his daily dose of Elvis Presley. But what caught his ear that day was the
silky-smooth baritone of Eddy Arnold romping through the innovative lyrics
of "Happy Everything." That musical experience planted a seed in the mind of
Mike Streissguth that ultimately led, 16 years later, to his brilliant
biography, "Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound."
In the interim between his introduction to Eddy Arnold
and the publication
of the biography, Streissguth, who was born in Washington
DC, fashioned a
career that has included a successful stint as a writer
and producer of
television news. Mike , who has also penned articles
for music magazines, is
currently teaching writing and literature at LeMoyne
College in Syracuse,
NY.
It took about a year for Streissguth to research and
write the biography.
Mike remembers fondly the hospitality that was extended
to him by people who
have been associated with Eddy Arnold. During his
research in Arnold's
birthplace in rural Tennessee, Streissguth interviewed
residents who knew
the future singing star in his formative years.
"The people in Tennessee were very gracious to me,
" Mike recalls. "I
usually walked away with some kind of preserves."
Trying to capture the essence of someone else's life
is a daunting task, but
Streissguth succeeds in an amazingly economical fashion.
In 219 pages of the
main text, including 60 photographs, Mike's precise
prose covers Eddy
Arnold's two careers and the valley between.
Streissguth offers interesting little side notes. Mike
was particularly
intrigued when the son of Speedy McMatt, Eddy Arnold's
first professional partner,
shared the contents of a notebook that included minute
details of the
performing schedules and expenses of the two young
musicians .
It is ironic that one of the best selling singers of
all time had difficulty
securing a recording contract. Record company executives
deemed Eddy Arnold
too smooth to be a country singer. Streissguth, a
recipient of a Master's Degree
from Purdue University, traces the singer's struggle
for success from the time he left
home in 1936 until 1944 when he put out his first
record for RCA.
The decade -- 1945-1955 -- belonged to Eddy Arnold.
According to Streissguth,
whose wife, Leslie, has presented him with two daughters,
Emily and
Catherine, no other recording artist dominated his
genre's
chart listings the way Eddy Arnold did, especially
in the late forties. The
biographer relates fascinating tidbits, such as the
strange history of Eddy
Arnold's first two-chart hit "Anytime."
Streissguth, who also wrote the Jim Reeves biography,
"Like a Moth To a
Flame," details the contribution of others who helped
Eddy Arnold reach
super-star status. Steve Sholes, who called Eddy Arnold
a natural singer,
produced virtually all recording sessions in the early
years. Charles Grean
played bass and wrote arrangements, which included
the first use of strings
in 1956. Future Nashville greats like Chet Atkins
and Owen Bradley honed
their musical talents on early Eddy Arnold recordings.
Perhaps the most poignant revelation involved
the unique relationship
between Eddy Arnold and the late Roy Wiggins. The
talented steel guitarist
was emotionally devastated when Arnold stopped using
him as a result of the
singer's decision to change his musical background.
However, Eddy Arnold kept
an old promise that prompted a revealing comment from
Wiggins. "I'd rather
have Eddy Arnold's word than someone else's contract."
Streissguth provides in-depth insight into the man
whose promotional genius
helped make Eddy Arnold a star. Col. Tom Parker, who
later became infamous
for his control of the career of Elvis, comes across
as an egotist who had a
penchant for self-promotion. Some of Parker's less-than-honest
dealings led Eddy
Arnold to fire him in 1953.
In the late 1950's when Rock n' Roll roared on to the
musical scene, Eddy
Arnold's record sales started to slide. During this
time, Streissguth
reveals, Eddy Arnold sought to reinvent himself.
Mike opines that Eddy Arnold started reaching the
peak of his vocal skills
in the valley of his career. Streissguth recommends
recordings from the late
fifties and early sixties, a time that marked the
beginning of the
transition in Arnold's career. Blending strings with
the sweet sound of the
Anita Kerr Singers, Eddy Arnold began his move to
the middle of the road
musically. In 1965 Eddy Arnold attained new stardom
with the monster hits'
"What 's He Doing in My World" and "Make the World
Go Away." Streissguth
relates interesting recording details about these
songs.
Several people played important roles in Eddy Arnold's
second career. A new
manager, Jerry Purcell, helped to orchestrate Eddy
Arnold's resurgence.
Purcell master minded the transformation of the former
Tennessee Plowboy
into the tuxedo-clad crooner who started appearing
with symphony orchestras
at sold-out concerts. The Arnold-Purcell partnership
is now in its 36th
year. As Streissguth informs, the relationship between
these two gentlemen
of different backgrounds has endured without the encumbrance
of a written
contract.
Another major influence on Eddy Arnold's second career
was Bill Walker. A
native of Australia, Walker wrote arrangements for
a string of Eddy Arnold
crossover hits. Walker, who played piano and conducted
at concerts,
including two sold-out bookings at Carnegie Hall,
provided the perfect, lush
background that helped to showcase Eddy Arnold's mellow
voice to an
ever-widening audience. Streissguth's interviews with
Walker detail how
arrangements were written and songs were selected.
Legendary Chet Atkins also played a pivotal part in
Eddy Arnold's
career. Considered by many to be the greatest guitarist
of all time, Atkins
produced Eddy Arnold records for over a decade. Atkins
admires Eddy Arnold
not only for his singing skill but also for his totally-prepared,
yet easy-going,
approach to recording.
Streissguth offers all kinds of interesting little
stories about other people
who have touched the life of Eddy Arnold, including
Floyd Cramer, Harold
Bradley, Marty Robbins, and John D. Loudermilk. Streissguth
also narrates a
fascinating tale about the hit song "Raindrops Keep
Falling on My Head."
Appropriately, the biographer emphasizes Eddy Arnold's
professional life
rather than his private one. Streissguth does touch
on the 58-year marriage
of Eddy and Sally Arnold. Mike also provides a detailed
account of the
near-fatal automobile accident of the Arnold's son,
Dick, in 1971.
Mike Streissguth concludes the biography with a nostalgic
treat for Eddy
Arnold fans with a sessionography and discography
through 1997. Eddy Arnold
enthusiasts will be tantalized by the dozens of songs
that have never been
released. Streissguth also labels singles and albums
that, in his view, offer
exceptional listening pleasure.
The biography is not just a study of Eddy Arnold, the
singer. It is also a
portrait of a simple man, sensitive and sentimental.
When asked what
impressed him most about Eddy Arnold, Streissguth
replied simply, "His humility."
Mike says that Eddy Arnold is more than just an exceptionally
smooth voice.
"Eddy is a great interpreter of songs. He calls himself
a lyric man and he
is. He makes you feel the lyrics."
"Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound" is a
blend of objective details
and subjective commentary. It is must reading for
anyone who has ever been
touched by the voice of Eddy Arnold.
To Order This Excellent Book Click On The Photo
HOME PAGE
Press "Back" On Your Browser To Return To Preceding Page
