Hank Snow: Country Music Legend

Brooklyn, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada, was the birthplace of Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow on May 9th, 1914. Hank's childhood was quite difficult almost from the beginning. Snow's parents divorced in 1922, and four years later, at the age of 12, Hank ran away from home to escape an abusive stepfather. To support himself, Snow worked as a fishing boat cabin boy, and often entertained the boat's crew with his singing. With his earnings, Hank bought a $5.95 guitar at age 16, and shortly thereafter began performing at a wide variety of venues.

I was totin' my pack along
The dusty Winemaca road
When along came a semi with
High and canvas covered load.

If you're going to Winemaca Mack
With me you can ride
So I climed into the cab
And then I settled down inside.

He asked me if I seen a road
With so much dust and sand
Then I said listen bud I've traveled
Every road in this here land.

I've been everywhere man
I've ben everywhere man
Cross the deserts bare man
I've breathed the mountain air man.

Of travel I've had my share
Man I've been everywhere
I've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo Minnesota
Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota.

Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma
Tampa. Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma
Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo
Tocopilla, Barranquilla and Padilla I'm a killer.

I've been everywhere man
I've ben everywhere man
Cross the deserts bare man
I've breathed the mountain air man.

Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana
Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana
Monterey, Ferriday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa
Glen Rock, Black Rock, Oskaloosa.

Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake
Grand Lake, Devil's Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete's sake.;

I've been everywhere man
I've ben everywhere man
Cross the deserts bare man
I've breathed the mountain air man.

Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika
Shefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica
Pittsfiels, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport
Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond Du Lac, Davenport.

Idaho, Jellicoe, Argentina, Diamontina
Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean-a.

I've been everywhere man
I've ben everywhere man
Cross the deserts bare man
I've breathed the mountain air man.

Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravellburg, Colorado
Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado
Larrimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chattanika
Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika.

Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City
Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity.

I've been everywhere man
I've ben everywhere man
Cross the deserts bare man
I've breathed the mountain air man.

(I know some place you haven't been)
I've been everywhere...

By 1933, Snow had a radio show in Halifax. Although the show was only 15 minutes long, it got him a great deal of attention, and three years later Hank signed a record deal with RCA Victor, and stayed with them for 47 years.

American audiences first discovered Hank Snow's Jimmie Rodgers influenced style of music in the 1940's. "Marriage Vow" was Hank's first American single released in 1949. The year 1950 was a breakout year for Snow. He played the Grand Ole Opry for the first time, and had his first number one hit,"I'm Movin' On", which stayed at the top spot for 21 weeks.

Snow played an important role in the launching of Elvis Presley's career. Snow employed Presley as his opening act in the early fifties, and Elvis first met his long-time manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker through Snow. Bob Dylan also lists Snow and one of his major musical influnces.

Hank was a hit-making machine throughout the 1950s and and into the early 60s. By the mid-60s, however, Snow's popularity as a recording artist had begun to dwindle. Hank's last number one hit was "Hello Love" in 1974.

Snow, also known as "The Singing Ranger" remained an active performer and songwriter well into the 1990s. He continued to be very popular at the Grand Ole Opry until just before his death on December 20, 1999 at his home in Madison, TN at the age of 85.

Snow has been elected to eight different musical Halls of Fame. He was voted Canada's country performer of the year ten times. Hank had seven number one hits, and those hits spent a total of 56 weeks in the number one slot. Even more impressively, Snow had an astounding 85 charted hits, 65 top-forty hits, and 43 top-ten hits. His releases spent an amazing 876 total weeks on the music charts.