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.
Fool S Hall of Fame
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the fools hall of fame (the fools hall of fame) (the fools hall of fame)
That's where I belong 'cause I was so wrong
For letting you go, for letting you go
The world will see me
In the fools hall of fame (the fools hall of fame) (the fools hall of fame)
They'll stop and they'll say "He turned her away
Why did I break the truest heart beneath the sun?
There may be biggest fools than me but just name me one, just name me one
Till you forgive me I just won't be the same
(Won't be the same) (won't be the same)
Don't say it's the end, please don't make me spend a lifetime of shame
In the fools hall of fame
In the song "Fools Hall of Fame" by Pat Boone, the singer expresses regret for letting go of the person he loved and acknowledges that he belongs in the "fools hall of fame" for doing so. He laments the fact that he broke the heart of someone who loved him dearly and wonders why he made such a foolish mistake. He acknowledges that he may be one of the biggest fools for letting go of someone so true and loyal.
He goes on to say that he will continue to be seen in the "fools hall of fame" until his loved one forgives him. He pleads for forgiveness and begs for a second chance, as he cannot bear the thought of spending a lifetime of shame for his foolish actions. The lyrics are filled with a sense of sorrow and regret, as the singer realizes the gravity of his mistakes and longs for a way to make things right.
Overall, the song "Fools Hall of Fame" expresses the universal feeling of regret and longing for a second chance that many people experience when they make a mistake in a relationship. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, and are sure to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak or regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Just hang my picture
I have accepted that I made a mistake and I am ready to face the consequences
In the fools hall of fame (the fools hall of fame) (the fools hall of fame)
I acknowledge that my actions were foolish and have caused me public humiliation
That's where I belong 'cause I was so wrong
I admit that I was wrong in letting go of the person who truly loved me
For letting you go, for letting you go
I regret my decision to let go of the person who meant the most to me
The world will see me
I will be ridiculed and scorned for my foolish actions
They'll stop and they'll say "He turned her away
People will talk about how I rejected the love that was being offered to me
When she loved him so" (when she loved him so) (when she loved him so)
The woman who loved me unconditionally will be spoken of with sadness and pity
Why did I break the truest heart beneath the sun?
I wonder why I hurt someone who loved me with all their heart
There may be biggest fools than me but just name me one, just name me one
I accept that I am one of the biggest fools there is and there is no one else more foolish than me
Till you forgive me I just won't be the same
I realize that I cannot move on until I am forgiven by the person I hurt
(Won't be the same) (won't be the same)
My life will never be the same until I am forgiven
Don't say it's the end, please don't make me spend a lifetime of shame
I plead with the person I hurt not to give up on me and to give me a chance to make things right
In the fools hall of fame
I am willing to accept the public ridicule and live with the title of being one of the biggest fools ever
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimhilliker2450
That is an amazing string of hit singles.