Arnold, Pioneer Of The Nashville Sound, Dies At 89

Published: May 9, 2008

NASHVILLE - Eddy Arnold, 89, whose mellow baritone on songs like "Make the World Go Away" placed him among the most successful country singers, died Thursday outside Nashville days short of his 90th birthday.

Folksy yet sophisticated, he became a pioneer of "The Nashville Sound," also called "countrypolitan," a mix of country and pop styles. His crossover success paved the way for singers such as Kenny Rogers.

"I sing a little country, I sing a little pop and I sing a little folk, and it all goes together," he said in 1970.

He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966 and in 1967 was the first person to receive the entertainer of the year award from the Country Music Association.

The reference book "Top Country Singles 1944-1993," by Joel Whitburn, ranked Arnold the No. 1 country singer in terms of overall success on the Billboard country charts.

Nicknamed "The Tennessee Plowboy," Arnold gained notice with Grand Ole Opry appearances in the early 1940s. He debuted on the charts in 1945 with "Each Minute Seems a Million Years," and began his string of 28 No. 1 country hits with "What Is Life Without Love" in early 1947. His success helped make Nashville a recording industry hub, said Sony BMG Nashville, parent of RCA, his longtime label.

Other hits included "Cattle Call," "The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me," "Anytime," "Bouquet of Roses," "What's He Doing in My World?" "I Want to Go With You," "Somebody Like Me," "Lonely Again" and "Turn the World Around."

Most of Arnold's hits were done in association with famed guitarist Chet Atkins, the producer on most of the recording sessions.