B o b by Ba r e
“This is big - an honor and The validaTion of a dream, ToTally unexpecTed. now i’ll be famous forever. Thanks To all of my supporTers and Thank you cma.
”
2013 photos: John russell; archive photos: courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
with wife, jeannie
with willie nelson • 074-077 HOF13.indd 3
▼ Born robert Joseph “Bobby” Bare on april 7, 1935 in ironton, ohio ▼ By age 15, he was working on a farm to support himself. he began playing music in his late teens after learning on a homemade guitar ▼ moved to los angeles at age 18 to be a part of the west coast music scene ▼ recorded a demo in 1958 of his talking blues song “The all american boy” for his friend bill parsons to learn. ohio-based fraternity records bought the song for $50 and released bare’s version, but erroneously credited it to parsons ▼ “the all american Boy” became the second biggest single in the u.s. in december of 1959, peaking at no. 2. bare was drafted into the army before he could enjoy the success of “the all american Boy” ▼ his big break in country came in 1962 when chet atkins signed him to rca records. he had a hit with “shame on me” by the end of the year, and toured with The beach boys, bobby darin, Jay & the americans and roy orbison the following year ▼ in 1964, bare, chet atkins, Jim reeves, and the anita kerr singers embarked on the first-ever european commercial Country Music tour playing in almost every major european city ▼ Continued having huge chart success through the 60s with his rca recordings solidifying his standing as a major artist, not only in country, but in pop music ▼ signed with mercury records in 1970 and immediately scored a Top 3 hit with “how i got to Memphis” ▼ in 1974, released a hit double album of shel silverstein songs entitled bobby bare sings lullabys, legends and lies. considered the first country concept album ▼ From 1983 to 1988, bare hosted “bobby bare and friends” on The nashville network, featuring songwriters performing their hits and being interviewed by bare ▼ in 1998, bare formed the country supergroup, old dogs, with friends waylon Jennings, Jerry reed, and Mel tillis ▼ in 2012, released darker Than light, featuring a diverse array of songs from folk tunes to country classics to u2’s “i still haven’t found what i’m looking for”
cma awards
Veterans era artist
75 10/22/13 2:30 PM