Oral history interview with Ernie Lee; 1976 February 25; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. 1976 Feb. 25.

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Oral history interview with Ernie Lee; 1976 February 25; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. 1976 Feb. 25.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/232361972

Ernie Lee discusses his career as host of various musical shows. Discussion includes his musical background; memories of listening to Jimmie Rodgers, Red Foley, and Bradley Kincaid; his first recording session with RCA executive Steve Sholes in 1940; meeting Bradley Kincaid and Pat Boone in Berea, Kentucky; his first bands; his first radio job in 1934 with Riffy B. Taylor & His All Night Serenaders on WLAP in Lexington; memories of Lonnie Glosson and Barefoot Brownie; learning cowboy songs and folksongs from his mother; his introduction to John Lair by Slim Miller and going to work on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance; other radio jobs he's had; trying to persuade Chet Atkins to let him make more records and trying to get Chet Atkins a job; memories of Les Paul and Tommy Jackson; playing military bases in Europe in 1953; moving to Florida to pursue fishing and radio work; his friendship with Fred Rose; his success in television and lack of success selling records; recording sessions for Mercury in 1951 and MGM in 1952; his songwriting; how he came close to getting a regular job on the Prince Albert Show; Smiley Burnette writing his biggest hit, "Hominy Grits"; and his Gibson J-100 guitar.

3 sound cassettes (2 hours, 1 minute)

Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7097810

Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Lee, Ernie, 1916-1991

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m94v28 (person)

Radio and television show host. Full name: Ernie Lee Cornelison. Born April 1916. Host of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance radio program during the 1940s. Hosted the WLW Cincinnati Midwestern Hayride on radio and television during the late 1940s-early 1950s. In the late 1950s moved to Florida where he was a radio and television host for the remainder of his career. From the description of Oral history interview with Ernie Lee; 1976 February 25; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. 19...

Green, Douglas B.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63r0qrw (person)

Country music performer. Born March 20, 1946. Best-known as Ranger Doug from Riders in the Sky, a cowboy revival act he co-founded in 1977. Performed as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys during the late 1960s. Recording credits include a solo album, Songs of the Sage, released on the Warner Western label in 1997. From the description of Oral history interview with Douglas B. Green; 1993 November 23; interview with John W. Rumble. 1993 Nov. 23. (Country Music Foundation, Libra...

Lee, Ernie, 1916-1991

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m94v28 (person)

Radio and television show host. Full name: Ernie Lee Cornelison. Born April 1916. Host of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance radio program during the 1940s. Hosted the WLW Cincinnati Midwestern Hayride on radio and television during the late 1940s-early 1950s. In the late 1950s moved to Florida where he was a radio and television host for the remainder of his career. From the description of Oral history interview with Ernie Lee; 1976 February 25; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. 19...