Archie Campbell
b. 7 November 1914, Bulls Gap, Greene County, Tennessee, USA, 29 August 1987. After graduating in 1936, Campbell, a singer, guitarist and comedian, gained his first radio experience on WNOX Knoxville, where he appeared on the TENNESSEE BARN DANCE and MID-DAY MERRY-GO-ROUND. In 1937, he moved to WDOD Chattanooga, where he remained until he joined the US Navy in 1941. After the war, he resumed his career and in 1952 he had his own television show on WATE Knoxville. In 1958, he joined the GRAND OLE OPRY where, changing both his image and style, he became a smartly dressed cigar-smoking performer on the Prince Albert segment of the Opry. One of his gimmicks consisted of the telling of stories and changing the letters in the names around such as Rindercella and The Bleeping Beauty. He also performed serious numbers and had chart success with Trouble In Amen Corner (which he wrote), The Men In My Little Girl's Life and a duet with Lorene Mann entitled Dark End Of The Street. In 1969 he moved to the syndicated HEE-HAW television show where he not only became a star of the series but also the chief script writer. He later became the host of the popular network television interview show YESTERYEAR IN NASHVILLE. During his career he recorded for RCA, Starday, Elektra and Chart. Away from country music, he was a poet, a sculptor and painter and an excellent golfer. Campbell died of a heart attack in Knoxville on 29 August 1987.