Happy Birthday George Hamilton IV (July 19, 1937), and there will be a test!
(Title image by DALL-E 3)
Hi WA friends!
Please help me celebrate the music of George Hamilton IV, especially all you WA Country music folk!
A Little History
George Hamilton IV was born on July 19, 1937, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, He was a country music musician, who became internationally well-known for his smooth vocal style and guitar playing. His career began in the late 1950s with the hit "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" (yes, as is the candy bar), which reached the top 10 on the Billboard pop charts.
This early success established him as a bit of teen idol, but he soon transitioned to country music after signing with RCA Victor in 1959.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, George achieved notable success with country hits such as "Before This Day Ends" (1960), "Three Steps to the Phone (Millions of Miles)" (1961), and his most famous song, "Abilene" (1963), which topped the Billboard country chart for four weeks. In 1960, Hamilton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, where he remained a member until his death in 2014.
He was also known for his role in promoting country music internationally. He frequently toured in Canada, Europe, and even behind the Iron Curtain, earning the nickname "The International Ambassador of Country Music."
Why George is Special to Me
When I was a small child my mom would play her ukelele and sing us George Hamilton songs while my dad would accompany her on the banjo. We all danced around the living room for hours and then had a treat, usually chocloate sundays.
I can't really remember a time when there wasn't any music in my life! 😊
Equipment Used
(For all you WA country "gearheads" out there, Lol)
Guitars
- Martin D-28: George often played this iconic dreadnought guitar, known for its full, rich sound that is well-suited for country music.
- Gibson J-200: Another favorite, the J-200 is celebrated for its large body and bright, balanced tone, which worked well with George's vocal style.
Amplifiers
- Fender Twin Reverb: George sometimes used this amp in his later years with a microphone in front of his acoustic guitar, especially when playing in large halls.
Effects
Hamilton's setup was relatively simple, as he preferred a natural acoustic sound without much processing in the recording studio. Effects processing was pretty limited back then.
Honors and Awards
Here is a list, courtesy of ChatGPT.
- Grand Ole Opry Member (1960): Hamilton's induction into the Grand Ole Opry was a significant milestone, reflecting his importance in the country music community.
- Country Music Association (CMA) International Artist Achievement Award: This award recognized Hamilton's efforts in promoting country music on an international scale.
- North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Inductee (2010): Hamilton was honored for his contributions to the music industry, particularly in his home state.
- IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award (2007): This award acknowledged his contributions to bluegrass music and his role in spreading the genre globally.
Discography
Also courtesy of ChatGPT. Check out his Abilene (1963) album if you have to listen to just one!
Studio Albums
- George Hamilton IV (1957)
- To You and Yours (From Me and Mine) (1963)
- Abilene (1963)
- Fort Worth, Dallas or Houston (1964)
- Steel Rail Blues (1965)
- Canadian Pacific (1967)
- Back Where It's At (1968)
- Sing Me a Sad Song (1969)
- Come on Home, Boy! (1970)
- In the 4th Dimension (1971)
- Old Fashioned Hymns (2010): A collaborative album featuring several gospel and country artists.
Live Albums
- Live at the International Festival of Country Music (1981)
Collaborations
- Break My Mind with The Jordanaires (1968)
- Out West Country with The Irish Rovers (1974)
- Feels Like Christmas with Jim Ed Brown (1990)
Most Popular Album
- Abilene (1963): This album includes Hamilton's most famous hit, "Abilene," and remains the most celebrated work in his discography.
Now, For Your Country Music Guitar Test
Check out this electric country guitar that I built about ten years ago. Tell me two main things that are unusual about it. I'm mostly speaking to you, Tim, Dave, Steve, Scott, Fran, Romy, Jay, Eric, and all my other WA guitar-playing friends.
(You may have to enlarge the image to get a closer look)
Tell Me What You Think
Do you like country music, and have you ever heard of George Hamilton IV? If not, definitely take a listen to some of his music and let me know what you think!
And don't forget to answer the test question, if you can! Lol 🧐
Happy Birthday, George Hamilton IV. 🎂 AND ...
Keep On Rockin! 🤘
Frank 🎸
~70% human-written content.
Recent Comments
33
Thanks for commenting, Jeff!
I believe you told me you enjoy Country music, right?? Are you familiar with George?
Looking forward to reading your blogs again! 😎
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
You're very welcome, Myra!
Check out a little of George's music if you enjoy old-style Country. 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Wow, this brings back some memories, Frank.
Listening to the radio on a Saturday evening when on leave and trying to press record on the tape recorder just as the DJ stopped speaking, and trying to press stop before he started speaking again. Failed most times, but they were good songs to listen to.
Bux
Hahaha, Bux
I recorded songs like that on the radio back then, too!
Are you particularly familiar with George's music?
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
It seemed to come up a lot on Saturday afternoon. I used to pinch my dad's c90 cassettes. I'm sure my mother, knew, kept quiet and just replaced them. It was nice as background music on a tinny Philips cassette player.
Yeah, I remember recording on TDK and Maxell high-bias cassette tapes. You can still buy them on Amazon all these years later! Lol
Before that, I was using reel-to-reel tape.
Frank 🎸
Reel to reel. That brings back a vivid school day memory. In fact, its worth a blog - if you promise not to laugh. Not even one snigger.
Watch my space.
Take care my friend
Bux
Hahaha, I never laugh at you, Bux, just with you, and I love reading your blogs! 😎😎
Frank 🤘🎸
See more comments
Hey Frank,
Are the bridge pickup and the head stock/neck from a strat?
Cool custom Tele!!
Your childhood sounds great!! We had barbershop tags ringing out every Friday night. And we were asked (by asked I mean made to) sing one of the four parts to a tag. Our dad would teach us each part and we would go over it until it sounded good. 🎶🎤
Happy Birthday, George!! 🎂🎸
Thanks for sharing, Frank!! 😎🎸🎵
Tim 🎼
Hi Tim
The barbershop thing is super cool! 👍👍😎
Yes, it's a Stratocaster neck on a Telecaster body. They're both the same scale length, but I had to shim the neck joint a little differently.
Both the bridge and neck have Fender SCN Tele pickups. The samarium cobalt magnets have a very different sound that's hard to explain; you have to hear them. Also, the notes ring out more steadily when you bend the strings.
So, you got one out of two answers correct. Here's a hint: What about the controls on the Tele body?? Huh??? 🧐
Frank 🎸
I didn't even notice they were flipped. Nice! You can get to the volume knob quicker!
Thanks for the hint.
Yes! But the control bar isn't just flipped; it's reverse-wired. It's a bit of a pain in the ass to do volume swells on a Tele because the volume control is so far away.
If you just flip it, you will have the tone knob closest to the picking fingers, so it has to be reverse-wired, which gives you (from top to bottom): Volume, Tone, Selector Switch.
Leo figured the Tele selector switch should be conveniently located, so he put it on top.
He continued that thinking with the Strat, but the volume control is also on top of the other two pots, so it is the best of both worlds! Lol 😎
👍
I've never owned a Tele, but I wondered if the tone would be on top after flipping the configuration. Thanks for the Tele lesson, Frank!!
Tim 🎼
A good Tele can do anything, Tim, and they’re practically indestructible! Lol 😎
Frank 🎸