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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSNOW, Hank(b Clarence Eugene Snow, 9 May 1914, Brooklyn, Nova Scotia; d 20 December 1999) Country singer, guitarist, songwriter; one of the all-time greats of the post-war era, called 'The Singing Ranger'; had a record-breaking association with the same label (RCA) for 45 years '34-79. From a poor family, he left home at age 12 as a cabin boy in the Merchant Marine, where he first thought to become a singer. Influenced like so many others by Jimmie Rodgers, he sang in local clubs and on radio in Halifax as Clarence Snow and his guitar, shortened his name and became known as the Yodelling Ranger. Signed to Victor in Montreal '34, recording with his own guitar accompaniment, within ten years one of Canada's leading country performers. To USA mid-'40s, working at WWVA radio in Wheeling WV '45, moved to Hollywood '46 with a show including his performing horse Shawnee, but returned to Canada '47 heavily in debt. Further trips south saw him on KRLD in Dallas, Texas '48; by now his records were being issued by RCA in the USA; he moved to Nashville, appeared on Grand Ole Opry '49, made his USA country chart debut with 'Marriage Vow', and the next disc, his own song 'I'm Movin' On', was nearly a year on the Billboard chart, 18 weeks at no. 1 '50; it was revived early '60s by Ray Charles, and 15 years after that Shel Silverstein wrote new lyrics for Snow: 'I'm Still Movin' On'. |