Born Ernest Bert Ashworth on 15 December 1928 in Huntsville, Alabama, the country singer-songwriter harbored an early ambition to reach the Grand Ole Opry stage. He began working in the civil service before shifting to radio work in his hometown during the late 1940s and joining the local group the Tune Twisters. Ashworth relocated to Nashville in 1950 and took positions in both radio and television. Recording for the first time in 1955 under the name Billy Worth, he cut sides for MGM, yet soon grew discouraged and headed back to Huntsville in 1957 to take a job at a missile factory. Wesley Rose signed on as his manager in 1960 and arranged a deal with US Decca Records; the initial single, “Each Moment Spent With You,” climbed to number 4 on the US country charts. Two further country successes in 1962, “You Can’t Pick A Rose In December” and “Forever Gone,” preceded a move to Hickory Records, where “Everybody But Me” brought renewed attention. The following year his version of John D. Loudermilk’s “Talk Back Trembling Lips” reached the top of the US country charts, even as Johnny Tillotson scored a pop hit with the same song. Ashworth joined the Opry roster in March 1964 and continues to appear regularly, now billed simply as Ernie. He appeared in the 1965 motion picture The Farmer’s Other Daughter, while additional hits included “I Love To Dance With Annie” and “The D.J. Cried.” He still performs on the road from time to time.
