http://www.eddyarnold.com/

http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1473186/06232003/arnold_eddy.jhtml

http://www.angelfire.com/music4/hayjd33/Arnold.htm

12 May 2004

TO: MS. BRIDGET ZARATE

SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR

FOR HONORARY CHAIRS AND AWARDS

FROM: DR. NOWLAN K. DEAN, COL, USAF, RET

SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM

I am writing in support of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Eddy Arnold, formerly known as "The Tennessee Plowboy," now known as Dr. Richard Edward Arnold.

I have been a great fan of Eddy Arnold since first hearing him on the radio as a young man milking the cows each evening. I have followed his career from his "Tennessee Plowboy" days through his great success as a "Pop" singer. I own a copy of every record he has made from 78 rpm through 33&1/3 rpm to CD’s. In addition I have read his Autobiography "It’s a Long Way from Chester County." I have also read two other books about his life, "I’ll Hold You in my Heart" by Don Cusic, and Eddy Arnold, Pioneer of the Nashville Sound" by Michael Streissguth. All of these portray a man who has lived the "American Dream" to the fullest. Eddy is a devoted husband and father and one of the few remaining true gentlemen in America.

An example of Eddy Arnold’s character is the story of Little Roy Wiggins who played steel guitar on Eddy’s early recordings. When Eddy modified his music style there was no place for the steel guitar. Eddy continued to pay Little Roy Wiggins until he was self-sustaining in a business Eddy helped him establish. I know of few, if any, successful artists who would feel this amount of compassion for an old friend.

Eddy Arnold is a true American Icon. His life has been one of hard work and determination as he established himself as one of America’s outstanding performers. He is a man of unquestioned honesty and integrity. He is very deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sincerely,

Nowlan K. Dean, M.D.

1220 FRUIT AVE NW

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87102 ndean49@comcast.net

The Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 16,
1999, at Eddy's final concert. He had just
completed his last song at this concert

"Happy Birthday Eddy Arnold...!!!"

Eddy Arnold
AKA The Tennessee Plowboy
Born May 15, 1918 in Madisonville, TN

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Eddy Arnold moved hillbilly music to the city, creating a sleek sound that relied on his smooth voice and occasionally lush orchestrations. In the process, he became the most popular country performer of the 20th century, spending more weeks at the top of the charts than any other artist. Arnold not only had 28 number one singles, he had more charting singles than any other artist. More than any other country performer of the postwar era, he was responsible for bringing the music to the masses, to people who wouldn't normally listen to country music. Arnold was initially influenced by cowboy singers like Gene Autry, but as his career progressed, he shaped his phrasing in the style of Pete Cassell. Nevertheless, he was more of a crooner than a hillbilly singer, which is a large reason why he was embraced by the entertainment industry at large, and frequently crossed over to the pop charts. Arnold's career ran strong into the '90s. Although his records didn't dominate the charts like they did during the '40s and '50s, he continued to fill concert halls and reissues of his older recordings sold well.
Raised on a farm in Tennessee, Arnold was given a guitar at the age of ten by his mother. His father, who had played fiddle and bass, died the following year. Arnold left school so he could help out on the farm. However, he began playing dances whenever he had a chance. Several years later, he made his first radio appearance on a station in Jackson. Arnold then moved to St. Louis, where he played in nightclubs with fiddler Speedy McNatt. In St. Louis, Arnold landed a regular spot on WMPS Memphis, spending six years at the radio station. Through the show, the singer earned a dedicated following of fans.

During World War II, Eddy Arnold became part of R.J. Reynolds' Camel Caravan, which featured Redd Stewart, Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys, Minnie Pearl, and San Antonio Rose. The troupe performed for U.S. troops throughout America, as well some selected dates in Panama. After the Camel Caravan, Arnold became the featured singer in the Golden West Cowboys while they performed on the Grand Ole Opry. At first, he appeared under the name the Tennessee Plowboy, a nickname that followed him throughout his career.

Arnold recorded his first single, "Mommy Please Stay Home With Me," in 1944 for RCA Victor. At RCA, the singer received the guidance of the label's A&R head, Steve Sholes, which proved to be invaluable help for his career.

Eddy Arnold pursued a solo career in 1945, the same year he got married to Sally Gayhart. "Each Minute Seems a Million Years," released on RCA's Bluebird division that same year, became his first charting record, peaking in the Top Five. Arnold's career really took off the following year, when "That's How Much I Love You" peaked in the Top Three, staying there for 16 weeks and selling over 650,000 copies; its flip side, "Chained to a Memory," also climbed into the Top Three. Arnold followed the single's success with two number one hits in 1947, "What Is Life Without Love" and "It's a Sin." However, that didn't compare to the success of his next record, "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)." The single spent 46 weeks on the charts, with 21 of those weeks spent at the top; it also crossed over to the pop charts, reaching the Top 30. In the process, it became the number one single of the decade.

"I'll Hold You in My Heart" confirmed that Arnold had become a country superstar, as did the performance of his 1948 singles. All of his nine singles went into the Top Five, and five of them went to number one, including "Anytime," "What a Fool I Was," "Texarkana Baby," "Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long, Long Way)," "My Daddy Is Only a Picture," and "Bouquet of Roses," which stayed at the top for 19 weeks. In total, Arnold racked up over 40 weeks on top of the charts during 1948, becoming the number one country star in America. He headlined all the radio shows and concerts he appeared on, and he was in demand throughout the nation. By the end of the year, Colonel Tom Parker had become his manager; Parker would later become Elvis Presley's manager. Throughout 1949, he continued to dominate the charts, releasing a succession of Top Ten singles, including the number one "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle," "One Kiss Too Many," "I'm Throwing Rice (At the Girl I Love)," and "Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me."

Eddy Arnold became a familiar face not only to country fans but also to the general public in the early '50s. He toured all of the U.S., as well as several foreign countries. All of the major television shows of the era, including The Perry Como Show and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, featured the singer. Indeed, he became so popular that he was the first country star to have his own television show, Eddy Arnold Time. The show originally aired on NBC, but it later moved to ABC. Through all of this, his string of Top Ten hits remained unbroken, even though he didn't have another crossover pop hit until 1954. Nevertheless, the sheer amount of country hits was overwhelming: In 1950 he had seven, and 13 in 1951 (including the number ones "There's Been a Change in Me," "Kentucky Waltz," "I Wanna Play House With You," "Easy on the Eyes," and "A Full Time Job"). The hits, including "Eddy's Song" (composed of the titles of previous hits), "How's the World Treating You?," "I Really Don't Want to Know," "My Everything," "The Cattle Call," "That Do Make It Nice," "Just Call Me Lonesome," and "The Richest Man (In the World)," continued to come in force until 1956.

Between 1956 and 1964, Arnold continued to chart, but he wasn't reaching the Top Ten at the same frequency of the previous decade. During this time, his style was beginning to change, as he was shedding his rootsy style for a slicker, polished sound that was more appropriate for urban settings than rural territories. Arnold became a crooner, complete with subdued instrumental backings, highlighted by gentle steel guitars and the occasional orchestra. The change in musical direction was a major commercial success, sparking a new era of chart dominance that began in 1965 with "What's He Doing in My World." Not only did he return to the top of the country charts, he once again crossed over to the pop charts. Arnold's second streak of major hits ran until 1969. During this time, he earned several number one and Top Ten singles, all of which were pop hits as well, including "Make the World Go Away," "I Want to Go With You," "The Last Word in Lonesome," "Somebody Like Me," "Lonely Again," "Turn the World Around," "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," "They Don't Make Love Like They Used To," and "Please Don't Go."

In the early '70s, Arnold continued to appear on the country charts, although his pop hits dried up. The singer signed with MGM in 1972, ending 27 straight years at RCA. Arnold spent only four years at MGM, landing only one major hit, 1974's "I Wish That I Had Loved You Better." Returning to RCA in 1976, he closed out the decade with two hits — "Cowboy" (1976) and "If Everyone Had Someone Like You" (1978). Arnold managed to put two songs into the Top Ten in 1980 ("Let's Get It While the Gettin's Good," "That's What I Get for Loving You"), making him one of the few artists who charted in five different decades. He continued to record in the '90s, although without charting a hit single. Nevertheless, his concert and television appearances remained popular.

Beginning in the '60s, Eddy Arnold was bestowed with a numerous amount of awards. In 1966, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The following year, he was the first Entertainer of the Year named by the CMA. The ACM gave him the Pioneer Award in 1984; three years later, the Songwriters Guild gave him its President's Award. Perhaps the truest gauge of his success is his record sales. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 85 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of the 20th century

   Dr. Richard Edward Arnold

Induction of Eddy Arnold
Letter from Phillip & Olivia Eyer, members of the George D. Hay Foundation who were at
the induction on Eddie Arnold at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

  On Thursday June 5th, 2003 friends, family, associates and well-wishers gathered
at the Country Music Hall of Fame to celebrate and honor the induction of Eddy
Arnold, one of music's beloved elder members into the halls.  It was an honor for
Phillip Eyer to represent the George D. Hay Foundation at this event.

Mr. Arnold has given the largest collection ever of music memorabilia to the
Country Music Hall of Fame to be preseved and displayed for generations of music
lovers to come.  Gold and platinum records, lyric books from a lifetime of making
music, clips from his "Eddy Arnold Time"  T. V.  show, "stuff" from his office, and
a "truckload"  of memorabilia to be catalogued and preserved.

Upstairs, we sat in the rotunda where the words, "Will the circle be unbroken,"
are etched into the upper encircling walls.  We listened to the stories of Eddy's
journey into music.  Stories of his hunger, love, and ambition for music were told
with humor and respect by those who know and love him best: Kyle Young, Candy
Cook, and Eddy, himself.

It was a splended evening.  Buffet tables loaded with tropical fruit, strawberries with chocolate dip, hot spanish/cheese dishes, and deli creckers and cheess enticed the attendees.  Elegant floral arrangements pleased the eye, while waiters
presented trays of tiny crab cakes and other tastee morsals.  Lovely ladies in long
skirts and gentlemen in country's finest listened to the sounds of a three piece ensermble.   Guests mingled and sipped drinks, with the members of the board
and local celebrities who graciously posed for pictures.  We  snapped pictures
with Charlie Chase, Jimmy Dean, and lead singer Jeff of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Jim Lauderdale spoke with us.  With so many well-wishers I couldn't get close
enough to get a picture of Mr. Arnond, but I did get one of my wife and his.  It was
an experience I will relish, and I thank the George D. Hay Foundation for it.

Thanks!
Olivia and Phillip Lee Eyer   

                                   Sally Arnold(Eddy's Wife) and Olivia