Roy Acuff was born in Maynardville, Tennessee, to Ida Carr and Simon E. Neil Acuff (a Baptist preacher, judge and tenant farmer), the third of their five children. Originally, Acuff didn't plan to be a singer. Acuff sang in the church choir as a schoolboy, but he was more interested in sports, particularly baseball. Not only was he attracted to the sport, he had a wild streak — after his family moved to Knoxville, he was frequently arrested for fighting. Acuff continued to concentrate on playing ball, eventually becoming strong enough to earn a tryout for the major leagues. However, that tryout never took place. Before he had a chance to play, he was struck by a severe sunstroke while he was on a fishing trip; after the sunstroke, Acuff suffered a nervous breakdown. While he was recovering, he decided that a career in baseball was no longer possible, so he decided to become an entertainer. He began to learn the fiddle and became an apprentice of Doc Hauer, a local medicine show man.
While traveling with the medicine show, Acuff learned how to be a performer -- he learned how to sing, how to imitate, how to entertain, how to put on a show. Soon, Acuff joined the Tennessee Crackerjacks, who had a regular slot on Knoxville radio station WROL. Although he was performing frequently, he wasn't making any significant headway, failing to become a star in Tennessee. One song changed that situation -- "The Great Speckled Bird," an old gospel tune that had become popular with the Church of God sect. After another radio entertainer wrote the words out to the song, Acuff began performing it in his shows. Quickly, he became popular throughout the eastern part of Tennessee and was asked to record the song by ARC, a record label with national distribution. Acuff headed north to Chicago for a recording session, which resulted in 20 different songs. In addition to "The Great Speckled Bird," he recorded "Steamboat Whistle Blues" and "The Wabash Cannonball," another Tennessee standard that featured the singer imitating the sound of a train whistle; he also made a handful of risqué numbers during these sessions, which were released under the name the Bang Boys.
Music career
He then turned his attention to his father's fiddle and began playing in a traveling medicine show, often performing in blackface. He toured the Southern United States and eventually formed a band called "The Crazy Tennesseans".
In 1936, he recorded his two most enduring songs, the traditional The Great Speckled Bird and The Wabash Cannonball. He debuted at the Grand Ole Opry two years later. He was booked as a fiddler, and he should have played the Turkey Buzzard for a square dancing segment, but he decided to try and sing The Great Speckled Bird. His decision was not well received, however. Acuff became a regular on the Opry, forming a backing band called the Smoky Mountain Boys, led by friend and Dobro player Bashful Brother Oswald. By 1940 he was the star of the show.
The Great Roy Acuff LP (1964)Acuff's recording of The House of the Rising Sun on November 3, 1938 is the first known commercial recording of the song. He released several singles in the 1940s such as The Wreck on the Highway, Beneath That Lonely Mound of Clay and The Precious Jewel. During the 1940s he also appeared in eight movies.
In 1942, a man of many talents, he formed a music publishing venture with Chicago songwriter Fred Rose. Acuff-Rose Music became a country music phenomenon, owning huge numbers of copyrights including those by Marty Robbins, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and all of the songs of Hank Williams.
As his record sales declined in the late 1940s and 1950s, Acuff spent most of his time on the road, becoming one of the hottest tickets in country music. In 1962 he was the first living musician elected to The Country Music Hall of Fame. By the 1970s Acuff performed almost exclusively with the Grand Ole Opry, at Opryland USA, greatly legitimizing it as the top institution in country music. He made one rare appearance at Carlton Haney's Camp Spring Bluegrass Festival in 1971.
For his contribution to the recording industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located on 1541 Vine St. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1991.
Political career
Acuff had a brief affair with politics, losing campaigns for the governor of Tennessee as a Republican in 1944 and 1948. In 1970, he campaigned for his friend Tex Ritter in his bid for the GOP nomination for a U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee.
Trivia
A popular legend is that Japanese troops during World War II would enter battle yelling, "To hell with Roosevelt! To hell with Babe Ruth! To hell with Roy Acuff!"
Acuff was initiated as an Entered Apprentice at the East Nashville Freemasonry Lodge in 1943, and raised to Master Mason in 1944. He was made a 33rd Degree Mason on 21 October 1985.
Acuff is thought to be one inspiration for Henry Gibson's character Haven Hamilton in Robert Altman's film Nashville. The fictionalized character was reportedly a composite of several well-known musicians, including Acuff and Hank Snow.
Acuff on recording: "A little secret of my policy in the studio ... whenever you once decide that you are going to record a number, put everything you've got into it. Don't say, 'Oh, we'll take it over and do it again' because every time you go through it you lose just a little something ... [l]et's do it the first time and to hell with the rest of them" - on the classic album Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
U.S. Olympian high jumper Amy Acuff is his distant cousin. Some sources erroneously list her as his daughter.
Hey Good Lookin'
Roy Acuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How's about cookin' something up with me
Hey sweet baby, don't you think maybe
We could find us a brand new recipe
I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill
And I know a spot right over the hill
There's soda pop and the dancin's free
Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
How's about cookin' something up with me
I'm free and ready, so we can go steady
How's about saving and all your time for me
No more lookin', I know I've been tooken
How's about keeping steady company
I'm gonna throw my date book over the fence
And find me one for five or ten cents
I'll keep it till it's covered with age
I'm writing your name down on every page
Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
How's about cookin' something up with me
The lyrics to Roy Acuff's song "Hey Good Lookin'" are all about trying to woo a girl to hang out with him. The song begins with a greeting to the girl, calling her good lookin', and asking what she's got cooking. He suggests that they cook something together, and maybe even find a new recipe. The lyrics imply that they might have a romantic connection and that they are looking for ways to spend time together.
The second verse talks about the singer himself, describing his possessions such as a hot rod Ford and a two-dollar bill. He tells her about a spot where there is free dancing and soda pop, and invites her to accompany him there. In the third verse, he declares his availability for a steady relationship, and asks her to consider saving all her time for him. He tells her that he has stopped looking around for other girls and that he's ready to stick with her.
The final verse brings everything together, as the singer talks about intentionally tossing his little black book and only writing her name on every page. He reinforces his invitation for her to cook up something with him, reminding her once again that he thinks she looks good.
Overall, the song is a playful, flirty tune that uses cooking as a metaphor for spending time together and getting to know each other better. The lyrics paint a picture of a young man trying to impress a girl with his charm and wit.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
Hello there, attractive person. What kind of delicious food are you making right now?
How's about cookin' something up with me
Would you like to cook with me and make something even more delicious? Let's collaborate.
Hey sweet baby, don't you think maybe
Hello, my dear. Do you think it's possible that we could do something together?
We could find us a brand new recipe
Rather than sticking to the same old, let's try to come up with something totally new and exciting.
I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill
I have a fast and fancy car, as well as some extra money to spend.
And I know a spot right over the hill
I'm familiar with a fun place nearby that we could go to.
There's soda pop and the dancin's free
We could enjoy some refreshing soft drinks, and dance all night without spending a dime.
If you wanna have fun come along with me
If you're interested in having a good time, then you should join me on this adventure.
I'm free and ready, so we can go steady
I'm single and available, so we could start a romantic relationship if you're interested.
How's about saving all your time for me
Rather than spending time with other people, wouldn't it be better if you focused on me instead?
No more lookin', I know I've been tooken
I don't need to keep searching for the right person. I know that it's you.
How's about keeping steady company
Would you like to have a committed relationship with me and spend time together frequently?
I'm gonna throw my date book over the fence
I'm willing to give up all my other plans and commitments for you.
And find me one for five or ten cents
I'm willing to replace my expensive date book with a cheap one, as long as it means I can spend more time with you.
I'll keep it till it's covered with age
I'll cherish this new date book and keep it for a long time.
I'm writing your name down on every page
I'm making sure that your name is front and center in my new date book, because you're the most important person to me.
Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
Hello there again, attractive person. What else are you cooking up?
How's about cookin' something up with me
Let's keep working together and creating new things. Cooking is just the beginning of what we could accomplish.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Sr. Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind