Country Boy Eddie: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Country Boy Eddie.jpg|right|thumb|Country Boy Eddie]] | [[Image:Country Boy Eddie.jpg|right|thumb|Country Boy Eddie]] | ||
'''Gordon Edwards Burns''', known as '''Country Boy Eddie''' or sometimes '''Country Boy Eddy''' (born [[ | '''Gordon Edwards Burns''', known as '''Country Boy Eddie''' or sometimes '''Country Boy Eddy''' (born [[December 30]], [[1930]] in [[Warrior]]) is a country singer, fiddler and guitarist who hosted the long-running [[Country Boy Eddie Show]] on [[WBRC]] from [[1958]] to [[1995]]. | ||
Burns | Burns, one of eight children raised on his family's [[Blount County]] farm, had determined to work in radio since he was a 10-year-old listening to Curley Fox on the Grand Ol' Opry. At 13 he bought a fiddle with money he raised selling seeds door to door. He taught himself to play the fiddle and joined [[Happy Hal Burns]]' band in [[1946]], playing on [[WBRC-AM]]'s [[Crossroads Variety Show]]. It was Burns (no relation) who gave him his nickname. | ||
Burns served in the US Army during the Korean War and sang on the Armed Forces Radio Network in Korea, Japan and Hawaii. He returned home to Happy Hal's band, touring for a few years and making appearances on shows like "Hillbilly Bandstand" before he took a job as a disc jockey for program director [[Warren Musgrove]] at [[WILD-AM]]. In a staged stunt, Musgrove "fired" him for bringing a mule into the studio, and Burns rode out and proceeded as far as [[Alabaster]]. Besides WILD, Burns also worked for [[WLBS-AM]] and [[WLPH-AM]]. In addition he appeared at as many as 500 live performances per year and operated a water park, [[Waterfalls U.S.A.]] near his cattle ranch in Blount County. | |||
Since retirement, Burns continues to make public appearances. He and his wife Edwina spend their time at his 200-acre family farm in [[Blount County]]. They are active members of [[Piney Woods Baptist Church]] in [[Gardendale]] and have one son | In [[1955]] Burns put together his own band for the first "Country Boy Eddie Show". It was sponsored by [[Big-Hearted Eddie's Used Cars]] and aired at midnight, after wrestling, on [[WAPI-TV]] (Channel 13). Two years later, the band was hired as the stage band for the [[Tom York Morning Show]] on [[WBRC-TV]]. In February [[1957]] the more familiar Country Boy Eddie Show was spun off into its own slot weekdays 4:00 to 7:00 AM. Burns' homespun amiability became a familiar part of the morning for many Birminghamians, and was syndicated around the region by as many as 120 cable channels. The show endured for 38 years. Burns retired after the [[December 29]], [[1993]] broadcast. | ||
Since retirement, Burns continues to make public appearances. He and his wife Edwina spend their time at his 200-acre family farm in [[Blount County]]. They are active members of [[Piney Woods Baptist Church]] in [[Gardendale]] and have one son, [[Doyle Burns|Doyle]], and three grandchildren. | |||
Burns was given the 2001 Media Award from the [[Alabama Music Hall of Fame]]. | Burns was given the 2001 Media Award from the [[Alabama Music Hall of Fame]]. | ||
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* Country Boy Eddie (1960) "Hang in There Like a Rusty Fish Hook"/"Fodder's Fossil Blues" (single) [[Reed Records]] 1031. | * Country Boy Eddie (1960) "Hang in There Like a Rusty Fish Hook"/"Fodder's Fossil Blues" (single) [[Reed Records]] 1031. | ||
==External | ==References== | ||
* Bryant, Walter (September 28, 1993) "Country Boy Eddie ending long TV career." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
* Carlton, Bob (May 7, 1997) "Eddie, Fodder Fossil, still busy as red ants in a barrel of syrup." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
* Reynolds, Ed (June 20, 2002) "[http://www.bwcitypaper.com/Articles-i-2002-06-20-30382.111115_BBC_to_Beam_Country_Boy_Eddy_to_the_World.html BBC to Beam Country Boy Eddy to the World]". ''Black & White'' | |||
==External links== | |||
* [http://www.alamhof.org/burnsed.htm Country Boy Eddy] at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame | * [http://www.alamhof.org/burnsed.htm Country Boy Eddy] at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame | ||
* [http://www.birminghamrecord.com/home/node/462 Country Boy Eddie Burns] at the Birmingham Record Collectors Hall of Fame | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, Eddie}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, Eddie}} | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1930 births]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category:Country musicians]] | [[Category:Country musicians]] | ||
Revision as of 21:38, 29 December 2010
Gordon Edwards Burns, known as Country Boy Eddie or sometimes Country Boy Eddy (born December 30, 1930 in Warrior) is a country singer, fiddler and guitarist who hosted the long-running Country Boy Eddie Show on WBRC from 1958 to 1995.
Burns, one of eight children raised on his family's Blount County farm, had determined to work in radio since he was a 10-year-old listening to Curley Fox on the Grand Ol' Opry. At 13 he bought a fiddle with money he raised selling seeds door to door. He taught himself to play the fiddle and joined Happy Hal Burns' band in 1946, playing on WBRC-AM's Crossroads Variety Show. It was Burns (no relation) who gave him his nickname.
Burns served in the US Army during the Korean War and sang on the Armed Forces Radio Network in Korea, Japan and Hawaii. He returned home to Happy Hal's band, touring for a few years and making appearances on shows like "Hillbilly Bandstand" before he took a job as a disc jockey for program director Warren Musgrove at WILD-AM. In a staged stunt, Musgrove "fired" him for bringing a mule into the studio, and Burns rode out and proceeded as far as Alabaster. Besides WILD, Burns also worked for WLBS-AM and WLPH-AM. In addition he appeared at as many as 500 live performances per year and operated a water park, Waterfalls U.S.A. near his cattle ranch in Blount County.
In 1955 Burns put together his own band for the first "Country Boy Eddie Show". It was sponsored by Big-Hearted Eddie's Used Cars and aired at midnight, after wrestling, on WAPI-TV (Channel 13). Two years later, the band was hired as the stage band for the Tom York Morning Show on WBRC-TV. In February 1957 the more familiar Country Boy Eddie Show was spun off into its own slot weekdays 4:00 to 7:00 AM. Burns' homespun amiability became a familiar part of the morning for many Birminghamians, and was syndicated around the region by as many as 120 cable channels. The show endured for 38 years. Burns retired after the December 29, 1993 broadcast.
Since retirement, Burns continues to make public appearances. He and his wife Edwina spend their time at his 200-acre family farm in Blount County. They are active members of Piney Woods Baptist Church in Gardendale and have one son, Doyle, and three grandchildren.
Burns was given the 2001 Media Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
Discography
- Country Boy Eddie (1960) "Hang in There Like a Rusty Fish Hook"/"Fodder's Fossil Blues" (single) Reed Records 1031.
References
- Bryant, Walter (September 28, 1993) "Country Boy Eddie ending long TV career." Birmingham News
- Carlton, Bob (May 7, 1997) "Eddie, Fodder Fossil, still busy as red ants in a barrel of syrup." Birmingham News
- Reynolds, Ed (June 20, 2002) "BBC to Beam Country Boy Eddy to the World". Black & White
External links
- Country Boy Eddy at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
- Country Boy Eddie Burns at the Birmingham Record Collectors Hall of Fame