Elton Britt (July 27, 1912–June 23, 1972), born James Britt Baker, was a country music singer, songwriter and author who sang and played guitar since his mid-teens.
Biography
Elton Britt was born in Marshall, Arkansas, (actually in Zack, just outside Marshall) and gained his first success as a singing sensation with the Los Angeles-based "Beverly Hillbillies" band in Los Angeles before moving to New York City in the mid-1930s.
He recorded over 600 sides and 60 albums for RCA and other labels in more than a 30-year span, and is best known for such hit songs (several of which he wrote or co-wrote) as "Detour," "Chime Bells," "Maybe I'll Cry Over You," "Pinto Pal," and the million-selling wartime hit "There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere." A singer, bandleader, radio and television performer, songwriter and standard-setting yodeler, he starred in at least two films in the late 1940s and had hit records as late as "The Jimmie Rodgers Blues" in 1968. He died June 23, 1972. A monument adorned by the bust of Elton Britt can be found on his grave in Broad Top City, Pennsylvania.
Discography
Albums
| Year |
Album |
US Country |
Label |
| 1956 |
Yodel Songs |
|
RCA Victor |
| 1959 |
The Wandering Cowboy |
|
ABC |
| 1960 |
Beyond the Sunset |
|
| I Heard a Forest Praying |
|
| 1963 |
The Best 1 |
|
RCA Victor |
| 1965 |
Singing Hills |
|
ABC |
| 1966 |
Somethin' for Everyone |
31 |
| 1968 |
The Jimmie Rodgers Blues |
|
RCA Victor |
| 1970 |
Sings Modern Country |
|
Certron |
| 1972 |
The Best 2 |
|
RCA Victor |
| 16 Great Country Performances |
|
ABC |
| 1983 |
Days of the Yodeling Cowboys |
|
Cowgirlboy |
| 1984 |
More Days of the Yodeling Cowboys |
|
| 1986 |
Star Spangled Stardust |
|
Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart Positions |
| US Country |
US |
| 1942 |
"There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" |
|
|
| 1945 |
"I'm a Convict with Old Glory in My Heart" |
7 |
|
| 1946 |
"Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" |
2 |
|
| "Wave to Me, My Lady" |
3 |
19 |
| "Blueberry Lane" |
4 |
|
| "Detour" |
5 |
|
| "Blue Texas Moonlight" (w/ The Skytoppers) |
6 |
|
| "Gotta Get Together with My Gal" |
4 |
|
| 1948 |
"Chime Bells" (w/ The Skytoppers) |
6 |
|
| 1949 |
"Candy Kisses" (w/ The Skytoppers) |
4 |
|
| 1950 |
"Beyond the Sunset" (w/ The Three Suns & Rosalie Allen) |
7 |
|
| "Quicksilver" (w/ Rosalie Allen) |
3 |
|
| 1968 |
"The Jimmie Rodgers Blues" |
26 |
|
| 1969 |
"The Bitter Taste" |
71 |
|
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
