Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, author, television personality, radio host and philanthropist. He sold nearly 50 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and has acted in many films.
Boone rivalled
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
's popularity in the 1950s and is ranked by ''Billboard'' as one of the biggest charting artists in the period 1955–1995. Boone spent 220 consecutive weeks on the
''Billboard'' charts with one or more songs each week.
Through the 1960s, Boone was one of the most popular entertainers in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, becoming a
teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity with a large teenage fan base. Teen idols are generally young but are not necessarily teenagers themselves. An idol's popularity may be limited to teens, or may extend to all age groups.
By region Asia
Ea ...
as an alternative to the perceived
hedonism
Hedonism is a family of Philosophy, philosophical views that prioritize pleasure. Psychological hedonism is the theory that all human behavior is Motivation, motivated by the desire to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. As a form of Psycholo ...
of rock and roll, due to his activities as singer, writer, actor and religious motivational speaker.
In 1957, at the age of 23, Boone commenced a half-hour
ABC variety television series, ''The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom'', which aired 115 episodes (1957–1960). Stars including
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is a British singer and actor. He has total sales of over 21.5 million singles in the United Kingdom and, as of 2012, was the third-top-selling artist in UK Singles Chart histo ...
,
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, alternatively billed as Nat "King" Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and Traditional pop, pop ...
,
Edie Adams,
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hos ...
,
Pearl Bailey, and
Johnny Mathis
John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer. Starting his 69-year career with singles of standard (music), standard music, Mathis is one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century and became highly popular as ...
made appearances. His
cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
s of
rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predomina ...
hits had a noticeable effect on the development of the broad popularity of
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
opened for Boone in
Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
in 1955 and the two later became close friends.
As an author, Boone had a number-one bestseller in the 1950s (''
'Twixt Twelve and Twenty'', Prentice-Hall). In the 1960s, he focused on
gospel music
Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music vary according to culture and social context. Gospel music is compo ...
. Later, he became a member of the
Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Today, he continues to perform and speak as a motivational speaker, a television personality, and a
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
political commentator.
Early life
Boone was born June 1, 1934, in
Jacksonville
Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
, to Margaret Virginia (née Pritchard) and Archie Altman Boone. He grew up in
Nashville
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
, where his family moved when he was two years old. He graduated in 1952 from
David Lipscomb High School in Nashville. His younger brother Cecil (1935–2023), billed as
Nick Todd, was born one year later to the day,
and was also a pop singer in the 1950s before becoming a church music leader.
In a 2007 interview on ''
The 700 Club'', Boone claimed to be the great-great-great-great-grandson of the American pioneer
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...
.
Boone primarily attended David Lipscomb College, later
Lipscomb University, in Nashville. He graduated in 1958 from
Columbia University School of General Studies ''
magna cum laude
Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sout ...
'' having previously attended North Texas State University, now known as the
University of North Texas, in
Denton, Texas
Denton is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Denton County, Texas, Denton County. With a population of 139,869 as of 2020, it is the List of cities in Texas by population, 20th-most populous city in Texas, the List of Un ...
.
Career
Music
Boone began his career by performing in Nashville's
Centennial Park.
He began recording in April 1953 for Republic Records (not to be confused with
the current label with that name), and by 1955, for
Dot Records. His 1955 version of
Fats Domino
Antoine Caliste Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New Orl ...
's "
Ain't That a Shame" was a hit. This set the stage for the early part of Boone's career, which focused on covering R&B songs by black artists for a white American market.
[Karen Schoemer](_blank)
"More Mr. Nice Guy", ''American Heritage'', Feb/March 2006. Randy Wood, the owner of Dot, issued an R&B single by the Griffin Brothers in 1951 called "Tra La La-a" — a different song from the later
LaVern Baker song of the same name — and was keen to put out another after the original failed. This became the
B-side of the first Boone single "Two Hearts Two Kisses", originally by the Charms.
A number-one single in 1956 by Boone was a cover of "
I Almost Lost My Mind", by
Ivory Joe Hunter
Ivory Joe Hunter (October 10, 1914 – November 8, 1974) was an American rhythm-and-blues singer, songwriter, and pianist. After a series of hits on the US R&B chart starting in the mid-1940s, he became more widely known for his hit recordi ...
, which was previously covered by
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, alternatively billed as Nat "King" Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and Traditional pop, pop ...
. According to an opinion poll of high-school students in 1957, Boone was nearly the "two-to-one favorite over Elvis Presley among boys and preferred almost three-to-one by girls ..." During the late 1950s, he made regular appearances on ABC-TV's ''
Ozark Jubilee'', hosted by his father-in-law. He cultivated a safe, wholesome, advertiser-friendly image that won him a long-term product endorsement contract from
General Motors
General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company is most known for owning and manufacturing f ...
in the late 1950s. He succeeded
Dinah Shore singing the praises of the GM product: "See the USA in your Chevrolet ... drive your Chevrolet through the USA, America's the greatest land of all!" GM also sponsored ''The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom''.
Many of Boone's hits were covers from Black artists. Along with "Ain't That a Shame" were "
Tutti Frutti" and "
Long Tall Sally" by
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...
,
"
At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)" by
The El Dorados, and the
blues ballads "
I Almost Lost My Mind" by
Ivory Joe Hunter
Ivory Joe Hunter (October 10, 1914 – November 8, 1974) was an American rhythm-and-blues singer, songwriter, and pianist. After a series of hits on the US R&B chart starting in the mid-1940s, he became more widely known for his hit recordi ...
, "I'll be Home" by
the Flamingos and "
Don't Forbid Me" by
Charles Singleton. Boone is known as an example of
whitewashing by taking songs by Black artists and sanitizing them to make them more palatable to a white audience, which denied exposure to the Black artists.
Boone also wrote lyrics for the instrumental theme song for the movie ''
Exodus'', which he titled "This Land Is Mine". (
Ernest Gold composed the music.)

As a conservative Christian, Boone declined songs or movie roles if they compromised his beliefs, including a film with
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...
. In one of his first films, ''April Love'', the director,
Henry Levin, wanted him to kiss co-star
Shirley Jones
Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) is an American actress and singer. In her six decades in show business, she has starred as wholesome characters in a number of musical films, such as ''Oklahoma! (film), Oklahoma!'' (1955), ''Carousel (fi ...
. Since this would be his first onscreen kiss, Boone cleared it with his wife before playing the scene. He had his own film production company, Cooga Mooga Productions.
He was a regular on ''
Arthur Godfrey and His Friends'' from 1955 until 1957 and later hosted ''The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom'' on Thursday evenings. In 1959, his likeness was licensed to
DC Comics
DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...
, first appearing in ''
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' No. 9 (May 1959) before starring in his own series from the publisher, which lasted five issues from September 1959 to May 1960. In the early 1960s, he began a series of self-help books for adolescents, including ''
'Twixt Twelve and Twenty''. The
British Invasion
The British Invasion was a cultural phenomenon of the mid-1960s, when Rock music, rock and pop music acts from the United Kingdom and other aspects of Culture of the United Kingdom, British culture became popular in the United States with sign ...
ended Boone's career as a hitmaker, though he continued recording throughout the 1960s. In 1966, he participated in the
Sanremo Music Festival in Italy, performing ''Mai mai mai Valentina'' alongside
Giorgio Gaber and ''Se tu non-fossi qui'' with
Peppino Gagliardi. During his trip to Italy, he visited the headquarters of
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello. Founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), the company built Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, its first car in 1940, adopted its current name in 1945, and be ...
at
Maranello with the intention of buying a
Superamerica Sports Car, but
Enzo Ferrari dissuaded him from purchasing that model by saying that there would not have been enough room for Boone's four daughters, and sold him a four-door
Ferrari 2+2 instead. In a 2021 interview, Boone admitted having later sold the "Ferrari (I) didn't like" to
Tom Smothers
Thomas Bolyn Smothers III (February 2, 1937 – December 26, 2023) was an American comedian, actor, composer, and musician, widely known as half of the musical comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, alongside his younger brother Dick Smothers, Dick. I ...
of the comedic duo
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers were the American duo of brothers Tom Smothers, Tom and Dick Smothers, who performed folk singer, folk singing, music, and comedy. The brothers' trademark double act was performing folk songs (Tommy on Steel-string guitar, a ...
.
In the 1970s, he switched to
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...
and
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
; he also continued performing in other media. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Boone family toured as gospel singers. The family also made gospel albums, such as ''The Pat Boone Family'' and ''The Family Who Prays''.
In 1973, he released S-A-V-E-D, a gospel-studio album. Two songs of the album were written by his friend
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...
, who said of it:
In the early 1970s, Boone founded the record label
Lamb & Lion Records, with himself, the Pat Boone Family,
Debby Boone
Deborah Anne Boone (born September 22, 1956) is an American singer, author, and actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, " You Light Up My Life", which spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the G ...
,
Dan Peek,
DeGarmo and Key, and Dogwood as the principal artists. In 1974, Boone was signed to the
Motown
Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...
country subsidiary Melodyland. In 1978, Boone became the first target in the
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) United States antitrust law, antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. It ...
's crackdown on false-claim product endorsements by celebrities. He had appeared with his daughter Debby in a commercial to claim that all four of his daughters had found a preparation called Acne-Statin a "real help" in keeping their skin clear. The FTC filed a complaint against the manufacturer, contending that the product did not really keep skin free of blemishes. Boone eventually signed a consent order in which he promised not only to stop appearing in the ads, but also to pay about 2.5% of any money that the FTC or the courts might eventually order the manufacturer to refund to consumers. Boone said, through a lawyer, that his daughters actually did use Acne-Statin, and that he was "dismayed to learn that the product's efficacy had not been scientifically established as he believed."
Boone hosts a weekly radio show, the ''Pat Boone hour'', on the ''50s Gold'' channel on
SiriusXM.
Later work

In 1994, Boone played the title role in ''The Will Rogers Follies'' in
Branson, Missouri. In 1997, he released ''
In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy'', a collection of
heavy metal covers.
To promote it, he appeared at the
American Music Award
The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show produced by Dick Clark Productions since 1974. Nominees are selected on commercial performance such as sales and airplay. Winners are determined by a poll of the public and ...
s in black leather, which resulted in his dismissal from ''Gospel America'', a TV show on the
Trinity Broadcasting Network. After a special appearance on TBN with the president of the network,
Paul Crouch, and his pastor, Jack Hayford, his explanation of the leather outfit being a "parody of himself" was accepted. TBN reinstated him, and ''Gospel America'' was back on the air.
In 2003, the Nashville
Gospel Music Association recognized his gospel career by inducting him into the
Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, Boone released ''We Are Family: R&B Classics'', featuring cover versions of 11 R&B hits, including the title track, plus "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "Soul Man", "Get Down Tonight", "A Woman Needs Love", and six other classics.
In 2010, plans were announced for the Pat Boone Family Theater at
Broadway at the Beach in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the "Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. Its ...
, but the attraction was never built.
In 2011, Boone acted as spokesperson for Security One Lending, a reverse mortgage company.
He has also acted as spokesperson for Swiss America Trading Corporation, a broker of gold and silver coins that warns of "America's Economic Collapse".
In 2023 Boone was a guest vocalist on ''
Born to Be Wild'', an album by
Ann-Margret, for a duet, "
Teach Me Tonight". The following year, at 90, he released a single, "Where Did America Go?"
In 2025 Pat Boone set the record for the longest span between entries on
Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, achieving this record with his song "''One - Voices for Tanzania''". His initial appearance on the chart was with "
Moody River" on July 17, 1961, and his return after 63 years, 8 months, and 3 weeks.
Personal life
In 1953, Boone married Shirley Lee Foley,
the daughter of
Red Foley and
Judy Martin. The Boones had four daughters:
Cheryl "Cherry" Lynn, Linda "Lindy" Lee,
Deborah "Debby" Ann, and Laura "Laury" Gene.
In the late 1950s, Boone and his family were residents of
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. The town is know for their pancake throwing contest held ...
. Shirley Boone was also a recording artist and television personality, though less known than her husband. She founded a hunger-relief Christian ministry that evolved into
Mercy Corps.
She died in 2019, aged 84, at the couple's Beverly Hills home.
Politics
Boone has been a close friend to many U.S. presidents, including
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
and
Jimmy Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
. Boone supported
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and major general in the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Re ...
in the
1964 United States presidential election.
At a 1961 gathering at
Pepperdine College, Boone said, "I would rather see my four girls shot and die as little girls who have faith in God than leave them to die some years later as godless, faithless, soulless communists."
Boone is a staunch supporter of
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
and he shares a close relationship with Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu (born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who has served as the prime minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime min ...
.

In the 2007 Kentucky gubernatorial election, Boone campaigned unsuccessfully for incumbent
Republican Ernie Fletcher
Ernest Lee Fletcher (born November 12, 1952) is an American physician and politician who was the List of governors of Kentucky, 60th governor of Kentucky from 2003 to 2007. He previously served three consecutive terms in the United States House ...
with a recorded automated telephone message stating that the
Democratic Party candidate
Steve Beshear would support "every homosexual cause". As part of the campaign, Boone asked, "Now do you want a governor who'd like Kentucky to be another San Francisco?" In 2009, during
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
's first term in office, Boone wrote an article comparing liberalism to cancer, likening it to "black filthy cells". In December 2009, Boone endorsed conservative Republican John Wayne Tucker in
Missouri's 3rd congressional district against incumbent
Russ Carnahan in the 2010 midterm elections. In 2010, Boone endorsed Republican Clayton Trotter in the race for
Texas's 20th congressional district with an ad campaign referencing his song "
Speedy Gonzales", about
the Looney Tunes character. Boone received a lifetime achievement award at the 38th annual Conservative Political Action Conference held in 2011.
In 2016, Boone, with
Mike Huckabee and executive producer Troy Duhon, all of whom were involved in the film ''
God's Not Dead 2'', sent a letter to California Governor
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. (born April 7, 1938) is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic P ...
in opposition to Senate Bill 1146, which "prohibits a person from being subjected to discrimination" at California colleges. Other than schools that train pastors and theology teachers, schools "might no longer be allowed to hire Christian-only staff, teach religious ideas in regular classes, require attendance at chapel services, or keep bathrooms and dormitories restricted to either males or females".
Basketball
Boone is a basketball fan and had ownership interests in two teams. He owned a team in the Hollywood Studio League called the Cooga Moogas, which included
Bill Cosby
William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American retired comedian, actor, and media personality. Often cited as a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was a film, television, and stand-up comedy ...
,
Rafer Johnson,
Gardner McKay,
Don Murray, and
Denny "Tarzan" Miller.
When the
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The upstart ABA operated in direct competition with the more established National Basketball Association thr ...
launched in 1967, Boone was the majority owner of the league's team in
Oakland, California
Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...
.
The team was first named the Oakland Americans, but was soon renamed the
Oakland Oaks, the name under which it played from 1967 to 1969.
The Oaks won the
1969 ABA championship.
Despite their success on the court, the team had severe financial problems. In 1969,
Bank of America
The Bank of America Corporation (Bank of America) (often abbreviated BofA or BoA) is an American multinational investment banking, investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered at the Bank of America Corporate Center in ...
threatened to foreclose on a $1.2 million loan, and Boone sold the team to a Washington, D.C.-based investment group, and the team became the
Washington Caps.
Boone later played for the Virginia Creepers, an 80–84 age group
Senior Olympics team that narrowly lost to the gold medal-winning team; Boone aged out at 85 in 2019.
Philanthropy
Boone and his wife have been active in charitable endeavors. Together, they supported the founding of
Mercy Corps in 1981, a global humanitarian organization focused on crisis response and development in over 40 countries. This initiative stemmed from an earlier project, ''Save the Refugees'', which Shirley launched in 1979, during the
Cambodian crisis.
The Boones also contributed to the creation of the Shirley and Pat Boone Life Center in Tanzania which provides clean drinking water, medical care, and education to local communities. The couple also created, through a multi-million dollar donation, the Shirley and Pat Boone Center for the Family at
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University () is a private university, private Christianity, Christian research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Pepperdine's main campus consists ...
, which educates students on building moral and healthy relationships.
Artistry and influence
Boone has performed in many
musical genres such as
pop,
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
,
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
,
R&B,
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...
, and
soul
The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...
.
Popularity
It is estimated that over the course of his career, he has recorded more than 2,600 official tracks, making him one of the most prolific artists in music history.
He has 38 hits on the U.S. Top 40, securing the number one spot six times. Until the 2010s, he held the record for the most consecutive weeks in the U.S. charts with at least one single in the
Top 100, totaling 220 weeks.
No. 1 singles in the United States (
''Billboard'' Hot 100):
* "Ain't That a Shame" (1955)
* "I Almost Lost My Mind" (1956)
* "Don't Forbid Me" (1957)
* "Love Letters in the Sand" (1957)
* "April Love" (1957)
* "Moody River" (1961)
No. 1 singles in the United Kingdom (
UK Singles Chart):
* "I'll Be Home" (1956)
Religion
Boone grew up in the
Church of Christ.
In the 1960s, Boone's marriage to Shirley Foley nearly came to an end because of his use of alcohol and his predilection to attend parties. However, after coming into contact with the
Charismatic Movement, Shirley focussed on her religion and eventually influenced Pat and their daughters to have a similar religious focus. At the time they attended the Inglewood Church of Christ in
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city had a population of 107,762. ...
.
In 1964, Boone spoke at a "Project Prayer" rally at the
Shrine Auditorium
The Shrine Auditorium is a landmark large-event venue in Los Angeles, California. It is also the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 139) in 1975, an ...
in Los Angeles. The gathering, which was hosted by
Anthony Eisley, a star of ABC's ''
Hawaiian Eye'' series, sought to flood the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
with letters in support of mandatory
school prayer, following two decisions in 1962 and 1963 of the
United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on question ...
that struck down mandatory prayer as conflicting with the
Establishment Clause
In United States law, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, together with that Amendment's Free Exercise Clause, form the constitutional right of freedom of religion. The ''Establishment Clause'' an ...
of the
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents Federal government of the United States, Congress from making laws respecting an Establishment Clause, establishment of religion; prohibiting the Free Exercise Cla ...
.
Joining Boone and Eisley at the Project Prayer rally were
Walter Brennan,
Lloyd Nolan,
Rhonda Fleming,
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Mae Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most famously for h ...
, and
Dale Evans. Boone declared, "(W)hat the communists want is to subvert and undermine our young people... I believe in the power of aroused Americans, I believe in the wisdom of our Constitution.... the power of God."
It was reported that
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998), nicknamed the King of the Cowboys, was an American singer, actor, television host, and Rodeo, rodeo performer.
Following early work under his given name, first as a c ...
,
John Wayne
Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...
,
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
,
Mary Pickford
Gladys Louise Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American film actress and producer. A Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood, pioneer in the American film industry with a Hollywood care ...
,
Jane Russell,
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...
, and
Pat Buttram endorsed the goals of the rally and would have attended had their schedules not been in conflict.
In the early 1970s, the Boones hosted
Bible
The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writt ...
studies for such celebrities as
Doris Day
Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer in 1937, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, "Sentimental Journey ...
,
Glenn Ford,
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor ( , ; born Sári Gábor ; February 6, 1917 – December 18, 2016) was a Hungarian Americans, Hungarian-American socialite and actress. Her sisters were socialites and actresses Eva Gabor and Magda Gabor.
Gabor competed in the ...
, and
Priscilla Presley. The Boones attended
The Church on the Way in
Van Nuys
Van Nuys ( ) is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley.
History
In 1 ...
, a
Foursquare Gospel megachurch pastored by
Jack Hayford.
On a 2016 broadcast of
Fox News Radio's ''
The Alan Colmes Show'', Boone discussed an episode of ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...
'' that included a sketch entitled ''God Is a Boob Man''; the sketch parodied the film ''
God's Not Dead 2'', in which Boone had a role.
[Pat Boone: The FCC Should Punish Blasphemy](_blank)
on '' The Alan Colmes Show''; published April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016 Boone described the sketch as "
blasphemy
Blasphemy refers to an insult that shows contempt, disrespect or lack of Reverence (emotion), reverence concerning a deity, an object considered sacred, or something considered Sanctity of life, inviolable. Some religions, especially Abrahamic o ...
", stating that the
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...
should forbid such content and revoke the broadcast licenses of any "network, or whoever is responsible for the shows".
Film
In 1956, Boone was one of the biggest recording stars in the US. Several studios pursued him for movies. He went with
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...
, which had made
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
's first movie.
Fox reworked a play he had bought, ''Bernardine'', into a vehicle for Boone. It was a hit, earning $3.75 million in the US.
Even more popular was ''
April Love'' (1957), a remake of ''
Home in Indiana''. Boone regards it as one of his favourites, "the kind of movie I wish I could have made 20 more of: a musical, appealing characters, some drama, a good storyline, a happy ending, it's the kind of film which makes you feel good. I never wanted to make a depressing or immoral film."
Less popular was a musical comedy ''
Mardi Gras'' (1958), which was the last movie directed by
Edmund Goulding. However, ''
Journey to the Center of the Earth
''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' (), also translated with the variant titles ''A Journey to the Centre of the Earth'' and ''A Journey into the Interior of the Earth'', is a classic science fiction novel written by French novelist Jules Ve ...
'' (1959), a science fiction adventure tale, was a huge hit. Boone had been reluctant to do it, and needed to be persuaded by being offered the chance to sing several songs and getting a percentage of the profits, but was glad he did.
He produced and starred in a documentary, ''
Salute to the Teenagers'' (1960), but did not make a film for a while, studying acting with
Sanford Meisner. He returned with a military comedy, ''
All Hands on Deck'' (1961), a mild hit.
He was one of several names in another remake, ''
State Fair
A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in t ...
'' (1962), which disappointed at the box office. Musicals were becoming less fashionable in Hollywood, so Boone took on a dramatic role in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer-distributed ''
The Main Attraction'' (1962) for
Seven Arts Productions, his first movie outside Fox. It was an unhappy experience for Boone as he disliked the implication his character had sex with
Nancy Kwan's and he got into several public fights with the producers.
He had a deal with Fox to make three films at $200,000 each with his production company. This was meant to start with a thriller, ''
The Yellow Canary'' (1963), in which Boone would play an unsympathetic character. New management came in at the studio, which was unenthusiastic about the picture but because Boone had a pay or play deal, it was made, but with a much-reduced budget. Boone paid some money out of his own pocket to help complete it.
[Mark Thomas McGee, ''Talk's Cheap, Action's Expensive: The Films of Robert L. Lippert'', Bear Manor Media, 2014, pp. 271–72]
Boone's next movie at Fox was another low-budget effort, ''
The Horror of It All'' (1963), shot in England. He made a comedy in Ireland, ''
Never Put It in Writing'' (1964), for Allied Artists. Boone's third film for Fox was an "A" production, ''
Goodbye Charlie'' (1964), but he was supporting
Debbie Reynolds
Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer and entrepreneur. Her acting career spanned almost 70 years. Reynolds performed on stage and television and in films into her 80s.
She was nom ...
and
Tony Curtis. He was one of the many names in ''
The Greatest Story Ever Told'' (1965) and appeared in ''
The Perils of Pauline'' (1967), a pilot for a TV series that did not eventuate, which was screened in some theatres. Boone's last film of note was ''
The Cross and the Switchblade'' (1970).
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
Pat Boone
Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, author, television personality, radio host and philanthropist. He sold nearly 50 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and has acted in many films.
Boone ...
''
* ''
Howdy!''
* ''
"Pat"''
* ''
Hymns We Love''
* ''
Pat Boone Sings Irving Berlin''
* ''
Star Dust''
* ''
Yes Indeed!''
* ''
Tenderly''
* ''
Pat Boone Sings''
* ''Side by Side''
* ''He Leadeth Me''
* ''
White Christmas''
* ''
Moonglow''
* ''
This and That''
* ''
Great! Great! Great!''
* ''
Moody River''
* ''My God and I''
* ''
I'll See You in My Dreams''
* ''Pat Boone Reads from the Holy Bible''
* ''
Pat Boone's Golden Hits Featuring Speedy Gonzales''
* ''Love You Truly''
* ''
Pat Boone Sings Guess Who?''
* ''
Pat Boone Sings Days of Wine and Roses''
* ''
The Star Spangled Banner''
* ''
Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport''
* ''Sing Along Without Pat Boone!''
* ''
The Touch of Your Lips''
* ''
Ain't That a Shame''
* ''The Lord's Prayer and Other Great Hymns''
* ''
Boss Beat!''
* ''
Near You''
* ''Blest Be Thy Name''
* ''
The Golden Era of Country Hits''
* ''
My 10th Anniversary with Dot Records''
* ''
Pat Boone Sings Winners of the Reader's Digest Poll''
* ''
Great Hits of 1965''
* ''
Memories
Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is Encoding (memory), encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future Action (philosophy), action. I ...
''
* ''
Wish You Were Here, Buddy''
* ''
Christmas Is A Comin'''
* ''How Great Thou Art''
* ''
I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman''
* ''
Look Ahead''
* ''
Departure''
* ''Songs for Jesus Folk''
* ''In the Holy Land''
* ''The New Songs of the Jesus People''
* ''All in the Boone Family''
* ''Born Again''
* ''Family Who Prays''
* ''Pat Boone S-A-V-E-D''
* ''I Love You More and More Each Day''
* ''Pat Boone with the First Nashville Jesus Band''
* ''Thank You Dear Lord''
* ''The Pat Boone Family''
* ''Songs from the Inner Court''
* ''Something Supernatural''
* ''
Texas Woman''
* ''
The Country Side of Pat Boone''
* ''Miracle Merry-Go-Round''
* ''Just the Way I Am''
* ''
Songmaker''
* ''A Pocketful of Hope''
* ''Pat Boone Sings Golden Hymns''
* ''I Remember Red: A Tribute to Red Foley''
* ''The Pat Boone Family Christmas''
* ''
In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy''
* ''Echoes of Mercy''
* ''The Miracle of Christmas''
* ''
American Glory''
* ''Nearer My God to Thee''
* ''Glory Train: The Lost Sessions''
* ''Dream of Ireland''
* ''Hopeless Romantic''
* ''We Are Family: R&B Classics''
* ''Ready to Rock''
* ''In A Symphonic Mood''
* ''The True Spirit of Christmas''
* ''Near''
* ''Legacy''
* ''Pat Boone's Favourite Bible Stories & Sing-Along Songs''
Filmography
*1955: ''
The Pied Piper of Cleveland'' (documentary)
*1957: ''
Bernardine''
*1957: ''
April Love''
*1958: ''
Mardi Gras''
*1959: ''
Journey to the Center of the Earth
''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' (), also translated with the variant titles ''A Journey to the Centre of the Earth'' and ''A Journey into the Interior of the Earth'', is a classic science fiction novel written by French novelist Jules Ve ...
''
*1960: ''
Salute to the Teenagers'' (TV documentary) (producer and host)
*1961: ''
All Hands on Deck''
*1962: ''
State Fair
A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in t ...
''
*1962: ''
The Main Attraction''
*1963: ''
The Horror of It All''
*1963: ''
The Yellow Canary''
*1964: ''
Never Put It in Writing''
*1964: ''
Goodbye Charlie''
*1965: ''
The Greatest Story Ever Told''
*1967: ''
The Perils of Pauline''
*1969: ''
The Pigeon''
*1970: ''
The Cross and the Switchblade''
*1986: ''
The Fall Guy'' (TV series; episode "Beach Blanket Bounty")
*1989: ''
Roger & Me'' (documentary)
*1990: ''Music Machine'' (voice of Mr. Conductor)
*1991: ''Benny's Biggest Battle'' (voice of Mr. Conductor)
*1993: ''
The Statler Brothers Show'' (TV series)
*1994: ''Precious Moments: Simon the Lamb'' (voice of The Shepherd)
*1997: ''
Space Ghost Coast to Coast'' (TV series)
*2000: ''
The Eyes of Tammy Faye'' (documentary)
*2008: ''Hollywood on Fire'' (documentary)
*2016: ''Boonville Redemption''
*2016: ''
God's Not Dead 2''
*2017: ''
A Cowgirl's Story''
*2022: ''The Mulligan''
*2024: ''
Reagan''
Box-office ranking
Boone was considered one of the top box-office stars in the U.S. as judged by the Quigley Poll of Movie Exhibitors in its Annual "Top Ten MoneyMakers Poll":
Quigley Top 10 Box Office stars
accessed August 31, 2014
*1957: 3rd most popular star
*1958: 11th most popular
*1959: 22nd most popular
*1960: 22nd most popular
Bibliography (works published by Boone)
*'' 'Twixt Twelve and Twenty: Pat talks to Teenagers'' (1958) Prentice Hall
*"Between You, Me and the Gatepost" (1960) Prentice Hall
*''The Solution to Crisis-America'' (1970) F. H. Revell Co,
*''A Miracle Saved My Family'' (1971) Oliphants,
*''The Real Christmas'' (1972) F. H. Revell Co,
*''Joy!'' (1973) Creation House,
*''My Brother's Keeper?'' (1975) Victory Press,
*''My Faith'' (1976) C. R. Gibson Co,
*''To Be or Not to Be an SOB: A Reaffirmation of Business Ethics'' (1979) Wordware Publishing, Incorporated,
*''The Honeymoon Is Over'' (1980) Creation House,
*''Marrying for Life: A Handbook of Marriage Skills'' (1982) HarperCollins Publishers,
*''Pray to Win'' (1982) Putnam Pub Group,
*''Pat Boone's Favorite Bible Stories'' (1984) Creation House,
*''Pat Boone's Favorite Bible Stories for the Very Young'' (1984) Random House of Canada, Limited,
*''A Miracle a Day Keeps the Devil Away'' (1986) Revell,
*''New Song'' (1988) Impact Books,
*''Miracle of Prayer'' (1989) Zondervan,
*''The Human Touch: The Story of the National Easter Seal'' (1990) Certification Review,
*''Jesus Is Alive'' (1990) Thomas Nelson Inc,
*''Double Agent'' (2002) Publish America, Incorporated,
*''Goodnight, Whatever You Are!: My Journey with Zacherley, the Cool Ghoul'' (2006) Tradeselect Limited,
*''Pat Boone's America: A Pop Culture Treasury of the Past Fifty Years'' (2006) B&H Publishing Group,
*''Culture-Wise Family: Upholding Christian Values in A Mass-Media World'' (2007) Gospel Light Publications,
*''The Marriage Game'' (2007) New Leaf Press, Inc.,
*''Questions About God: And the Answers That Could Change Your Life'' (2008) Lighthouse Publishing,
*''Pat Boone Devotional Book'' (2009) G. K. Hall,
*''If: The Eternal Choice We All Must Make'': Pat Boone,
Bibliography
* ''University of North Texas Alumni Directory'', Pat (Charles E.) Boone, (1994)
* ''ASCAP Biographical Dictionary'', fourth edition, compiled for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...
, by Jaques Cattell Press, R. R. Bowker (1980)
* ''Biographical Dictionary of American Music'', edited by Charles Eugene Claghorn (1911–2005), Parker Publishing Co., West Nyack, New York (1973)
* ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'', by Randall Herbert Balmer, Baylor University Press (2004)
* ''The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country & Western Music'', second edition, by Irwin Stambler (born 1924) and Grelun S. Landon (1923–2004), St. Martin's Press (1983)
* '' Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'', eighth edition, revised by Nicolas Slonimsky, Macmillan Publishing Co. (1992)
* '' Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, '' ninth edition, edited by Laura Kuhn, Schirmer Books (2001)
References
External links
*
*
*
Brief biography
by Tom Simon, December 25, 2002
Image of Pat Boone with his wife Shirley and their four children after disembarking a plane in Los Angeles, California, 1959
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school the ...
.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boone, Pat
1934 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American singer-songwriters
20th-century American writers
20th Century Studios contract players
20th-century Protestants
21st-century American male actors
21st-century American writers
21st-century Protestants
American baritones
American Basketball Association executives
American Christian Zionists
American country singer-songwriters
American gospel singers
American crooners
American male film actors
American male voice actors
American male writers
American members of the Churches of Christ
Boone family (show business)
California Republicans
Columbia University School of General Studies alumni
Dot Records artists
Lamb & Lion Records artists
Lipscomb University alumni
Male actors from Jacksonville, Florida
Male actors from Los Angeles
Members of the Foursquare Church
Motown artists
Stateside Records artists
Music of Denton, Texas
Singers from Jacksonville, Florida
Singers from Nashville, Tennessee
Actors from Leonia, New Jersey
Musicians from Teaneck, New Jersey
Traditional pop music singers
University of North Texas alumni
Writers from Los Angeles
Writers from Teaneck, New Jersey
New Right (United States)
20th-century American male singers
21st-century American male singers
21st-century American singer-songwriters
Singer-songwriters from Tennessee
Singer-songwriters from Florida
American anti-communists
Male actors from Teaneck, New Jersey