Ernest Tubb

Ernest Dale Tubb was born on Feb. 9, 1914 in Crisp, Texas. Growing up, all he ever wanted to do was sing like Jimmie Rodgers. At 19, he finally got his first guitar, a used model that cost him $5.50. He didn't put it down until he learned to play, practicing until his fingers would bleed.

E.T., as he was called by his friends, got a job singing on KONO, a radio station in San Antonio. He decided to get in touch with Jimmie Rodger's widow, Carrie, who became a fan of his show. In 1936, she arranged a recording session for Ernest with RCA, and even loaned him one of Jimmie's guitars for the seesion.

Ernest went through several years of struggling before he finally hit, and hit big, with "Walking The Floor Over You" in 1941. That same year, he appeared in two Hollywood movies and made his first appearance on the Grand Old Opry.

He was one of the first artists to record in Nashville and became the first country artist to headline a show at Carnegie Hall. Ernest was also one of the first artists in country to use an electric guitar, after jukebox owners complained it was too hard to hear acoustic guitars when the crowds got loud and rowdy. Though he used electric guitar, he was determined to make sure his music stayed country. Besides his own hits, he had numerous others with Red Foley and Loretta Lynn.

In an effort to further promote country music, he opened the legendary Ernest Tubb Record Shop, where he began broadcasting the "Midnight Jamboree" every week following the Opry. Many a star got their start playing there, and several came out of his own band, The Texas Troubadours, including such names as Jack Greene and Cal Smith.

Ernest was asked why, when he was constantly touring, he appeared on the Opry so much, and his reply was "What else would I do? There's nothing more I love than singing for a live audience." His trademark was, whenever he finished a show, he's flip his guitar over. On the back of it was printed the word "Thanks".

Ernest was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965. In his speech he said "I don't deserve it. But I'm sure glad somebody thought I did."

Ernest Tubb died in Nashville on Sept. 6, 1984.