Pat Boone

Charles Eugene Patrick Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer whose smooth style made him a popular performer of the 1950s. His cover versions of African-American rhythm and blues hits had a noticeable impact on the development of the broad popularity of rock and roll. He is also an actor, a motivational speaker, a television personality, and a conservative political commentator. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Pat Boone has claimed to be a direct descendant of the American pioneer Daniel Boone. He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated from Columbia University magna cum laude in 1958 after a period at David Lipscomb College and North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). Boone began recording in 1954 for Republic Records. His 1955 version of Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That a Shame” was a huge hit. His singing style followed in the tradition of his idol, Bing Crosby. Preferring to carry on in the Crosby tradition, he soon began turning more and more to ballads. Some of his biggest hits included “Love Letters in the Sand” (with the instrumental break featuring Boone’s whistling), “April Love,” “Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love),” and “Don’t Forbid Me.”His recording of the theme song from the 1957 film April Love (film) topped the charts for six weeks and was nominated for an Academy Award. Pat also wrote the lyrics for the instrumental theme song for the movie Exodus, which lyrics he titled “This Land Is Mine.” (Ernest Gold had composed the music.) A devout born-again Christian, he was raised in the conservative Church of Christ, but joined a Pentecostal church in the late 1960s. Boone has refused both songs and movie roles that he felt might compromise his standards, including a role alongside the decade’s reigning sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe. In the early 1960s he began writing a series of self-help books for adolescents, including Twixt Twelve and Twenty. In the 1970s, he switched to gospel and country, and he continued performing in other media as well. He is currently working as the disc jockey of a popular oldies radio show and runs his own record company which provides an outlet for new recordings by 1950s greats who can no longer find a place with the major labels. In 1953 Boone married Shirley Lee Foley, daughter of country music great Red Foley and singer Judy Martin. They had four daughters: Cheryl Lynn Boone, Linda Lee Boone, Deborah Ann aka “Debby” Boone, and Laura Gene Boone. In the 1960s and 1970s the Boone family toured as gospel singers and made gospel albums, such as The Pat Boone Family and The Family Who Prays.In the early 1970s, Pat founded the record label Lion & Lamb Records. It featured artists such as Pat, The Pat Boone Family, Debby Boone, Dan Peek, DeGarmo & Key, and Dogwood.ion In 2003, the Gospel Music Association of Nashville, Tennessee recognized his gospel recording work by inducting him into its Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In September 2006, Boone released Pat Boone R&B Classics – We Are Family, featuring cover versions of 11 R&B hits, including the title track, plus “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag,” “Soul Man,” “Get Down Tonight,” “A Woman Needs Love,” and six other classics. In 2007 Pat Boone was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.