Ernest Tubb was born in Crisp, Texas on February 9, 1914 to Calvin and Ellen Tubb. His given name was Ernest Dale Tubb. Still a teenager, Ernest took a job as a soda jerk in San Antonio while learning to play a $5.50 guitar. “I practiced till my fingers bled,” he said, “But it paid off.” He got good enough to land an unpaid job at KONO radio station in San Antonio.

It was during this time that he met Carrie Rodgers, the widow of Jimmie Rodgers, and she became a great influence on Tubb’s singing. In 1936, she helped him land a recording contract with RCA Victor, but was released on their subsidiary, Bluebird Records. He signed with Decca Records in 1940 and produced a major hit a couple of years later, “Walking The Floor Over You.”

Ernest found a flour company that sponsored him for $75 a week, and he was billed as “The Gold Chain Troubador.” Later, his band would be called “The Texas Troubadors.”

Over the next two years, Ernest sold very few records until “Walking The Floor Over You” came along and sold over a million copies. As a result, he was asked to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, where he performed as a regular for over forty years. Right after the big war ended, he hit again, this time with “Rainbow At Midnight.”

Ernest had a unique voice and style and became the most popular artist of the 1940’s. In fact, you could say that Ernest Tubb was the first superstar of country music. He vowed to keep his music “country,” although he was the first to utilize electric guitars, lead and steel. Jukebox owners complained that it was hard to hear acoustic guitars when the bar crowds got rowdy. This change led to the famous Ernest Tubb sound, and the phrase, “Take it away, Leon.”

Ernest Tubb loved and promoted country music. He opened his first of five famous “Ernest Tubb Record Shops” in Nashville, and began broadcasting his “Midnight Jamboree” from the shop every week following the Grand Ole Opry.

During his career, Ernest Tubb recorded more than 150 songs and sold over 30 million records. He had hits such as “Soldier’s Last Letter,” “Filipino Baby,” “There’s A Little Bit Of Everything In Texas,” and later, “Thanks A Lot.” He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1965.

Many young artists got their start with Ernest Tubb, like Jack Greene, Cal Smith, and Willie Nelson. The list includes his own son, Justin Tubb.  Ernest did everything he could to promote their careers. He recorded with several artists and helped their careers also. For instance, Ernest had numerous hits with Red Foley and Loretta Lynn.

Ernest Tubb died on September 6, 1984, but his music lives on. Those of us who love traditional country music enjoy hearing the deep baritone voice of Ernest Tubb from time to time. He knew he wasn’t blessed with the best voice, but he loved to entertain people. The story is that backstage one night, Ernest is reported saying, “I know I can’t sing, but why should I quit – I’m a star!” I can still see him ending a song at the microphone, stepping back, flipping his guitar over and flashing the words written on the back of the guitar, “Thanks A Lot”!

We miss you, Ernest.

Dusty Owens
TCM Radio News