Thursday, November 12, 2009 at Trinity Wesleyan Church. The church is located at 2200 Mooresville Road in Salisbury, North Carolina. Doors open at 6pm and the perfomance is scheduled for 7pm. No admission fee is required, however, a "Love Offering" will be taken. This is an opportunity to meet a Country music and North Carolina legend up close and personal. For more information contact Memories 1280 WSAT Radio at (704) 633-0621. Also, listen live to"The Good Morning Show with Buddy" November 9-12 from 7am-9am for more information.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
