Born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, Boone is a direct descendant of the American pioneer Daniel Boone. He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, attended David Lipscomb College and began recording in 1954 for Republic Records. His 1955 version of "Ain't That a Shame" was a huge hit, selling far better than Fats Domino's original version. This set the stage for the early part of Boone's career, which focused on covering R&B songs by black artists for a white market. Previously, rock 'n' roll had had only limited exposure outside of the African American community. Pat Boone's pale covers gave attention to the more authentic original artists, such as Little Richard and Fats Domino and to rhythm and blues in general. In addition, the songwriters and copyright holders benefited even when individual artists did not.
In fact, only six of Boone's many hit singles were R&B covers, and only four of those were rockers. All were released in the first two years of his long career. These were "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino and "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard, and "At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)" by the El Dorados. The other two R&B covers were well-chosen blues ballads, "I Almost Lost My Mind" by Ivory Joe Hunter and "Chains of Love," a hit for Big Joe Turner and later B.B. King that had been written by Ahmet Ertegun. By 1957, Boone was concentrating on the middle-of-the-road music that dominated his career. He never recorded another R&B cover.
Known as "The Kid in White Buck Shoes", Boone sported a clean-cut image that appealed to white [teens]] and parents. His singing style, a rich baritone, followed in the tradition of his idol, Bing Crosby. Preferring to carry on in the Crosby tradition, he soon began turning more and more to ballads. Some of his biggest hits included "Love Letters in the Sand" (with the instrumental break featuring Boone's whistling), "April Love", "Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love)", and "Don't Forbid Me".
His teen idol popularity in the late 1950s was second only to that of Elvis Presley, and, like Presley, he soon tried his hand at acting. Boone's pictures included 1960's Journey to the Center of the Earth alongside Hollywood notable James Mason.
His recording of the theme song from the 1957 film April Love topped the charts for six weeks and was nominated for an Academy Award. Pat also wrote the theme song for the movie Exodus.
A devout born-again Christian, he was raised in the conservative Church of Christ, but has been a member of a Pentecostal church for more than thirty years. Boone has refused both songs and movie roles that he felt might compromise his standards, including a role opposite the decade's reigning sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe. Among his other achievements, he hosted a TV series in the late 1950s and began writing in the early 1960s, a series of self-help books for adolescents, including Twixt Twelve and Twenty.
The British Invasion effectively ended Boone's career as a hitmaker, though he continued recording throughout the 1960s. In the 1970s, he switched to gospel and country, and he continued performing in other media as well, most importantly radio. He is currently working as the disc jockey of a popular oldies radio show and runs his own record company which provides a much-welcomed outlet for new recordings by 1950s greats who can no longer find a place with the major labels.
Boone married Shirley Lee Foley, daughter of country music great Red Foley and singer Judy Martin, in 1953 and they had four daughters: Cherry, Lindy, Debby, and Laury. In the 1960s and 1970s the Boone family toured as gospel singers and made gospel albums, such as The Pat Boone Family and The Family Who Prays.
In the early 1990s, Boone joined Amway and spoke at many motivational seminars. He was also a distributor. He never reached the coveted Amway rank of Diamond.
In 1997, Boone released In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy, a collection of heavy metal covers revamped to fit his style. To promote the album, he appeared at the American Music Awards in black leather, shocking audiences and losing his respectability among his largest constituency, conservative Christians. He was then fired from Gospel America, a TV show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. About a year later, the controversy died down and many fans, including Jack Hayford, accepted his explanation of the leather outfit being a "parody of himself". He was re-hired by Trinity Broadcasting and Gospel America was brought back.
In 2003, the Gospel Music Association of Nashville, Tennessee recognized his gospel recording work by inducting him into its Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Boone and his wife live in Los Angeles, California. They are members of The Church on the Way in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley. His one-time neighbor was Ozzy Osbourne and his family. Boone's cover of Osborne's song "Crazy Train" became the theme song for The Osbornes. (It appears on The Osbornes Soundrack.) Osborne said that Boone "never complained once" about living next door to his less-than-traditional family.
Boone once claimed to use his own surname in lieu of curse words when upset.
In 2006, Boone penned an article for WorldNetDaily in which he argued that Democrats and others who are against the Iraq War cannot, under any circumstances, be considered patriotic. He also recently was interviewed by Neil Cavuto on Fox News, where he expressed his outrage against the opponents of George W. Bush (namely the Dixie Chicks) that their criticisms of the President showed they did not "respect their elders". Another article defended Mel Gibson after the actor was recorded making an anti-Semitic rant. Despite their differing political views, Pat Boone is friends with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Blueberry Hill
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Blueberry Hill when I found you
The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
And linger until my dreams came true
Though the wind in the willows plays love's sweet melody
But all of those vows we made were never to be
Though we're apart you're a part of me still
The wind in the willows plays...
The lyrics to Pat Boone's "Blueberry Hill" describe the moment when the singer found his true love on a special hill. The line "I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill" refers to the sudden joy or excitement that he felt when he found his loved one. The word "thrill" signifies the happiness and thrill of falling in love. The second line "on Blueberry Hill when I found you" further reinforces that the feeling of joy was triggered by his encounter with his lover on that hill. The moon standing still on Blueberry Hill represents a moment of complete stillness and magic, and the line "And linger until my dreams came true" further emphasizes that moment of deep connection and happiness which led to the fulfilment of a dream.
The third and fourth stanzas of the song reflect the melancholy emotions that arise when the lover is away. The wind in the willows is a metaphor for the sweet melodies of love they shared, but the vows they made could not be fulfilled, leading to their eventual separation. Despite the separation, the lover is still a part of the singer, and he can still feel the same thrill he felt on Blueberry Hill.
Line by Line Meaning
I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill
Finding happiness and excitement in life, like discovering Blueberry Hill.
On Blueberry Hill when I found you
Finding something special, like the singer finding their loved one on Blueberry Hill.
The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
The magic and beauty of Blueberry Hill, feeling like time stands still when there.
And linger until my dreams came true
The lasting happiness and fulfillment of finding one's dreams on Blueberry Hill.
Though the wind in the willows plays love's sweet melody
The natural beauty and romance of the surroundings, like the sound of wind through willows.
But all of those vows we made were never to be
Losing something special, like the vows of love made on Blueberry Hill not coming true.
Though we're apart you're a part of me still
The lasting impact and memories of something special, like the loved one found on Blueberry Hill.
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
The irreplaceable joy and fulfillment found on Blueberry Hill through the loved one.
Writer(s): Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, Larry Stock
Contributed by Elizabeth F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Herb Hunter
Since I couldn’t find Pat Boone’s Blueberry Hill recording anywhere else, I appreciate the effort you put in to restoring the song and posting it here. I had not heard that version of the song since I was 11 years old (1963).
Kohe Kade
You also touched me and made it feel right knowng you listened to it in 1963, the year my dad was born <3
Kohe Kade
I'm about to paint over this record, I felt too horrible, so looked it up.
If you give me your email, I'll send you a pristine, beautiful, amazing condition version of this very record.
I live in N.Z, someone took care of this record, seems sad to paint over it, I'll put it aside and paint over the Ralph Harris and Jamea Last!
Ellen R.
Me too. Pat Boone really had a beautiful voice.
Ussedtrapir
Pat does a terrific job with this song! Thank you for posing it, Clive!
Asrar Chowdhury
Such a melodious voice and control of the notes. Love from Bangladesh.
luis cardenas bermudez
por años no habra otro interprete en el mundo que pat boone gracias
MOYMOY LNG MALAKAS
Still one of the old best favorites , reminds me of younger years
PIERO
Beautiful cover !!!
Kamalika Chanda
I love this song he is the best