Rootie Tootie

"Rootie Tootie" is a novelty song written by Fred Rose and recorded by Hank Williams on MGM Records in 1948.

Background

"Rootie Tootie" was released as the B-side to Pee Wee King's smash "Tennessee Waltz" in 1948. Country bandleader Paul Howard released a version that same year. King's success may have inflated Rose's regard for the song's hit potential, and this may be the reason why he pushed it on Williams, although, as Colin Escott speculates, "it's likelier that Hank simply wasn't generating enough material that Rose considered worth releasing." Although Rose, who wrote "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," contributed significantly to Williams' sound and development as a songwriter, "Rootie Tootie," much like the earlier "Fly Trouble," was a sophisticated novelty that utterly lacked the wit and charm evident on many of Hank's own funnier compositions like "Mind Your Own Business" and "Howlin' At the Moon." The song was recorded at Castle Studio in Nashville on November 6, 1947 with backing by a group that Rose assembled from two Grand Ole Opry bands: Zeke Turner (lead guitar), Jerry Byrd (steel guitar), and Louis Ennis (rhythm guitar) were from Red Foley's band while Chubby Wise (fiddle) was a member of Bill Monroe's band. Rose may have played piano.

Hank Williams

Hiram King "Hank" Williams, (/hæŋk wɪljəmz /; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that would place in the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one.

Born in Mount Olive, Butler County, Alabama, Williams moved to Georgiana, where he met Rufus Payne, a black street performer who gave him guitar lessons in exchange for meals or money. Payne had a major influence on Williams' later musical style, along with Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb. During this time, Williams informally changed his name to Hank, believing it to be a better name for country music. He moved to Montgomery and his music career began there in 1937, when WSFA radio station producers hired him to perform and host a 15-minute program. He formed as backup the Drifting Cowboys band, which was managed by his mother, and dropped out of school to devote his time to his career.