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Pat Boone music biography continued...

1934, in Jacksonville, Florida, Boone was subsequently raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Boone's first big break came as a multiple winner of The Ted Mack Amateur Hour, a televised talent competition. The exposure led to a contract with Dot Records, and one of his first recordings, "Two Hearts, Two Kisses," became a hit single. In 1955 his version of the Fats Domino hit "Ain't That A Shame" reached the top of the charts, and Boone followed up with a string of hits. His versions of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" outsold the originals, as did his 1956 cover of Ivory Joe Hunter's "I Almost Lost His Mind." Between 1956 and 1963, Boone made some 54 chart appearances, many of them with two-sided hits; his biggest smashes included the number one records "Don't Forbid Me," "Love Letters in the Sand" and "April Love," all three issued in 1957. That year he also began hosting his own ABC television series, The Pat Boone-Chevy Showroom. Although his TV program ceased production in 1960, Boone remained a major star as the new decade dawned, and in 1961 again topped the charts with "Moody River." After 1962, he failed to again crack the Top 40, but he continued to perform regularly with his wife and four daughters, reinforcing the family friendly image with which his fans had fallen in love.



In the 1970s, Boone switched to gospel and country and had several country hits on the Motown label. He was also inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. Boone subsequently worked as the disc jockey of a popular oldies radio show and ran his own record company which provided an outlet for new recordings by 1950s greats who could no longer find a place with the major labels. 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. He is still beloved by millions of fans who applaud his dedication to traditional, conservative ideals.