Books:
Vaughn Horton Birth Name: George Vaughn Horton Induction Year: 1971 Date of Birth: 6/5/1911 Place of Birth: Broad Top, PA Date of Death: 2/29/1988 Place of Death: New Port Richey, FLFormer Occupations: coal minerEducation: High School--Robertsdale (PA) High School (graduated as Valedictorian in 1929) College--Pennsylvania State University (Penn State Extension); took courses in Coal Mining EngineeringCareer Milestones:1927-1934--performed on weekends with brother Roy at dances and roadhouses; called group the Pinetoppers1929-1930--wrote "Mockin' Bird Hill" in a coal mine near Wood, PAmid 1930s--radio debut (with brother Roy) on station WFBG (Altoona, PA)1934--went to Philadelphia answering an ad for "hillbilly" musicians to play on a radio show (first paying job)1935--moved to New York City1984--guest appearance on the television show "Hee-Haw" on February 25, performing many of his own songsCatalog HighlightsMockin' Bird Hill*Artists: Vaughn Horton, Les Paul & Mary Ford (1951), Patti Page, Ken Griffin, Ames Brothers, Sons of the Pioneers, Burl Ives, Teresa Brewer, Jean Shepard, George Jones, Lawrence Welk, Donna Fargo (1977), Pinetoppers (1951)Teardrops in My Heart*Artists: Sons of the Pioneers, Rex Allen Jr., Marty RobbinsStrollin'Pennsylvania Turnpike I Love YouChoo Choo Ch'Boogie*Co-writer: Denver Darling, Milton Gabler * Artists: Louis Jordan, Bill Haley and His Comets, Asleep at the WheelHillbilly Fever*Artists: Red Foley, "Little" Jimmy DickensSwiss Lullaby*Co-writer: Harry KogenYou Can't Be TrueTill the End of the World*Artists: Bing Crosby, Ernest Tubb, Jimmy Wakely, Johnny BondCharlie Was a BoxerSugarfoot Rag*Co-writer: Garland * Artists: Red Foley, Jerry Reed, Asleep at the WheelCome What MayJolly Old Saint NicholasAn Old Christmas CardDon't Hang Around Me Anymore*Co-writer: Gene Autry, Denver Darling * Artists: Gene AutryYou Better Stop Tellin' Lies About Me Or I'm Gonna Tell the Truth About YouThe Jimmie Rodgers BluesAddress Unknown*Co-writer: Gene Autry, Denver DarlingSold Down the RiverPlantation Boogie*Co-writer: Lenny DeeDixie Cannonball*Co-writer: Red Foley, Gene AutryHome in the HillsLawrence Welk Hee-Haw Counter-Revolution Polka*Artists: Roy ClarkBig Wheels Cannon Ball Sugar Foot Rag, Music and words by Vaughn Horton Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Heroes:
Legendary Country Music Promoter Roy Horton Passes Away From Heart Failure On Tuesday Roy Horton, longtime manager of peermusic’s Country & Blues Division, passed away on Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at home. He had been in failing health for many months while battling diabetes and congestive heart failure as well as the after-effects of a stroke suffered the day after the 9-11-2001 attack in New York City.Peermusic CEO Ralph Peer II noted that Roy was responsible for building much of the outstanding peermusic country catalog of the 50s and 60s through obtaining landmark recordings. He was on a first-name basis with most every country star of the era. His tireless devotion to the music was evident even after his retirement when he continued to serve as a consultant to the firm. “His passing is a great loss to the Country Music Community and to peermusic, and I shall miss a friend,†Mr. Peer said.Roy was born in Broad Top City,PA on November 5, 1914, the fifth son of a coal-mining superintendent, George Horton and Eunice (Waite) Horton of Wood PA. Roy was a noted executive and contributor in the country music field and was inducted into the national Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982. He was one of the founders of the Country Music Association and as Chairman of the Board of the Country Music Foundation cut the ribbon of the first CMA-HOF building in Nashville. He later became President of the Country Music Foundation and was a permanent board member of CMA-CMF. He worked for the international organization of peermusic, now under the leadership of Ralph Peer II, for 49 years before becoming a consultant at age 81.After graduating from Robertsdale, PA High School and after working in the Wood, PA coal mines while simultaneously obtaining mining-engineering credentials from Penn State College, he left the Broad Top area in the depth of the 1930’s depression with his brother Vaughn to literally "earn some pennies" as a musical act. The brothers toured from Maine to Montana and south to Mississippi, and most places in between. During this period the brothers worked with and made friends with many of the most famous acts of the era including Jimmy Rogers, The Carter family, Gene Autry, William Boyd, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers. By the end of the 30’s the "Horton Brothers" and their "Pinetoppers" band were performing and writing music in NYC and regularly appearing on the biggest radio variety shows of the time including those hosted by Rudy Valley and Arthur Godfrey. Roy’s brother Vaughn went on to become a Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee with a score of top 10 hits.During World War II Roy worked long hours as a machinist in a NYC defense plant by day and played music in clubs by night. After World War II he was hired by Ralph Peer, Sr. in 1947 to work as a "song-plugger" for the Southern Music Publishing Company. Mr. Peer published such early writers as Jimmy Rodgers and the Carter Family and others who became the foundation for the later phenomenal growth of country music. Roy worked to increase and promote Mr. Peer’s repertory of music by day and continued his performing and recording career by night. As the 1950’s and 1960’s rolled on Roy used his knowledge of the work-a-day world of performing and recording to promote Peer music and assist performers, writers and their managers to find material which would showcase the talents of each individual artist. Roy gave his aid tirelessly and freely to dozens of aspiring performers who later became stars. As a result, Roy established many close friendships and developed a widely recognized reputation as an honest, kind and reliable man in a profession rife with the darker sides of life.Working in NYC and Nashville simultaneously, Roy quickly realized something he had always suspected: "You can’t take the country out of the man". Since most cities had a huge population of former small-town residents, he realized that there was a large untapped market in which country music and its performers could be enjoyed, even though many others did not see it. To effect the spread of country music Roy used his life-long character traits. He utilized the creativeness he had developed as the fifth child of eleven to generate many out-of-the-box ideas that often took years to come to fruition. He used the high morals and values of his mother to allow his ideas to grow efficiently. He used the tenacity shown by his father to not quit when it seemed hopeless. And an integral part of his life’s goals and achievement, was his inseparable partnership, both at home and at work, with his wife Lillian, herself a child prodigy concert pianist and summa cum laude college graduate. They remained an inseparable team for 63 years.Roy was an indispensable creator and driver of many projects as a behind the scenes advisor. He was always on the lookout for an expanding base to describe "country" music. A good example is the phenomenal Willie Nelson "Stardust" album, a step into the unknown which permanently established Willie’s eclectic talents on a famous pop-field Peer writer named Hoaggy Carmichael. Some people thought that some of Roy’s projects were a little off base at first, but over time they and others found that he was defining a new or overlooked base. Roy also brought together two of music’s outstanding guitarists, each with his own inimitable style in the "Chester and Lester" (Atkins and Paul) albums. After years of being competing geniuses with divergent approaches, Roy eventually got his two good friends together in spectacular duets. Another example of Roy’s successful twists is "The Earl Scruggs Banjobook (sic)" wherein Roy worked for years to package information from the country’s most talented banjo player so that the banjo is laid all out for the benefit of thousands of students of that instrument.In addition to the many popular 1930’s era performers with whom Roy worked, he advised and became close friends with: The Carter family, Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, Jimmie Dean, Roy Clark, Elton Britt, Jimmie Davis, Floyd Tillman, Danny Davis, Brenda Lee, Glenn Campbell, John Hartford, Bill Monroe, Tex Ritter, Flatt & Scruggs, Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Homer & Jethro, Johnny Bond, Ray Charles, George Jones, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard, Porter Wagonner, Ray Price, Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, EmmyLou Harris, Connie Francis, Barbara Mandrell, Jean Shephard, Jean Valli, Patsy Montana, Rosalie Allen, Alison Krauss, Delmore Brothers, Statler Brothers, the Ames Brothers, Hoaggy Carmichael, Jo Walker Meador and Frances Preston, just to name a few. Through all the years he unwaveringly worked to provide the kind of music that is among and for the people while always highlighting the unique style and talent of the particular artist. Today as proof of Roy’s vision of the wide-reaching reality and potential of "country" music in "cities" as well as rural areas, one need only look to college campuses where the popularity of what is now called "Bluegrass" continues with music that closely equates to what Roy lovingly called "Hillbilly" and in which he was immersed during his youth.Roy earned his entry into the Hall Of Fame primarily for recognition by his peers for his behind the scenes efforts rather than as a performer/writer/producer. His plaque on the wall of the new Hall of Fame in Nashville is recognition of a life devoted to providing a type of music that is of the people and for the people, and although it is constantly in transition it will always remain that.Roy is survived by his wife Lilllian (Petri) Horton, daughter Lola, son Travis and his wife Nancy, and two loving grandchildren Michael and Travis W. and TW’s wife Anne.A graveside service is scheduled for 2pm on Saturday September 27, 2003 at the Broad Top Cemetery, Broadtop PA. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Roy Horton Scholarship Fund for the Tussey Mountain School District, mailing address P.O. Box 5055, Manchester CT 06040. This fund will help students from Roy’s home town area pursue a career in music.