During the years following World War II, Red Foley stood among the most prominent figures in country music. His smooth vocal style helped propel the genre toward mainstream viability, with record sales reaching roughly 25 million between 1944 and 1965. Born Clyde Julian Foley on June 17, 1910, in Blue Lick, KY, he took up guitar and harmonica early in life. By age 17 he had captured first place in a statewide talent contest. While enrolled in college during 1930, a talent scout from Chicago’s WLS radio discovered him and recruited him to perform with producer John Lair’s Cumberland Ridge Runners, the resident ensemble on National Barn Dance.
After seven years alongside the Ridge Runners, Lair launched Renfro Valley Barn Dance specifically to feature Foley’s abilities. The singer stayed with that program until late 1939, interpreting material that ranged from ballads to boogie and blues. During the same period he became the first country performer to front his own network radio series, Avalon Time, which he co-hosted with comedian Red Skelton. He also maintained a busy schedule of theater, club, and fair appearances. Upon leaving Renfro Valley Barn Dance, Foley returned to National Barn Dance for another seven-year engagement. In 1941—the year he made his screen debut alongside Tex Ritter in the Western The Pioneers—he entered a lifetime recording agreement with Decca Records. His initial chart entry, 1944’s “Smoke on the Water,” held the top position for 13 straight weeks. That same year he became the first major artist to cut a record in Nashville.
In 1946 Foley joined The Prince Albert Show, a portion of the Grand Ole Opry carried on NBC, serving as both emcee and performer. His strong listener appeal is widely viewed as instrumental in establishing the Opry as country’s leading radio broadcast. Beginning in 1947 he recorded with his backing group, the Cumberland Valley Boys, and scored another number-one hit with “New Jolie Blonde (New Pretty Blonde).” Across the next two years the ensemble placed seven singles in the Top Five, among them the 1948 chart-topper “Tennessee Saturday Night.” Returning to solo work in 1950, Foley released the song that became his signature, “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy,” which remained at number one for 13 weeks.
In 1951 his second wife, Judy Martin (born Eva Overstake), took her own life, an act widely attributed to the singer’s involvement with another woman. To focus on raising his children he sharply reduced live engagements, yet he kept issuing successful records across an array of styles that included rockabilly and R&B. The 1951 release “(There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)” became the first million-selling gospel single ever. That year also saw the appearance of his debut LP, Red Foley Souvenir Album. After several years of near-retirement, Foley was chosen in 1954 to host the ABC television program The Ozark Jubilee; the series proved popular and continued until 1960. Also in 1954 he recorded the number-one duet “One By One,” the first of numerous collaborations with Kitty Wells.
Once The Ozark Jubilee ended, Foley spent a single season co-starring with Fess Parker on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Although he continued to record through most of the 1960s, his string of hits had largely concluded. In 1967 he received election to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Foley suffered a fatal heart attack on September 19, 1968, following a performance in Fort Wayne, IN. He was survived by daughter Betty, herself a successful country vocalist, and daughter Shirley, who was married to pop singer Pat Boone.
