Elton Britt
| Elton Britt | |
|---|---|
 Britt in 1950. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Elton Baker |
| Born |
June 27, 1913 Marshall, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | June 22, 1972 (aged 58) |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1942–1970 |
Elton Britt (June 27, 1913 – June 22, 1972),[1] was an American country music guitarist and singer-songwriter.
Biography
Elton Britt was born James Elton Baker, in Marshall, Arkansas, a small town in Searcy County, United States. He recorded over 600 sides and 60 albums for RCA and other labels in more than a 30-year span, and is best known for such hit songs (several of which he wrote or co-wrote) as "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)," "Detour," "Chime Bells," "Maybe I'll Cry Over You," "Pinto Pal," and the million-selling wartime hit "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere".The recording had sold a million discs by 1944 and it was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[2]
A singer, bandleader, radio and television performer, songwriter and standard-setting yodeler, he starred in at least two films in the late 1940s, and had hit records as late as 1968 with "The Jimmie Rodgers Blues".
He died on June 22, 1972, five days before his 59th birthday, due to a heart attack.
He had at least four children, at least three boys and one daughter. His father was James Baker, and he had two sisters, Gretta Sanders and Druse Baker, and several brothers.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Yodel Songs | RCA Victor | |
| 1959 | The Wandering Cowboy | ABC | |
| 1960 | Beyond the Sunset | ||
| I Heard a Forest Praying | |||
| 1963 | The Best 1 | RCA Victor | |
| 1965 | Singing Hills | ABC | |
| 1966 | Somethin' for Everyone | 31 | |
| 1968 | The Jimmie Rodgers Blues | RCA Victor | |
| 1970 | Sings Modern Country | Certron | |
| 1972 | The Best 2 | RCA Victor | |
| 16 Great Country Performances | ABC | ||
| 1983 | Days of the Yodeling Cowboys | Cowgirlboy | |
| 1984 | More Days of the Yodeling Cowboys | ||
| 1986 | Star Spangled Stardust |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | ||
| 1942 | "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" | 7 | |
| 1945 | "I'm a Convict with Old Glory in My Heart" | 7 | |
| 1946 | "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" | 2 | |
| "Wave to Me, My Lady" | 3 | 19 | |
| "Blueberry Lane" | 4 | ||
| "Detour" | 5 | ||
| "Blue Texas Moonlight" (w/ The Skytoppers) | 6 | ||
| "Gotta Get Together with My Gal" | 4 | ||
| 1948 | "Chime Bells" (w/ The Skytoppers) | 6 | |
| 1949 | "Candy Kisses" (w/ The Skytoppers) | 4 | |
| 1950 | "Beyond the Sunset" (w/ The Three Suns & Rosalie Allen) | 7 | |
| "Quicksilver" (w/ Rosalie Allen) | 3 | ||
| 1952 | "The Rovin' Gambler"[3] | ||
| 1956 | "Cannonball Yodel" | - | |
| 1968 | "The Jimmie Rodgers Blues" | 26 | |
| 1969 | "The Bitter Taste" | 71 | |
References
- ↑ "Elton Britt". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
- ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 27. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ↑ "Elton Britt - The Rovin' Gambler (1952).". YouTube. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
External links
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