Born in Maynardville, Tennessee on 23rd November 1903, Roy Claxton Acuff - later to be known as The King of Country Music came from a family that included medics, preachers, politicians and musicians among its ranks. The young Roy learned to play a number of instruments from an early age, although as a youth he favoured the harmonica and the Jew s harp. His mother, a pianist well known in the local community, would often host local gatherings at which Roy would sometimes perform. His first professional engagements were to provide entertainment at Dr. Hauer s Medicine Show. The show could not afford microphones, so Acuff learned to sing loud enough to be heard above the crowds. This skill went on to assist him when performing for early radio broadcasts. This 4CD set brings together the finest recordings made by Roy Acuff across his career, featuring as it does 8 complete, original LPs totalling over five hours of truly unique country music. Serving as both a fine introduction to this great performer s work, and as a welcome reminder of just how good Roy Acuff s timeless recordings still sounds today, this delightful collection will fit in perfectly with the collections of music fans of all genres.
