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In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom a person shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in an immediate family in which there is a more specific term (e.g., mother, father, sister, brother, etc.). The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of a genetic link.

Systems of "degrees" and "removals" are used in the English-speaking world to describe the relationship between two cousins and the ancestor they have in common. Various governmental entities have established systems for legal use that can handle kinships with common ancestors existing any number of generations in the past, though common usage often eliminates the degrees and removals and refers to people with common ancestry as simply "cousins" or "distant cousin".

By extension, the term "cousin" can also be used when referring to the genetic relationships between humans and any other form of life, as per the theory of evolution of all life on Earth descending from one common ancestor. However, the term in this sense is most commonly restricted to the fields of study surrounding ecological genetics.

Basic definitions[link]

The ordinals in the terms "first cousins", "second cousins", "third cousins", describe the "degree" of the cousin relationship. The degree of two cousins' relationship is determined by the number of generations to their closest common ancestor.^[1] When the cousins are not the same generation, they are described as "removed". In this case, the smaller number of generations to the common ancestor is used to determine the degree, and the difference in generations determines the number of times removed. Note that the ages of the cousins are irrelevant to the definition of the cousin relationship.

Asymmetric definitions[link]

The dyadic definitions of cousins in the previous section are common but not universal. As with other relationship definitions, e.g., father-daughter; aunt-nephew, some people prefer to use an asymmetric terminology that defines both the relationship and the roles played by each person in the relationship.^[2] In this case, the degree of the relationship from cousin A to cousin B is determined by the distance from A to the common ancestor and the number of times removed is the difference in generations between A to B. Sometimes "upwards" or "downwards" is used to indicate the direction of this difference. For example, if A has a grandparent whose sibling is B's parent, then B is A's "second cousin, once removed (upwards)", whereas A is B's "first cousin once removed (downwards)".^[3]

Additional terms[link]

The following is a list of less common cousin terms.

Colloquial usage[link]

Although precise legal nomenclature exists, in day to day speech, "cousin" is often used unmodified. Thus, a person may use the term "cousin" to refer to cousins of all types, e.g., first, second, and third cousins, as well as cousins once or more times removed. Modifier terms such as "half-cousin" or "step-cousin" are rarely used in everyday speech. The term "cousin" is also sometimes used for people someone is close to, even if they are not actually blood relatives.

Relationships chart[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

A "cousin chart", or "table of consanguinity", is helpful in identifying the degree of cousin relationship between two people using their most recent common ancestor as the reference point. Cousinship between two people can be specifically described in degrees and removals by determining how close, generationally, the common ancestor is to each person.

Canon law relationship chart[link]

Canon Law Relationship Chart. See an example of how to use chart.

Another visual chart used in determining the legal relationship between two people who share a common ancestor is based upon a diamond shape, usually referred to as a "canon law relationship chart".

The chart is used by placing the "common progenitor" (the person from whom both people are descended) in the top space in the diamond-shaped chart, and then following each line down the outside edge of the chart. Upon reaching the final place along the opposing outside edge for each person, the relationship is then determined by following that line inward to the point where the lines intersect. The information contained in the common "intersection" defines the relationship.

For a simple example, in the illustration to the right, if two siblings use the chart to determine their relationship, their common parents are placed in the topmost position and each child is assigned the space below and along the outside of the chart. Then, following the spaces inward, the two would meet in the "brother (sister)" diamond. If their children want to determine their relationship, they would follow the path established by their parents, but descend an additional step below along the outside of the chart (showing that they are grandchildren of the common progenitor); following their respective lines inward, they would come to rest in the space marked "1st cousin". In cases where one side descends the outside of the diamond further than the other side because of additional generations removed from the common progenitor, following the lines inward shows both the cousin rank (1st cousin, 2nd cousin) plus the number of times (generations) "removed".

In the example provided at the right, generations one (child) through ten (8th great-grandchild) from the common progenitor are provided; however, the format of the chart can easily be expanded to accommodate any number of generations needed to resolve the question of relationship.

Mathematical definitions[link]

Table of Consanguinity, showing legal degrees of relationship

There is a mathematical way to identify the degree of cousinship shared by two individuals. Each "great" or "grand" in the description of one individual's relationship to the common ancestor has a numerical value of 1.

Example: If person one's great-great-great-grandfather is person two's grandfather, then person one's "number" is 4 (great + great + great + grand = 4) and person two's "number" is 1 (grand = 1). The smaller of the two numbers is the degree of cousinship. The two people in this example are first cousins. The difference between the two people's "numbers" is the degree of removal. In this case, the two people are thrice (4 − 1 = 3) removed, making them first cousins thrice removed.

Example 2: If someone's great-great-great-grandparent (great + great + great + grand = 4) is another person's great-great-great-grandparent (great + great + great + grand = 4), then the two people are 4th cousins. There is no degree of removal, because they are on the same generational level (4 − 4 = 0).

Example 3: If one person's great-grandparent (great + grand = 2) is a second person's great-great-great-great-great-grandparent (great + great + great + great + great + grand = 6), then the two are second cousins four times removed. The first person's "number" (2) is the lower, making them second cousins. The difference between the two numbers is 4 (6 − 2 = 4), which is the degree of removal (generational difference).

See also[link]

• Collateral descendant
• Consanguinity
• Cousin marriage
• Cross cousin
• Family
• Genealogical numbering systems
• Kinship terminology
• List of coupled cousins
• Most recent common ancestor
• Parallel cousin
• Generation

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up cousin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Genealogy.com definition of various cousins
• Genealogy.com: What makes a cousin?
• Genetic Genealogy

Tina Cousins
Tina Cousins in Madrid, Spain, July 2008
Background information
Born	(1974-04-20) 20 April 1974 (age 38)
Origin	Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England
Genres	Electronica, dance-pop, hi-NRG, dance, Eurodance, adult contemporary, vocal trance
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, model
Years active	1997–present
Labels	All Around The World (UK) (1998 - 2006) Big (Australia) (1998 - present) Republic (U.S.) (1998 - 2002) Sony Music (International) (2010 - Present)
Website	www.tinacousins.com

Tina Cousins (born 20 April 1974) is an English singer-songwriter and former fashion model. She has had five singles in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others.^[1] She has also achieved popularity in Australia. She started her career as a model. She has co-presented Essex FM's 2 Smart 4 Drugs roadshow.

Career[link]

Cousins first big break was in the music industry, appearing on German DJ/producer team Sash!'s single "Mysterious Times" in 1998. Before "Mysterious Times", Cousins had released "Killin' Time" and "Angel" in March and June 1997 respectively.

Following the success of "Mysterious Times", "Killin' Time" was re-issued and it made the Top 20 in the UK, as did the follow-up "Pray",^[2] which also achieved success in the US. Follow-up singles "Forever" and the reissued "Angel" only reached the Top 50. Cousins turned her attention to Australia where the song, "Forever" achieved gold sales. "Pray" was also a success in Australia, reaching the Top 10 and becoming her second gold single in the ARIA charts where it remained for more than four months.

Whilst in Australia on a promotional tour, she re-recorded her track "Nothing To Fear" and had it remixed by the Groove Peddlers. This became her third Australian single, and the video was also shot there.

She collaborated again with Sash! on the Top 10 hit "Just Around The Hill" (2000), and joined Billie, Cleopatra, B*Witched and Steps on the track "Thank ABBA for the Music", a medley of ABBA hits that they performed as a tribute at the BRIT Awards. The single was released and reached the Top 10 in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.

In 2005, she issued a new single "Wonderful Life", which had originally been released in Australia. In 2007, "Wonderful Life" was adopted by Hoyts, as their primary pre-feature theme music. "Wonderful Life" reached #15 in Australia and spent four months in the Top 50, becoming her biggest radio hit. The follow-up, "Come to Me", barely cracked the Top 40, as did the album Mastermind. The third single to be taken from the album, "Pretty Young Thing", was released in two CD formats, one of which was limited to 1000 pressings. The third single performed much better than the previous one, becoming Cousin's sixth Top 20 hit in Australia and the ninth to chart overall.

Cousins divides her time between Australia and the UK, performing regularly. She made a guest appearance on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, a UK television comedy panel show, which was broadcast on 2 November 2006, in the game's Identity Parade.

During late 2006, dance format radio station WMPH became the first US station to put any of Cousin's singles in regular rotation.^{[citation needed]} She co-wrote and performed vocals on two songs on the Main Line album by Dutch group 4 Strings. The track "Curious" became a Top 30 hot dance airplay hit.

Cousins announced on her website that her first solo album Killing Time is to be re-launched as a remix project with tracks from Mastermind. The lead single will be "Everlong".

On 7 March 2009, Cousins announced on her website that a new track had been recorded along with a film clip for a new single called "Can't Hold Back". This song is with Bellatrax and was released in the US and the UK on Michael Gray's Eye Industries label in late summer 2009. In April 2009, Cousins announced that she had recorded a cover version of "Sex on Fire", originally by the Kings Of Leon. The track was produced by Topham & Twigg and was released on iTunes UK on 2 September. She signed a worldwide deal with Sony Music International in September 2010, and "Sex on Fire" was released worldwide in autumn 2010.

The video for "Sex on Fire" was leaked to YouTube in October 2010. The video is most notable for its explicit scenes. The pop music blog, Popjustice, described it as "another exercise in awful and amazing."^[3]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

Other singles[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Tina Cousins official website
• Tina Cousins on Myspace

Benny Benassi
Background information
Birth name	Marco Benassi
Also known as	Benny B., Benny Bee
Born	(1967-07-13) July 13, 1967 (age 44)[1]
Origin	Reggio Emilia, Italy
Genres	House Techno Trance Electro Eurodance
Occupations	DJ, producer, remixer
Years active	Late 1980s–present
Labels	Energy Prod. - D:Vision, Airplay, Ministry of Sound, Ultra
Associated acts	Benassi Bros., Madonna, Chris Brown, Bat67, The Biz, FB, KMC, M&M, Two Men, Skrillex, Gary Go
Website	www.bennybenassi.com

Marco Benassi (born July 13, 1967),^[1] better known as Benny Benassi, is an Italian disc jockey (DJ) and record producer of tech house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction". On October 28, 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records artist Benny Benassi placed #26, 13 spots higher than the previous year.^[2]

Career[link]

Benny Benassi at Electric Daisy Carnival 2009.

A native of Reggio Emilia, DJ/producer Benassi, started DJing alongside cousin Alle Benassi in the late 1980s in their hometown, before moving to Larry Pignagnoli's Off Limits production studio in the mid 1990s, creating music for various acts, including Whigfield, J.K. and Ally & Jo.

Benassi first hit the dance floors with projects of his own, in 2001, with the single "I Feel So Fine", released under the name KMC with vocals by Dhany. The track first climbed the charts in Benassi's native Italy, and soon became a #1 hit in the UK club charts.^[1]

Moving from house to electro, "Satisfaction" took Benassi's success worldwide a year later with high-profile DJs like Carl Cox, Darren Emerson, and Roger Sanchez offering praises. The track reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart after the Ministry of Sound record company replaced the original video (an almost still picture of the band, overlayed with graphics) with a video of models using power tools.

Released in 2003, the "campy" and "quirky" Hypnotica was Benassi's solo debut album. At the end of 2004, he won the European Border Breakers Award for Hypnotica, which racked up the most sales for an Italian album outside Italy.

Benassi often works with vocalists Paul French and Violeta, who are collectively known as The Biz. He produced a group with cousin Alle, called Benassi Bros., a project designed to shine the spotlight on the two Biz vocalists, Paul French and Violeta Claudia and other guest singers. A year after the release of Hypnotica, thr album Pumphonia marked their first full length release. And, in 2005, Benassi Bros. released their second album …Phobia.

Some of Benassi's singles have charted high in the United Kingdom and have been played worldwide in clubs. Remixes for OutKast, Goldfrapp, and Felix da Housecat followed. Benassi also remixes music of his contemporaries, such as Tomcraft and Fischerspooner.

In 2005, Benassi founded the record label Pump-Kin Music. The focus of the label is primarily new and unsigned producers. The stated aim of the venture is to give exposure to some of the lesser known DJ/production talent across the world.

In August 2007, Benassi released a remix of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise". The video for the track was created by Eclectic Method and features a montage of live footage from Public Enemy. It premiered on imeem.com. In February 2008, "Bring the Noise" won a Grammy for best Remix (Dance).

His album Rock 'n' Rave was released on June 16, 2008. The first single from the album was "I Am Not Drunk."

Benassi also broadcasts the one-hour long The Benny Benassi Show on Sirius XM Radio's channel Area.^[3]

In 2009, he worked with Madonna on a remix for her single "Celebration" which was included on the official music video for the song.

In 2010, Benassi released "Electro Sixteen", a video for Benny Benassi vs. "Iggy Pop", “Electro Sixteen,” published by Ultra Records, which is an experimental music video featuring more than 15,000 photographs from his DJ set at New York’s Electric Zoo Festival.^[4]

On May 24, 2010, "Spaceship", which featured Kelis, apl.de.ap and Jean-Baptiste, was selected as the Song of the Day on About.com, with the site calling Benassi's production "tight and melodic, [while] Kelis turns in a fantastic performance." The single was released via digital download on August 21, and charted at #18 on the UK Dance singles chart on August 28."^[5]

On January 23, 2011, Benny Benassi released the music video for "Electroman", a single featuring T-Pain.

Benassi is featured on the track "Beautiful People", off Chris Brown's latest album, F.A.M.E..^{[clarification needed][citation needed]}

On June 7, Benny Benassi released a new album titled Electroman, which includes several singles, such as "Cinema", "Electroman", "Spaceship" and "Control".^[6]

In 2012, working for the second time with Madonna he produced 3 tracks for her studio album MDNA: "Girl Gone Wild", "I'm Addicted" and "Best Friend".

Discography[link]

• Hypnotica (2003)
• Pumphonia (2004)
• ...Phobia (2005)
• Rock 'n' Rave (2008)
• Electroman (2011)

Awards and nominations[link]

• 2011 - Benny Benassi was rated #27 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJS.
• Benny Benassi recently was rated #7 on DJ Poll Top 100 on www.thedjlist.com.
• 2008 - Benny Benassi won the Best Remixed Recording at the 50th Grammy Awards for his remix of Public Enemy's Bring the Noise.
• 2006 - Benny Benassi "Hit my Heart" opened The 2006 Victoria Secret Fashion Show.
• 2004 - Three nominations at Dancestar, Miami and won the best video award.
• 2004 - DJ MAG's Top 100 DJs: Benny became number eighteen, the highest new entry.
• 2004 - European Border Breakers Award for Hypnotica, the Italian album that sold most in Europe outside Italy.
• 2003 - Number one in the Top 100 dance tracks on the Ministry of Sound Internet radio.
• 2003 - DJ MAG tune of the year in UK.
• 2003 - Revelation of the year – Italian Dance Music Awards.
• 2003 - Dance revelation of the year – Danish Music Award.
• 2003 - Nominated for international revelation of the year – NRJ Awards, France.

See also[link]

• 'Benassi pumping'

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Benny Benassi

• Official website
• Artist Site at Ultra Records
• Fan site

Gary Baker, also known by his stage name Gary Go is a British singer, songwriter and producer. His debut album Gary Go (Of Youth / Of Beauty) was released May 2009 and reached number 22 in the UK Albums Chart.^[1] , spawning the hit single "Wonderful". Gary Go has played shows across the UK, Europe, USA and Australia; including tours with Snow Patrol, Take That, Mika and Lady GaGa who referred to him as "my favourite new artist this year" after performing a rendition of Just Dance that was inspired by his cover of the song. ^[2]Gary Go went on to collaborate with electro pioneer and Grammy Award winning DJ Benny Benassi, writing and performing several songs on his album Electroman. The collaboration gave birth to the smash club crossover hit "Cinema", which rose rapidly to number 1 on the Billboard US and UK Club Charts and led to the Grammy-Winning remix from dubstep producer Skrillex, referred to by artist and producer Kanye West as “one of the greatest works of art ever made”. Gary's latest solo release is a videotape and original soundtrack entitled “Now was once the future”, which chronicles the end of a relationship.

Biography[link]

Gary Go first came to attention in 2007, when his debut EP "So So" was picked up by a record producer in New Jersey, USA, who he worked with on his sophomore EP "The Diary of Rodney Harvey" inspired by the tragic fall of the promising actor. Following this he founded his own independent label and studio called The Canvas Room in London, and started writing and recording his debut album. The album was recorded in London, Prague and New York. Subsequently, the album was picked up and released by Decca Records and Gary spent a year performing and touring to promote it. Gary Go came to national attention in the UK in 2009 when it was announced that he would be the opening support act for the full Take That^[3] summer tour, which saw him playing twenty stadium concerts across the UK, including four at Wembley Stadium, within earshot of where he grew up. Tours with Lady GaGa and Mika followed, as well as his first promotional tour of the USA where a special bonus track version of his debut album released on iTunes reached number 3 in iTunes Pop chart. His debut single "Wonderful" was voted 'Best Pop Song of 2009' in iTunes US 2009 retrospective. "Wonderful" caught the attention of Grammy-winning producer Benny Benassi who produced a remix and asked Gary Go to collaborate on his forthcoming record. The result was the smash club crossover hit “Cinema” which Benassi featured on his 2011 album "Electroman". The track, which was released by Ultra Records, was written by Gary Go and features his vocals. “Cinema” rose rapidly to prominence appearing at no. 1 on the Billboard Dance Airplay Chart and no. 1 in the UK Club Chart. It went on to be a Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart and be awarded Gold and Platinum certifications in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. "Cinema" was featured in the soundtrack for the blockbuster video game “Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.”

Social Networking[link]

Gary Go has gained publicity for his unconventional use of Twitter, and the iPhone for songwriting. "The Heart Balloon" was conceived on the iPhone after uploading an image of a heart-shaped balloon entangled with a tree; Go then asked his Twitter friends to send in lyric suggestions.^[4] The track was given away as a free download to raise money and awareness for the British Heart Foundation with all proceeds going to the charity.^[5] In December 2011, Gary released his literary debut "My First Twook": an illustrated collection of musings from his Twitter feed. Limited edition copies of the book were given as a gift to artists performing at MTV's EMA awards in 2011.

Gary Go also did special performances at Apple Inc. shops in London and New York, performing tracks from his album on the iPhone and describing how he uses it as a composition tool.^[6] Gary Go is also known for his occasional online cover versions of various popular tracks on Youtube including "Dreams" by TV on the Radio, and "The (After) Life of the Party" by Fall Out Boy.^[7]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

EPs and Exclusive Releases[link]

• Now Was Once the Future (2012, soundtrack)
• The Heart Balloon (2009, free download for BHF)
• Napster Live Sessions (2009)
• The Diary of Rodney Harvey (2007, EP)
• So So... (2006, EP)

Other work[link]

• "My First Twook" (illustrated book of Gary Go's tweets)
• "Last Stand" (collaboration with Monsieur Adi, featuring Gary Go on Monsieur Adi's EP "Fire Fire Fire", 2012)
• "Magic" (collaboration with The Knocks featuring Gary Go on The Knocks EP "Magic", 2011. Gary also co-wrote "Magic, "The Prize" and "R.O.Y.L")
• "Teardrop" (collaboration with "The Collective" for Children In Need 2011, featuring Gary Go's arrangements)
• "Cinema" (collaboration with Benny Benassi featuring Gary Go on Benassi's fourth album Electroman, 2011, and released as the album's second single)
• "Control" (collaboration with Benny Benassi, featuring Gary Go on Benassi's fourth album Electroman, 2011)
• "Close to Me" (collaboration with Benny Benassi, featuring Gary Go on Benassi's fourth album Electroman, 2011, and released as the album's third single)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Gary Go Homepage
• Official Gary Go Myspace
• Official Gary Go Tumblr
• I Am Wonderful

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2011)

Tennessee Ernie Ford
Background information
Birth name	Ernest Jennings Ford
Born	(1919-02-13)February 13, 1919 Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Died	October 17, 1991(1991-10-17) (aged 72) Reston, Virginia, United States
Genres	Country & Western, Pop, Gospel
Occupations	Singer, actor
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar, violin

Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres. Today, he is best remembered for his hit recording of "Sixteen Tons".

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Born in Bristol, Tennessee, to Clarence Thomas Ford and Maud Long, Ford began his radio career as an announcer at WOPI-AM in Bristol, Tennessee. In 1939, the young bass-baritone left the station to study classical singing at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio. First Lieutenant Ford served in World War II as the bombardier on a B-29 Superfortress flying missions over Japan. After the war, Ford worked at radio stations in San Bernardino and Pasadena, California. In San Bernardino, Ford was hired as a radio announcer. He was assigned to host an early morning country music disc jockey program titled Bar Nothin' Ranch Time. To differentiate himself, he created the personality of "Tennessee Ernie," a wild, madcap exaggerated hillbilly. He became popular in the area and was soon hired away by Pasadena's KXLA radio.

Ford also did musical tours. The Mayfield Brothers of West Texas, including Smokey Mayfield, Thomas Edd Mayfield, and Herbert Mayfield, were among Ford's warmup bands, having played for him in concerts in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas, during the late 1940s. At KXLA, Ford continued doing the same show and also joined the cast of Cliffie Stone's popular live KXLA country show Dinner Bell Roundup as a vocalist while still doing the early morning broadcast. Cliffie Stone, a part-time talent scout for Capitol Records, brought him to the attention of the label. In 1949, while still doing his morning show, he signed a contract with Capitol. He also became a local TV star as the star of Stone's popular Southern California Hometown Jamboree show. RadiOzark produced 260 15-minute episodes of The Tennessee Ernie Show on transcription disks for national radio syndication.

He released almost 50 country singles through the early 1950s, several of which made the charts. Many of his early records, including "The Shotgun Boogie", "Blackberry Boogie," and so on were exciting, driving boogie-woogie records featuring accompaniment by the Hometown Jamboree band which included Jimmy Bryant on lead guitar and pioneer pedal steel guitarist Speedy West. "I'll Never Be Free," a duet pairing Ford with Capitol Records pop singer Kay Starr, became a huge country and pop crossover hit in 1950. A duet with Ella Mae Morse, False Hearted Girl was a top seller for the Capitol Country and Hillbilly division,^[1] and has been evaluated as an early tune.^[2]

Ford eventually ended his KXLA morning show and in the early 1950s, moved on from Hometown Jamboree. He took over from band-leader Kay Kyser as host of the TV version of NBC quiz show Kollege of Musical Knowledge when it returned briefly in 1954 after a four-year hiatus. He became a household name in the U.S. largely as a result of his hilarious portrayal of the 'country bumpkin,' "Cousin Ernie" on three episodes of I Love Lucy.

In 1955, Ford recorded "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" (which reached number 4 on the country chart) with "Farewell to the Mountains" on side B.

"Sixteen Tons"[link]

Ford scored an unexpected hit on the pop charts in 1955 with his rendition of Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons", a sparsely arranged coal-miner's lament that Travis wrote in 1946, based on his own family's experience in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Its fatalistic tone contrasted vividly with the sugary pop ballads and rock & roll just starting to dominate the charts at the time:

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt.

Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go;

I owe my soul to the company store...

With a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement by Ford's musical director, Jack Fascinato, "Sixteen Tons" spent ten weeks at number one on the country charts and eight weeks at number one on the pop charts, and made Ford a crossover star. It became Ford's 'signature song.'

Later years[link]

Ford subsequently helmed his own prime-time variety program, The Ford Show, which ran on NBC television from October 4, 1956, to June 29, 1961. In an ironic play of words, the show was named not after Ernie, but rather, the sponsor—Ford automobiles. Ford Theatre, an anthology series, had run in the same time slot on NBC in the preceding 1955–1956 season. Ford's program was notable for the inclusion of a religious song at the end of every show; Ford insisted on this despite objections from network officials who feared it might provoke controversy. This became the most popular segment of his show. He earned the nickname "The Ol' Pea-Picker" due to his catch-phrase, "Bless your pea-pickin' heart!" He began using the term during his disc jockey days on KXLA.

In 1956 he released Hymns, his first gospel music album, which remained on Billboard's Top Album charts for 277 consecutive weeks; his album "Great Gospel Songs" won a Grammy Award in 1964. After the NBC show ended, Ford moved his family to Portola Valley in Northern California. He also owned a cabin near Grandjean, Idaho on the upper South Fork of the Payette River where he would regularly retreat.

A photo of Ford with country singer Hank Thompson and Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby appeared in the 1988 book, The Ruby-Oswald Affair, by Alan Adelson.

From 1962-65, Ford hosted a daytime talk/variety show, The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (later known as Hello, Peapickers) from KGO-TV in San Francisco, broadcast over the ABC television network.

Ford was the spokesman for the Pontiac Furniture Company in Pontiac, Illinois in the 1970s.

Ford's experiences as a navigator and bombardier in World War II led to his involvement with the Confederate Air Force (now the Commemorative Air Force), a war plane preservation group in Texas. He was a featured announcer and celebrity guest at the annual CAF Airshow in Harlingen, Texas, from 1976 to 1988. He donated a once-top-secret Norden Bombsight to the CAF's B-29 bomber restoration project. In the late 1970s, as a CAF colonel, Ford recorded the organization's theme song "Ballad of the Ghost Squadron."

Over the years, Ford was awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for radio, records, and television. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990.

Offstage, both Ford and wife Betty contended with serious alcohol problems; Betty had the problem since the 1950s. Though his drinking worsened in the 60s, he worked continuously, seemingly unaffected by his heavy intake of whisky. By the 1970s, however, it had begun to take an increasing toll on his health and ability to sing. After Betty's substance abuse-related death in 1989, Ernie's liver problems, diagnosed years earlier, became more apparent, but he refused to reduce his drinking despite repeated doctors' warnings. In 1990, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His last interview was taped in September 1991 by his old friend Dinah Shore for her TV show. His physical deterioration by then was quite obvious.

Ford received posthumous recognition for his gospel music contributions by adding him to the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1994.

Personal life[link]

Ford was married to Betty Heminger from September 18, 1942, until her death on February 26, 1989; they had two children—Jeffrey Buckner “Buck” Ford (born January 6, 1950) and Brion Leonard Ford (born September 3, 1952 in San Gabriel, California - died Friday, October 24, 2008 in White House, Tennessee, of lung cancer at age 56).

Less than four months after Betty's death, Ford, who had long suffered from severe alcoholism, married again. On September 28, 1991, he fell into severe liver failure at Dulles Airport, shortly after leaving a state dinner at the White House hosted by then President George H. W. Bush. Ford died in H. C. A. Reston Hospital Center, in Reston, Virginia, on October 17—exactly 36 years after "Sixteen Tons" was released, and one day shy of the first anniversary of his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.^[3] Ford was interred at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, California. His second wife, Beverly Wood Ford (1921–2001), died ten years after Ernie and her body was interred with her husband's.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

• ^A"Sing We Now of Christmas" peaked at #2 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada.
• ^B"Colorado Country Morning" peaked at #85 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Whiteside, Johnny; Kingsbury, Paul (ed.) (1998). "Tennessee Ernie Ford". The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 176–7. ISBN 0-19-511671-2. 

External links[link]

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