Arnold was born on May 15, 1918 on a farm near Henderson, Tennessee. His father, a sharecropper, played the fiddle, while his mother played guitar. As a boy Arnold helped on the farm, which later gained him his nickname—the Tennessee Plowboy. Arnold attended Pinson High School in Pinson, Tennessee, where he played guitar for school functions and events. He quit before graduation to help with the farm work, but continued performing, often arriving on a mule with his guitar hung on his back. Arnold also worked part-time as an assistant at a mortuary.
In 1934, at age 16, Arnold debuted musically on WTJS-AM in Jackson, Tennessee and obtained a job there during 1937. He performed at local nightclubs and was a permanent performer for the station. During 1938, he was hired by WMPS-AM in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was one of its most popular performers. He soon quit for KWK-AM in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by a brief stint at WHAS-AM in Louisville, Kentucky.
He performed for WSM-AM on the Grand Ole Opry during 1943 as a solo artist. In 1944, Arnold signed a contract with RCA Victor, with manager Colonel Tom Parker, who later managed Elvis Presley. Arnold's first single was little noticed, but the next, "Each Minute Seems a Million Years", scored No. 5 on the country charts during 1945. Its success began a decade of unprecedented chart performance; Arnold's next 57 singles all scored the Top Ten, including 19 number one scoring successes.
In 1946, Arnold scored his first major success with "That's How Much I Love You". In 1948, he had five successful songs on the charts simultaneously. That year he had nine songs score the top 10; five of these scored No. 1 and scored No. 1 for 40 of the year's 52 weeks. With Parker's management, Arnold continued to dominate, with 13 of the 20 best-scoring country music songs of 1947–1948. He became the host of Mutual Radio's Purina-sponsored segment of the Opry and of Mutual’s Checkerboard Jamboree, a midday program shared with Ernest Tubb that was broadcast from a Nashville theater. Recorded radio programs increased Arnold’s popularity, as did the CBS Radio series Hometown Reunion with the Duke of Paducah. Arnold quit the Opry during 1948, and his Hometown Reunion briefly broadcasted in competition with the Opry on Saturday nights. In 1949 and 1950, he performed in the Columbia movies Feudin’ Rhythm and Hoedown.
Arnold began working for television in the early 1950s, hosting The Eddy Arnold Show. The summer program was broadcast successively by all three television networks, replacing the Perry Como and Dinah Shore programs. He also performed as a guest and a guest host on the ABC-TV show Ozark Jubilee from 1955–60. Arnold featured in the syndicated Eddy Arnold Time from 1955 to 1957. From 1960 to 1961, he hosted NBC-TV's Today on the Farm.
With the rise of rock and roll in the 1950s, Arnold's record sales declined, though he and fellow RCA Victor recording artist Jim Reeves had a greater audience with popular-sounding string-laced arrangements. Arnold annoyed many people of the country music establishment by recording with the Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra at RCA's studios in New York. The pop-oriented arrangements of "The Cattle Call" and "The Richest Man (in the World)", however, helped to expand his appeal beyond its country music base. This style, pioneered by Reeves and Arnold, became known as the "Nashville Sound". During 1953, Arnold and Tom Parker had a dispute, and Arnold dismissed him. From 1954 to 1963, Arnold's performances were managed by Joe Csida; during 1964 Csida was replaced by Jerry Purcell.
Arnold embarked on a second career that brought his music to a more diverse audience. In the summer of 1965, he had his first Number One country song in ten years, What's He Doing in My World and struck gold again six months later with the song that would become his most well-known Make the World Go Away accompanied by pianist Floyd Cramer on piano and featuring the Anita Kerr Singers. As a result, Arnold's rendition became an international success.
Bill Walker's orchestra arrangements provided the lush background for 16 continuous successes sung by Arnold in the late 1960s. Arnold performed with symphony orchestras in New York City, Las Vegas and Hollywood. He performed in Carnegie Hall for two concerts, and in the Coconut Grove in Las Vegas.[9] During 1966, Arnold was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the youngest performer to receive the honor. The following year Arnold was voted the first-ever awarded Country Music Association's Entertainer Of The Year. Two years later, Arnold released an autobiography named It's A Long Way From Chester County.
Having been with RCA Victor since his debut during 1944, Arnold left the company in 1973 for MGM Records, for which he recorded four albums, which included several top 40 successes. He returned to RCA in 1976.
During the 1980s, Arnold declared himself semi-retired; however, he continued recording. In 1984, the Academy of Country Music awarded Arnold its Pioneer Award. His next album, You Don't Miss A Thing wasn't released until 1991. Arnold performed road tours for several more years. By 1992, he had sold nearly 85 million records, and had a total of 145 weeks of No. 1 songs, more than any other singer.
In 1996, RCA issued an album of Arnold's main successes since 1944 as part of its 'Essential' series. Arnold, then 76 years old, retired from active singing, though he still performed occasionally. On May 16, 1999, the day after his 81st birthday, he announced his final retirement during a concert at the Hotel Orleans in Las Vegas. That same year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences inducted the recording of "Make The World Go Away" into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. In 2005, Arnold received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and later that year, released a final album for RCA entitled After All These Years.
Eddy Arnold died from natural causes at 5:00 a.m. Central Time on May 8, 2008 in a nursing home in Nashville, exactly one week before his 90th birthday. His wife of 66 years, Sally Gayhart Arnold, had preceded him in death by two months. They were survived by two children (Richard E. Arnold, Jr., and JoAnn Arnold Pollard), two grandchildren (K. Michelle Pollard and R. Shannon Pollard, Jr.), and four great-grandchildren (Katie E. Pollard, Sophie Pollard, Rowan Pollard and Ben Johns).
On May 31, 2008, RCA released "To Life", as a single from the album After All These Years. It debuted at No. 49 on the Hot Country Songs charts, Arnold's first entry in 25 years and the recording by the oldest person to chart in Billboard magazine. It set the record for the longest span between a first chart single and a last: 62 years and 11 months ("Each Minute Seems Like a Million Years" debuted on June 30, 1945), and extended Arnold's career chart history to seven decades.
I'll Hold You In My Heart
Eddy Arnold Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like you've never been held before
I'll think of you each day and then I'll dream the night away
Till you are in my arms once more
The stars up in the sky know the reason why
I feel so blue when I'm away from you
I'll hold you in my heart till I can hold you in my arm
The stars up in the sky know the reason why
I feel so blue when I'm away from you
I'll hold you in my heart till I can hold you in my arms
So, darling, please wait for me
In Eddy Arnold's song "I'll Hold You in My Heart," the singer is expressing his love and devotion to his beloved. The lyrics describe how the singer will hold his love in his heart until he can hold her in his arms. He promises to think of her every day and dream of her every night, eagerly waiting for the day when they can be reunited. The imagery of the stars in the sky knowing the reason behind his sadness when he is away from his beloved adds an emotional depth to the longing and desire for their reunion.
The lyrics express a deep and genuine affection that transcends the physical distance between the singer and his lover. It showcases the power of love to overcome barriers and hardships, with the singer promising to wait for his beloved and urging her to do the same. The lyrics are emotional and romantic, and the melody matches the sincerity and tenderness of the words.
Overall Arnold's song "I'll Hold You in My Heart" is a beautiful expression of love and longing. The lyrics are powerfully emotional, and the melody is sweet and tender, making it a timeless love song.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll hold you in my heart till I can hold you in my arm
I will love you and cherish you in my thoughts and heart until I can physically embrace you.
Like you've never been held before
With an unparalleled love and affection that you may have never experienced before.
I'll think of you each day and then I'll dream the night away
I will think of you every day and dream about the moment when I can be with you again.
Till you are in my arms once more
Until the day we can be together and I can hold you in my embrace.
The stars up in the sky know the reason why
The universe itself is witness to the depth of my feelings for you.
I feel so blue when I'm away from you
I experience sadness and loneliness when I am separated from you.
So, darling, please wait for me
Until we can be together again, please hold on to our love and wait for me patiently.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: EDDY ARNOLD, TOMMY DILBECK, HAL HORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrPatdeeee
No disrespect; and recognizing that Elvis was an outstanding entertainer; but a country singer he was not. It was Rock that made his fame.
This song by Eddy Arnold was possibly THE greatest recording ever made of a singer, his guitar and the unbelievable gift of his steel player; little Roy Wiggins that changed "hillbilly music" to Country Music" ever since
NO one could ever equal this tri-musical congregation. LRW was with EA for 25 yrs and played on EVERY record during that time that Eddy recorded, except for "It's a Sin" and "To my Sorrow".
History shows that Eddy got ticked with LR (BECAUSE the fans were clapping louder when Roy did his famous "tingalinging" and Eddy got jealous) and so he decided to try another steel player. He quickly found out he had to "eat crow" and go back to what "brought him to the show". Oh indeed yes. For both songs flopped; which was rare for EA's recordings.
There is possibly no match between a singer and his backup greater, than LRW backing EA; and becoming the driving force behind Eddy's unprecedented success in country music. For he was the first to crossover to "Pop" and instantly became the wealthiest country singer by far; UNTIL Elvis came along.
For what it's worth.
@MrPatdeeee
To me this was Eddy's greatest song EVER. He had MANY hits but NONE could touch this one. I met my sweetheart (then wife for 57 yrs) and we made this song our "Theme Song". The reason it was so apropos, was that I could only see her for 2 months of the year for the first four years of our life while dating. This song came out one month after she and I met. And it became so perfect for our relationship. Whenever we heard this song for 61 yrs, she cried; which brought tears to my heart also. She passed away in my arms 6 days after our 57th anniversary 11 yrs ago. I shall never forget her. So...
I shall cherish her and this song forever. And pray that Jesus will rest her precious soul always.
@bobharris7046
A very moving comment. Rest assured that she is waiting for you and that someday you two will meet again.
@RosyandHerButterflies
Yes Heaven is a safe place that's where my cats are I sing this to them
@Lampoffaithig
😊☺
@Craigdddddd
Hello Pat how are you doing
@MrPatdeeee
@@Craigdddddd I'm teared to nostalgia; listening to this song and writing this reply of yours. Thank you always for saying what you did. I'm now 91 yrs old now. And My sweetheart "Pudden" passed away 16 yrs ago, in my and my 3 children's arms.
My only wants in Heaven; is to praise and love Jesus; and my wife forever. Thanks again dear person. May Jesus bless you and yours always.
@barbarachurch9285
Great song. We need songs like this today and maybe there would not be so many problems in the country.
@Craigdddddd
Hello Barbara how are you doing
@WhiteRussianrock
I got the call from the hospice late at night. My Dad's condition "had changed." I sped over. It was after hours, so someone on staff had to come to the door to let me in. The person who did offered me his condolences. I was too late. I went to my Dad's room and spent time with his body. I then started driving home. My Dad's favorite singer was Eddy Arnold. As I drove home, bewildered and heartbroken, this came on the radio. The radio NEVER plays this. I absolutely think it was a sign from my Dad, and/or from our Lord, that everything was OK.
@Craigdddddd
Hello Keith how are you doing Keith