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.
My God Is Real
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are some places I can't go
But I am sure of this one thing
That God is real for I can feel him deep within
My God is real real in my soul
My God is real for he has washed and made me whole
His love for me is like pure gold
I cannot tell just how you felt
When Jesus took your sins away
But since that day yes since that hour
God has been real for I can feel his holy power
My God is real real in my soul...
The lyrics of Pat Boone's song "My God Is Real" reflect a deep sense of faith and conviction in the existence and presence of God in one's life. The opening lines suggest that there may be many things in life that we do not know or understand, and places that we cannot reach or explore. However, the one thing that is certain and undeniable is the reality of God's presence, which is deep within the singer's soul. The use of the repetition of the phrase "I can feel him deep within" reinforces the idea that the singer's experience of God is personal and intimate, and not merely an abstract concept or belief.
The chorus of the song further emphasizes the reality and significance of God's existence in the singer's life. The phrase "My God is real real in my soul" conveys a sense of certainty and conviction, and the reference to being "washed and made whole" alludes to the transformative power of God's love and forgiveness. The comparison of God's love to "pure gold" evokes a sense of preciousness and enduring value. The final verse acknowledges the mystery and complexity of the experience of faith, and recognizes that each person's encounter with God is unique and subjective. However, the assurance that God's presence is real and palpable provides a source of comfort and strength for the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
There are some things I may not know
There are certain things beyond my understanding
There are some places I can't go
There are certain places beyond my reach
But I am sure of this one thing
Despise my limitations, I am convinced of one thing
That God is real for I can feel him deep within
The intense feeling inside of me confirms the existence of God
My God is real real in my soul
The presence of God in my innermost being is authentic
My God is real for he has washed and made me whole
The reality of God is evident in how he has cleansed and restored me
His love for me is like pure gold
God's affection for me is as valuable and unalloyed as gold
My God is real for I can feel him deep in my soul
The presence of God in my innermost being is evident
I cannot tell just how you felt
I may not comprehend the experience you had
When Jesus took your sins away
When Jesus forgave you of your sins
But since that day yes since that hour
However, from that moment going forward
God has been real for I can feel his holy power
The divine power of God has been apparent in my life
Contributed by Josiah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mae Carter
Very consoling to know that GOD IS REAL.Thanks for the reminder.
F Mohammed
Jesus my brother friend and my Lord amen
John GEORGE
Such a brilliant, crystal and unique voice Pat Boone. Shook his hand on his way out at Auckland Airport with Shirley Boone.. JG
Sawyersdeb
My Grandmothers favorite song to play on a Sunday evening!! I remember her having his album as a kid!!!
Deusa Moralles
Pat BOONE! Lindas recordaçóes nos filmes de minha juventude !
Walking by the Spirit Always
My God is real, and Jesus Christ is coming in the clouds to take His Bride just as God promised. He has prepared a place for us, and soon we fly and will meet up with Pat's beloved wife who has been enjoying heaven during this waiting period. Maranatha.
steve rector
Amen!
Louis Veerapen
My dad used to play his songs and Jim Reeves back in the mid 70s on records when I was 14.
Florian Casper
Pat Boone el chico bueno y ejemplar de aquellos años.
sam rowe
THE MASTER.