| − | '''Ernest Jennings Ford''', known as '''Tennessee Ernie Ford''' (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991),was born in Bristol, [[Tennessee]], where he first began a career in [[radio]] before serving in the [[military]] during [[World War II]]. After the war, Ford returned to radio in [[California]] with the unusual name of “Tennessee Ernie.” | + | '''Ernest Jennings Ford''', known as '''Tennessee Ernie Ford''' (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), was born in Bristol, [[Tennessee]], where he first began a career in [[radio]] before serving in the military during [[World War II]]. After the war, Ford returned to radio in [[California]] with the unusual name of “Tennessee Ernie.” |
| | In 1949, while doing the morning show at KXLA radio in Pasadena, California, Ford signed to a recording contract with Capitol Records in [[Hollywood]] and immediately landed on the country music Hit Parade with three hits before topping the chart with “Mule Train.” | | In 1949, while doing the morning show at KXLA radio in Pasadena, California, Ford signed to a recording contract with Capitol Records in [[Hollywood]] and immediately landed on the country music Hit Parade with three hits before topping the chart with “Mule Train.” |