34 Facts About Red Foley

Clyde Julian "Red" Foley was an American musician who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II.

For more than two decades, Foley was one of the biggest stars of the genre, selling more than 25 million records.

Red Foley's 1951 hit, "Peace in the Valley", was among the first million-selling gospel records.

Red Foley was born on a 24-acre farm in Blue Lick, Kentucky, and grew up nearby Berea.

Red Foley gained the nickname Red for his hair color.

Red Foley was born into a musical family, and by the time he was nine was giving impromptu concerts at his father's general store, playing French harp, piano, banjo, trombone, harmonica and guitar.

Red Foley graduated from Berea High School, and later worked as a $2-a-show usher and singer at a theater in Covington, Kentucky.

In 1930, as a freshman at Georgetown College, Red Foley was chosen by a talent scout from Chicago's WLS-AM to sing with producer John Lair's Cumberland Ridge Runners, the house band on National Barn Dance.

In late 1939, Foley became the first country artist to host a network radio program, NBC's Avalon Time, and he performed extensively at theaters, clubs and fairs.

Red Foley then returned for another seven-year stint with National Barn Dance.

In 1941, the same year he made his first of only two film appearances with Tex Ritter in the Western, The Pioneers, Red Foley signed a lifetime contract with Decca Records.

Red Foley released "Old Shep" in 1941, a song he wrote with Arthur Willis in 1933 about a dog he owned as a boy.

Red Foley soon became known for such songs as "The Death of Floyd Collins" and "The Sinking of the Titanic".

Red Foley moved to Nashville in 1946 and was briefly a member of the Brown's Ferry Four, recording "Jesus Hold My Hand" and "I'll Meet You in the Morning".

Red Foley acted as master of ceremonies, the straight man for Opry comedians Rod Brasfield and Minnie Pearl, and proved himself a vocalist who could handle all types of material.

Red Foley's popularity was credited with establishing the Opry as America's top country music radio show.

In 1949, Red Foley was part of the Opry's first European tour, visiting US military bases in England, West Germany and the Azores, with Brasfield, Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Little Jimmy Dickens, Hank Williams and others.

Red Foley began recording with his backing group, the Cumberland Valley Boys, in 1947.

Red Foley's 1951 hit, " Peace in the Valley " backed by the Sunshine Boys quartet, was one of the first gospel music records to sell one million copies.

Red Foley released his first LP that year, Souvenir Album.

Red Foley's manager was Jim McConnell and "Dub" Albritton was his personal appearances manager.

Red Foley never lost his love for country music and, unlike Eddy Arnold, never sought success as a pop artist, even though many of his recordings made the pop charts.

Red Foley recorded with Ernest Tubb, the Dixie Dons, the Anita Kerr Singers, Rosetta Tharpe, Evelyn Knight and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra.

From 1954 to 1955, Red Foley recorded a number of transcriptions for RadiOzark Enterprises in Springfield with his band of Tommy Jackson on fiddle, Grady Martin on guitar, steel guitarist Bud Isaacs, guitarist Jimmie Selph, Bob Moore on bass and Billy Burke on accordion.

Red Foley moved to Los Angeles, and from 1962 to 1963 played Fess Parker's Uncle Cooter on Mr Smith Goes to Washington, an ABC-TV sitcom.

Red Foley appeared in the 1966 film musical, Sing a Song, for Heaven's Sake, and was a guest on The Joey Bishop Show on August 24,1967.

On September 19,1968, Foley appeared in two Opry performances in Fort Wayne, Indiana, sponsored by the Allen County Sheriff's Department.

Red Foley went out, and the last song he sang was "Peace in the Valley".

Red Foley came over to side of the stage and said, 'Billy, I've never sung that song and feel the way I do tonight.

On December 17,1952, Red Foley announced in Nashville that he had secretly married his third wife, radio and TV entertainer Sally Sweet, on October 28 in Iuka, Mississippi.

Red Foley's country boogie material was a clear precursor of the style.

Red Foley has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for his recording career at, 6225 Hollywood Blvd.

Red Foley Court is among several streets in Nixa, Missouri, named for performers on Ozark Jubilee, and Red Foley Road is in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, north of Renfro Valley.

Red Foley plays numerous instruments and has played in several benefits over the years.