Carl Stuart Hamblen (October 20, 1908 – March 8, 1989) was an American entertainer who in 1926 became one of radio's first singing cowboys, going on to become a singer, actor, radio show host and songwriter. He converted to Christianity under the ministry of

Billy Graham William Franklin Graham Jr. (; November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American Evangelism, evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist minister, and Civil rights movement, civil rights advocate, whose broadcasts and world tours featuring liv ...

, becoming a

temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting Temperance (virtue), temperance or total abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and ...

supporter and running several times for political office. He is best known as the composer of the song "

This Ole House "This Ole House" (sometimes spelled "This Old House") is an American popular song written by Stuart Hamblen, and published in 1954. Rosemary Clooney's version reached the top of the popular music charts in both the US and the UK in 1954. T ...

" (1954), most notably recorded by Rosemary Clooney and Shakin' Stevens.

Early life

Hamblen was born into the family of an itinerant Methodist preacher on October 20, 1908, in Kellyville,

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. He married Suzy Daniels and they had two children. Hamblen's father was J. H. Hamblen, a minister in the

Methodist Church Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...

in Texas, who in 1946 founded the Evangelical Methodist Church denomination in Abilene.

Career

In 1931, Hamblen began hosting the popular radio program ''Family Album'' in California. He also composed music and acted in motion pictures with cowboy stars, including

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner, who largely gained fame by singing in a Crooner ...

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 ...

and

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' ...

. In 1934, he became the first artist signed by the American subsidiary of

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

. Hamblen did not cope well with the pressures of his high-profile career and sought relief in alcohol. Many times his drinking landed him in jail for public brawling and other destructive behavior. The

Texas State Historical Association The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) is an American nonprofit educational and research organization dedicated to documenting the history of Texas. It was founded in Austin, Texas, United States, on March 2, 1897. In November 2008, the ...

reports that Hamblen identified himself as the "original juvenile delinquent". Because Hamblen was hugely popular, his radio sponsors regularly bailed him out of jail and smoothed things over. For a while, he ventured into horse racing as an owner. Inevitably, Hamblen's drinking and gambling problems severely affected his life and career. In 1949 after years of struggle with alcohol, Hamblen converted to Christianity at a

crusade in Los Angeles, and was soon fired from his radio program after refusing to do beer commercials. He subsequently gave up gambling and horse racing, and entered Christian broadcasting with his radio show ''The Cowboy Church of the Air'', which ran until 1952.

Personal life

During a 1949 crusade in Los Angeles, Graham called Hamblen's conversion "the turning point" in the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's ministry, as the crowds had been rather small before Hamblen accepted Christ. Graham said Hamblen was the No. 1 radio personality in Los Angeles, which drew in crowds. He went on to relate an anecdote about Hamblen's hunting skills, instrumental in Hamblen's capture of a wild panther in the Los Angeles area prior to the crusade. That evening, also Graham's first coast-to-coast television broadcast, Hamblen shared about his faith and sang/spoke his signature hymn " It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)". Stuart Hamblen died March 8, 1989, in Santa Monica, California, of brain cancer.

Music

In his early career as a singing cowboy Hamblen composed the song "Texas Plains". It was this song that Patsy Montana reworked into her million-seller hit " I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" (1935). Hamblen wrote the hit songs "

" (1954) (popularized by Rosemary Clooney, among others) and " Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)" (not to be confused with the song from the Broadway musical ''

Hair Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals. The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and ...

''). Other songs include "Hell Train", " It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" and "Blood on Your Hands". "It Is No Secret" was written following his acceptance of Christ and a spiritual conversation with

. After accepting the Lord, Hamblen was fired from his position as disc jockey because he refused to do alcohol commercials. John Wayne offered him a drink shortly thereafter, and Hamblen refused, saying, "It is no secret what the Lord can do." John Wayne said, "You should write a song by that title." The song would go on to be sung by popular singers Rosemary Clooney, Kate Smith, Jim Reeves,

Wayne Newton Carson Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942), also known as Mr. Las Vegas, is an American singer and actor. One of the most popular singers in the United States from the mid-to-late 20th century, Newton remains one of the best-known entertainers in ...

Leslie Uggams Leslie Marian Uggams (; born May 25, 1943) is an American actress and singer. After beginning her career as a child in the early 1950s, she garnered acclaim for her role in the Broadway theatre, Broadway musical ''Hallelujah, Baby!'', winning a T ...

Jo Stafford Jo Elizabeth Stafford (November 12, 1917July 16, 2008) was an American traditional pop singer, whose career spanned five decades from the late 1930s to the early 1980s. Admired for the purity of her voice, she originally underwent classical tr ...

& Gordon MacRae (duet),

Anne Murray Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a retired Canadian country, pop and adult contemporary music singer who has sold over 55 million album copies worldwide during her over 40-year career. Murray has won four Grammys including the Grammy ...

, Tom Netherton, Eddy Arnold,

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

Hank Snow Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999) was a Canadian country music guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' country charts betw ...

and Ernest Tubb. "This Ole House" was inspired during a hunting trip in the High Sierras with

and guide Monte Wolfe. The two men came upon what looked like an abandoned shack, wherein they found the body of an elderly man, apparently dead of natural causes. Hamblen came up with the lyrics to the song while riding horseback down the mountain, and composed the melody within a week. In addition to being a No. 1 hit for Clooney, it was later recorded by Roberta Sherwood and

The Statler Brothers The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group from Staunton, Virginia. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally, and from 1964 to 1972, they sang as opening a ...

, among many others. In 1981, a version performed by Welsh rock'n'roll singer Shakin' Stevens topped the UK Singles Chart. In 1955, Hamblen had a hit single with "Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)" (B-side "The Lord is Counting on You"), performed along with his family under the name "The Cowboy Church Sunday School." Hamblen was accompanied by wife Suzy, daughters Veeva Suzanne and Obee Jane (Lisa), and two of the girls' friends. The song was recorded at the

phonograph A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration Waveform, waveforms are recorded as correspond ...

speed of 33 RPM so that, played back at the normal 7-inch–single speed of 45 RPM, it sounds like children singing. The tune hit No. 8 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 pop charts in 1955. "Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)" was sung on an episode of the television cartoon series ''

The Flintstones ''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera, Hanna-Barbera Productions, which takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbors, the R ...

'' in the mid-1960s by characters Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm. Hamblen wrote the lyrics to the Christmas cult favorite "Hardrock, Coco and Joe". An animated Christmas cartoon short based on the song was created in the mid-1950s. Its running time is about 2 minutes and 45 seconds. The full title is ''Hardrock, Coco and Joe - The Three Little Dwarfs'', but is commonly called '' Hardrock, Coco and Joe'', after the song title. One of Hamblen's few secular songs to become popular was " (Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You", recorded by Ernest Tubb,

Jimmy Dean Jimmy Ray Dean (August 10, 1928 – June 13, 2010) was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. He was the creator of the Jimmy Dean (brand), Jimmy Dean sausage brand as well as the spokesman for its TV comm ...

Red Foley Clyde Julian "Red" Foley (June 17, 1910 – September 19, 1968) was an American musician who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II. For more than two decades, Foley was one of the biggest stars of the gen ...

and others, and made into a gold record by

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor, and comedian. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Cool", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of ...

in a 1965

Reprise In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any re ...

recording. The Hamblen family participated in the Pasadena Rose Parade for many years, riding Peruvian Paso horses. At Hamblen's well-attended funeral in Los Angeles, a recording of his was played; Billy Graham gave the eulogy. Hamblen is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park-Hollywood Hills. The Stuart Hamblen Collection, which includes Hamblen's original sound recordings, resides at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill within the Southern Folklife Collection.

Awards

Hamblen was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, was presented the ACM Pioneer Award 1972, received the Gene Autry Golden Boot Award 1988, and was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame 2001. He later received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the

Gospel Music Hall of Fame The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1972 by the Gospel Music Association, is a hall of fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music. Inductees This is an incompl ...

in 1994 and the Western Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Jefferson, Texas (near Hamblen's birth home of Kelleyville, Texas), celebrates "Stuart Hamblen Days" each year. A bronze plaque dedication took place in the city park in 1998, sponsored by a local opera house.

Politics

Hamblen supported the American

and ran as the

Prohibition Party The Prohibition Party (PRO) is a Political parties in the United States, political party in the United States known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages and as an integral part of the temperance movemen ...

's candidate for

U.S. president The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

in the 1952 presidential election. Hamblen garnered 72,949 recorded popular votes and no electoral votes in an election in which Republican

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...

was elected president for the first of two terms, defeating Democrat

Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I Adlai Ewing Stevenson (October 23, 1835 – June 14, 1914) was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 23rd vice president of the United States from 1893 to 1897 under President Gr ...

. Previously, Hamblen ran for California's 11th congressional district seat as a Democrat, losing to Carl Hinshaw in the 1938 election cycle. The race ended with Hinshaw at 47 percent and Hamblen with 41 percent of the vote.

Discography

Albums

* ''It's No Secret'' (

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic ...

, 1956) * ''The Grand Old Hymns'' (RCA Victor, 1957) * ''Hymns'' (

Harmony In music, harmony is the concept of combining different sounds in order to create new, distinct musical ideas. Theories of harmony seek to describe or explain the effects created by distinct pitches or tones coinciding with one another; harm ...

, 1957) * ''A Visit With Stuart Hamblen'' (

Sacred Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

, 1958) * ''Immortal Treasures'' (Sacred, 1958) * ''Remember Me'' (

Coral Corals are colonial marine invertebrates within the subphylum Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact Colony (biology), colonies of many identical individual polyp (zoology), polyps. Coral species include the important Coral ...

, 1958) * ''Beyond the Sun'' ( RCA Camden, 1959) * ''The Spell of the Yukon'' ( Columbia, 1961) * ''Of God I Sing'' (Columbia, 1962) * ''This Old House Has Got to Go'' ( Kapp, 1966) * ''I Believe'' (Harmony, 1967) * ''The Cowboy Church'' (

Word A word is a basic element of language that carries semantics, meaning, can be used on its own, and is uninterruptible. Despite the fact that language speakers often have an intuitive grasp of what a word is, there is no consensus among linguist ...

, 1973) * ''A Man and His Music'' ( Lamb & Lion, 1974) * ''The Worlds of Stuart Hamblen Volume 1: The Shooting of Dan McGrew'' (Voss Records, 1978) * ''The Worlds of Stuart Hamblen Volume 2: The Legacy of Stuart Hamblen'' (Voss, 1978) * ''The Worlds of Stuart Hamblen Volume 3: So Dear to My Heart'' (Voss, 1978) * ''The Worlds of Stuart Hamblen Volume 4: Songs the Cowboy Sings'' (Voss, 1978)

Singles

Filmography

References

External links

Black Cat Rockabilly - Stuart Hamblen
*
Stuart Hamblen Collection, Southern Folklife Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
*
''Life'' magazine archived photo of Hamblen at November 1949 Billy Graham Crusade in Los Angeles

Snopes.com article clarifying urban legend about Hamblen's conversion.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamblen, Stuart 1908 births 1989 deaths 20th-century American singer-songwriters 20th-century evangelicals American country singer-songwriters American evangelicals American temperance activists Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) California Democrats California Prohibitionists Candidates in the 1952 United States presidential election Deaths from brain cancer in California Decca Records artists Four Star Records artists People from Marion County, Texas Prohibition Party (United States) presidential nominees RCA Victor artists Singer-songwriters from Texas Southern gospel performers