Canada has produced a relatively large number of country music performers. This is surprising considering that its population is about 10 percent that of the United States and the fact that it is located far away from the heartland of country music. One of the most successful and talented performers hailing from our neighbor country to the north is Hank Snow.
Some of Hank Snow's most cherished songs have dealt with travelling. Perhaps this arose from his less-than-favorable childhood years. Born on May 9, 1914 in the small village of Brooklyn, located near Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Clarence Eugene Snow learned at an early age what it takes to survive. "I really didn't have any childhood," he said. "When you don't know where you are going to sleep for the night…or find food…you can't think with the mind of a child. You have to think with the mind of a man." At the age of eight, his parents divorced, and young Hank was sent to live with his grandparents, who never really wanted him, and who physically abused him. After four unhappy years with his grandparents, Hank ran way and returned to his mother back in Liverpool. However, his stay was not what he had expected it to be. Soon his mother remarried and they moved to Lunenberg, a fishing village about 75 miles from Liverpool. His new beginning became a nightmare, as his stepfather frequently beat him. Finally, at the age of 12, his stepfather physically threw him out of the house.
Upon leaving home this time, Hank decided to look towards the sea. He spent four years working as a cabin boy in the Atlantic on various fishing boats. Said Hank, "It was a bad situation, but a great education. It teaches you the hard realities of life." In order to relieve their boredom, he would often play harmonica and sing to his fellow crewmates. Finally, at the age of 16, Hank went back home to work in fish plants, as a delivery boy, lobsterman, Fuller Brush salesman, stevedore, lumberjack - he did just about anything to survive.
It was at this time, in the early 1930's, that he became aware of one of his major musical influences - Jimmy Rodgers. He soon convinced himself that his future happiness would come as an entertainer. Having bought a cheap guitar, he practiced regularly and soon he began to sing locally, gradually establishing a loyal following in the area near Halifax. His first break came when he was given the opportunity to have his own radio show, Down On The Farm, where he was known as "Clarence Snow and his Guitar" on CHNS in Halifax. In 1936, he was signed to a recording contract with RCA's'division in Canada, working under the nickname of "Hank, the Yodeling Ranger." The first record he made included "Lonesome Blues Yodel" and "Prisoned Cowboy." It was also at this time that he met and married his wife, Minnie Blanch Aalders. One would have little doubt who Hank considered to be his strongest influence when, in 1937, his wife gave birth to his son, Jimmie Rodgers Snow.
Over the next few years, Hank gained popularity in Canada, but was virtually unknown in the United States. Appearances were soon made in 1944 on two radio stations in Philadelphia and then at WWVA's Wheeling Jamboree. Due to the fact that his voice had changed and he was no longer able to yodel very well, he changed his handle to "Hank The Singing Ranger." Along the way, Hank acquired a horse named Shawnee and he tried his hand at becoming a movie cowboy. He went to Hollywood to pursue his career but he was unsuccessful. While touring throughout Canada he met several popular performers from the States, one of whom was Ernest Tubb, who made arrangements for Hank's debut in Dallas. His first two songs with his Rainbow Ranch Boys were released in 1949 in the U.S. and met with a little success: "Brand On My Heart" and "Marriage Vow."
The year 1950 was a big one for Hank Snow. Early in the year he got a job with the Grand Ole Opry. His famous song, "I'm Movin' On," made it to number 1 and spent an unprecedented 49 consecutive weeks on Billboard's country charts from 1950 to 1951. But perhaps the biggest event of 1950 was when Hank moved to the Nashville area and became a U.S. Citizen. The decade of the 50's was filled with hits for Hank Snow, some of which were "Rhumba Boogie" (1951), "Fool Such As I" (1952), "Spanish Fire Ball" (1953), "I Don't Hurt Anymore" (1954), "Yellow Roses" (1955), "These Hands" (1956), "Tangled Mind" (1957), "Big Wheels" (1958), and "The Last Ride" (1959).
In the 1960's Hank Snow became an international star. He toured Europe in 1961 and Japan in 1964. He and his band even spent eighteen days in Vietnam in 1966, and his lavish Nudie suits made him as recognizable as any performer at that time. Although his hits were less consistent in this decade as he experimented with different crossover songs, he still managed to rack up the hits. Some of these included "Rockin' Rollin' Wave" (1960), "Miller's Cave" (1960), "Beggar To A King" (1961), "I've Been Everywhere" (1962), "Ninety Miles An Hour (Down A Dead End Street)" (1963), "Breakfast With The Blues" (1964), "The Wishing Well (Down In The Well" (1965), "Down At The Pawn Shop" (1967), and "The Name Of The Game Was Love" (1968).
Early in 1974, "Hello Love," the ultimate Hank Snow song, became his first Number One hit since 1962. This same year, RCA extended his contract, making Hank Snow's relationship with them the longest between an artist and a record company. His album, Still Movin' On, was an excellent release in 1977. He was recognized for his songwriting ability by being elected to the Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame in 1978 and he was added to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1979, both honors which he truly deserved.
The 45-year association between RCA and Hank Snow was ended in 1981. He left them because he "would not record the types of things that are going on today. He did not like the direction in which country music was going. He said that "80% of today's would-be country music is a joke and not fit to listen to - suggestive material and a lot of it you can't even understand the words - just a lot of loud music."
Hank continued to make appearances at the Grand Ole Opry in the 1990's, as well as to record and make videos on various small record labels. In 1994, Life magazine added him to their list of "The 100 Most Important People in the History of Country." His autobiography, The Hank Snow Story, was also released in 1994. He has been involved with many charitable organizations, including his own Hank Snow Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse, which was created to help stop other people from undergoing the kind of treatment he received as a child. Currently, Hank lives at his home, Rainbow Ranch, in Madison Tennessee.
Hank Snow is a fine example of a survivor, a performer with the strength to remain true to his standards while those around him have compromised theirs. Country musicians of today do well to follow his example, in order to prevent the extinction of true country music.
Here is a list of some of the honors Hank Snow has been given:
Country Song Roundup's top country singer (1950, 1951, 1953)
Inducted Jimmie Rodgers Hall of Fame (1953)
"I Don't Hurt Anymore" Cashbox's best record (1954)
"I'm Movin' On" voted the All-Time Favorite Country Record (1963)
Billboard magazine's Award of Achievement (1963)
Inducted Nebraska Western Hall of Fame (1963)
Inducted Songwriters Hall of Fame in Nashville (1978)
Inducted Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville (1979)
Inducted Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame (1979)
Inducted Canadian Hall of Honor (1985)
Inducted Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (1989)
Added to Life magazine's list of "The 100 Most Important People in the History of Country"
Order Hank Snow's autobigraphy, The Hank Snow Story (Music in American Life) from Amazon.com!
The Hank Snow Country Music Center was officially opened in August 1997 and is located near Hank's old hometown. Filled with displays and memorabilia of Hank, it is operated by the "Friends of Hank Snow Society" to "celebrate the life and accomplishments of country music legend Hank Snow". The Society also publishes a newsletter and holds an annual Hank Snow tribute celebration, which features performers and a popular "Sounds Like Hank" contest. You may contact them by email at hscmc@ns.sympatico.ca
Several compilations are now available from Music Mill Entertainment featuring live performances from the Louisiana Hayride show which were broadcast on Shreveport, Louisiana's KWKH from 1948-1960. These are a must for any serious collector of classic country music!
Another fine Classic Country Music site may be found at gentleman-jim.com
