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About The Artist
Hank Snow Throughout the years, I've heard much said of Hank Snow and his temperament and nature. This was much to the contrary of what I found him to be truly like. Of course, all I can speak of is what I knew of him, the kind of person he really was from my first hand observations. The very first thing that comes to mind, in my recall, is a particular situation that I think best relates his true and deeper nature. It was an event that occurred in his Grand Ole Opry dressing room, the night before my debut there. I had come to see him and as well, appear on the Friday Night Opry's taping of the Grand Ole Gospel show (The Gospel show was recorded after the Opry went off the air on Friday night and was aired on Sundays I believe.)
In any event, all of the Rainbow Ranch Boys were there in the dressing room. They were just as friendly a group of fellas as could be. In all the conversations, at last, one broke out with a story that recalled a 'voluptouous' woman that they had encountered in their touring days. One that literally 'threw herself' (again, voluptuously and literally speaking...!) upon them. I believe you understand what I mean by that. She was speaking right up in their faces, purposely and shamelessly flaunting her wares! That's all it amounted to ... and every one sort of got a chuckle out of it and moved on to other conversation subjects. I really didn't think much of that story as you hear so much of that kind of talk, in and about the business and life, in general.
The next morning, in my hotel room, I get a call from Hank ... apologizing for the incident and assuring me that he had told the band not to be carrying on like that in the dressing room with guests present. I assured him it hadn't bothered me and that I've heard much of the like, many times before. Besides, it was almost 'innocent' humor ... few details supplied and well, just mild, compared to what else I'd heard in my time. This greatly impressed me! This to me, was 'the man' - Hank Snow! High moral fiber, willing to risk whatever ridicule, etc. that might come of his speaking out for the 'decent way'! Not that what the band had said, had even bordered on the more infamous trash-mouths of our time! Again, it was mild comparatively, but again, Hank was that kind of man! A real, super decent man!
Another incident related to the appearance on the Opry shows more Hank's nature. BMI was supposed to send out a photographer that night (per my label at the time) and shoot some promotional shots for the forthcoming CD, "Rig Rock Jukebox" (which featured my "New Blue Yodel" and my 'debut' song for that night), but had something else come up. Hank employed his friend, Ruth Bauer, to shoot the photos instead. This, was all unbeknownst to me, until much later. He was a top-rate person! A quiet man, which is often misread as a stuck-up, etc. (for its reclusive similarities...) but he had a big heart. A good heart. One...that had probably been abused by 'takers' in the past and so, the retreat. I am truly proud to have known him and blessed by his acquaintance. Credits & Sources
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