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.
The Old Rugged Cross
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners were slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
It's shame and reproach gladly bear
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross...
The lyrics of Pat Boone's song The Old Rugged Cross are a testament to the love and devotion that Christians have for the cross on which Jesus was crucified. The song speaks of the cross as an emblem of suffering and shame, and yet it is dear to the hearts of believers because it represents the sacrifice that Jesus made for the salvation of the world. The lyrics suggest that the cross is a symbol of hope for those who have been lost in sin, and that it is a reminder of the love that God has for humanity.
The chorus of the song expresses the singer's commitment to the cross, saying that he will "cherish" it and "cling" to it until the day when he can exchange it for a crown in heaven. This line speaks to the idea that our time on earth is temporary, and that the things we strive for in this life are nothing compared to the eternal rewards that await us in heaven. The final verse of the song promises that those who remain faithful to the cross will one day be called home, where they will share in God's glory forever.
Overall, the lyrics of The Old Rugged Cross are a beautiful expression of the Christian faith and the hope that it offers to believers. The song urges listeners to remain true to their faith and to hold fast to the promise of salvation that is represented by the cross.
Line by Line Meaning
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
There was a cross on a hill far away, made of rugged wood.
The emblem of suffering and shame
This cross symbolizes suffering and shame.
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
I love that old cross where the dearest and best were crucified.
For a world of lost sinners were slain
The dearest and best were crucified for the sake of a world of lost sinners.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
I will treasure this old, rough-hewn cross.
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cherish this cross until I die and lay down all my achievements.
I will cling to the old rugged cross
I will hold tight to that old rugged cross.
And exchange it some day for a crown
Someday I will exchange this old rugged cross for a crown in heaven.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
I will always be faithful to that old rugged cross.
It's shame and reproach gladly bear
I bear its shame and reproach gladly.
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away
Someday he will call me to my distant heavenly home.
Where his glory forever I'll share
There I will share his glory forever.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross...
So I will always treasure that old rugged cross.
Contributed by Madelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mary Narkevicius
One of my old time favorites!!
Eshwar B Padkantwar
Incredible
WILLIAM
It's sad that YouTubeis phasing out the older music and singers. I found this on a specific search for it and not on the channel itself.