Carl Stuart Hamblen was born October 20th, 1908, in Kellyville, Texas. He was the son of a traveling Methodist preacher. Stuart Hamblen’s career as a Country Western Gospel singer, composer and radio-movie personality was simple... it was destiny. It all began in 1926 on radio KAYO in Abilene, Texas, where he became radio broadcasting’s first singing cowboy. In 1929, he won a talent contest in Dallas, Texas and with the $100 cash prize in hand he headed for Camden, New Jersey, to the Victor Talking Machine Company to seek his fortune. Recording four songs for the forerunner of RCA Victor, Stuart then set out for Hollywood, California, where he auditioned at KFI and went on the air as “Cowboy Joe.” He also became a member of the original “Beverly Hillbillies,” radio’s first spectacularly popular western singing group.

In 1949, he attended a prayer meeting in Los Angeles where a young man named Billy Graham was preaching. He gave up his radio and film work and publicly announced he was devoting his life to Christ.

Stuart Hamblen died on March 8, 1989. Besides his wife, Suzy, he leaves two daughters, Veeva and Lisa Obee, and 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

[Stuart Hamblen was a prolific songwriter, writing over 250 published songs. This list includes “It Is No Secret,” “This Ole House,” “Remember Me (I’m The One Who Loves You),” “Open Up Your Heart (And Let The Sunshine In),” “His Hands,” and “How Big Is God.” – Dusty Owens, TCM Radio News]

More Details