Biography
Born on 24 May 1925 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, Kirk took up steel guitar at age seven before switching to standard guitar and adding vocals at ten. After serving in the US Army throughout World War II, he joined WNOX Knoxville’s Mid Day Merry-Go-Round and Tennessee Barn Dance upon his return. Three years with Archie Campbell’s touring revue followed, yet his polished vocals, reminiscent of Eddy Arnold, soon opened doors to radio and television work across Dayton, Lexington and Louisville. Additional appearances came on WLS National Barn Dance in Chicago, the Big “D” Jamboree in Dallas and the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, along with guest spots at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. His earliest sessions appeared on Mercury in 1949, some featuring noted session musicians Jerry Byrd on steel guitar and Tommy Jackson on fiddle. Subsequent releases came via ABC-Paramount Records, Starday, Dewitt and Great. A Mercury compilation later surfaced on a German album in 1988.
Albums