George Hamilton IV

2008 marks George Hamilton IV's 52nd year in Music, his 48th Anniversary as a Member of the Grand Ole Opry® AND his 35th Anniversary as "The International Ambassador Of Country MusicTM". Over the years, he has become one of the best-known names in Country Music around the world via constant International Touring, Recording and Radio & Television appearances.

During George IV’s award-winning career, he has entertained on the renowned stages of Carnegie Hall, London's Palladium, Wembley Arena and Royal Albert Hall, to name a few. He has toured globally, performing on just about every continent. George has even appeared in motion pictures ("Hootenanny Hoot” & “Second Fiddle To A Steel Guitar”) and one of his songs was featured in Clint Eastwood’s film "A Perfect World”.

In 1956, George Hamilton IV recorded his first hit single “A Rose And A Baby Ruth”. By early 1957 it was a certified million-selling gold record and George was surprised to find himself a “Pop Star”! Other hits like "Why Don't They Understand" and "The Teen Commandments of Love" (featuring George with Paul Anka and Johnny Nash) followed and for about 3 years George IV toured as a 'Teen Balladeer' with Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Darin, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and the Everly Brothers among others. He even appeared 'On Broadway' with Louis Armstrong! In 1958 & 1959, George IV hosted his own national TV series in America on the CBS and ABC Television Networks.

Though he had achieved “Pop Star” status, George IV decided to move to Nashville and make a concerted effort to establish a career for himself in Country Music – his First Love! This was considered a fairly radical move in those days, as it was the First Time an established “Pop Artist” had 'gone Country'. Conway Twitty, Jerry Lee Lewis and others later followed. George joined the "Grand Ole Opry®" in 1960 and later signed with legendary producer Chet Atkins at RCA records. The rest is Country Music history!

Country hits like "Before This Day Ends", "Three Steps To The Phone", "Truck Drivin' Man", "Break My Mind", "She's A Little Bit Country" and the biggest of them all, his signature song "Abilene", earned his induction to the "Sidewalk Of The Stars" at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Later, in the mid-1960s, George became a pioneer of “Folk-Country” music and had major hits with Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" and "Steel Rail Blues". He was also the First Nashville-based artist to record songs written by Canada's Joni Mitchell ("Urge For Going"). One of his biggest hits in Canada and Britain was "Canadian Pacific".

George was the First Country Artist to go behind the “Iron Curtain”, where he gave concerts in Prague and Moscow (March 1974). Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, George IV hosted his own National Television series in Britain and Canada (later syndicated to New Zealand, South Africa & Hong Kong).

In the 1980s, George was a frequent musical guest with Dr. Billy Graham, working with his team in Alaska and the British Isles. He received the Gospel Music Association’s “Dove Award” in 1988 and was nominated again in 2004, 2005 & 2007 for his Country-Gospel recordings.

Over the years, George IV has recorded for ABC-Paramount, RCA, RCA & BMG Canada, RCA & BMG UK, MCA, WORD and EMI-UK. He has released 100+ albums & CDs to date (plus a 6 CD Box set career retrospective via Germany’s prestigious Bear Family Records).

In 2000, George IV was inducted into the “North Carolina Hall of Fame” in his home state. The year ended with the release of his biography, “Ambassador of Country Music”, via Harper-Collins Publishing.

In 2006, the United States Ambassador to England gave a special reception in London to celebrate George IV’s 50th Anniversary in music and his unique contributions to the globalization of Country Music. George IV was also inducted into the “Rockabilly Hall Of Fame” in this same year.

George IV continues his highly successful recording & performing career and tours all around the world. Whenever he’s home in Nashville, he also performs at the Grand Ole Opry®.

For all of his Global Music Achievements for Country Music, Billboard Magazine calls George Hamilton IV:

"The International Ambassador Of Country MusicTM"