"Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go! I owe my soul to the company store." If you recognize these lyrics [edited] and melody, you probably grew up watching black and white TV with Ernest Jennings “Tennessee Ernie” Ford, a resonant-voiced baritone and master of good-natured corn during the 1950s and 1960s. Ford's first spiritual album, Hymns, was certified gold in 1959; by 1963 it was the biggest-selling album in Capitol's catalogue. What was Ford's biggest hit? “Sixteen Tons," originally written by Merle Travis. Capitol Records encouraged Travis to write a series of songs that "sounded folky". He nailed it. My father loved this TV show. Read biographies on the Internet. Hear him sing songs on Spotify. Go to YouTube for album covers and more of his greatest hits. Thank you for listening.
