Elton Britt

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Elton Britt
Britt in March 1950
Britt in March 1950
Background information
Birth nameJames Elton Baker
Born(1913-06-27)June 27, 1913
Marshall, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedJune 22, 1972(1972-06-22) (aged 58)
McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1942–1970
"Listen to the Mocking Bird" record label

Elton Britt (born James Elton Baker; June 27, 1913 – June 22, 1972)[1] was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician.

Biography[]

Britt was born[2] on a farm near to Marshall, Arkansas, United States.[3] His father was James Baker, and he had two sisters, Gretta Sanders and Druse Baker, and a brother Arl Baker.

Britt recorded over 600 sides and 60 albums for RCA Victor and other labels in more than a 30-year span, and is best known for such hit songs (several of which he wrote or co-wrote) as "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)", "Detour", "Chime Bells", "Maybe I'll Cry Over You", "Pinto Pal", and the million-selling wartime hit "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere".[3] The recording had sold a million discs by 1944 and it was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[4] Britt became the first country artist to be awarded a gold disc.[3]

A singer, bandleader, radio and television performer, songwriter and standard-setting yodeler, he starred in at least two films in the late 1940s, and had hit records as late as 1968 with "The Jimmie Rodgers Blues".[3] In 1960, as part of a publicity stunt, Britt briefly ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.[5]

On June 22, 1972, five days before his 59th birthday, Britt suffered a heart attack while driving his car and died in a McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, hospital the next day.[5] He was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Broad Top, Pennsylvania. He is survived by at least four children (three sons and one daughter).

In popular culture[]

His song "Uranium Fever" is featured in the 2015 video game Fallout 4 on the in-game radio.[6]

Discography[]

Albums[]

Year Album US Country Label
1956 Yodel Songs RCA Victor
1959 The Wandering Cowboy ABC
1960 Beyond the Sunset
I Heard a Forest Praying
1963 The Best 1 RCA Victor
1965 Singing Hills ABC
1966 Somethin' for Everyone 31
1968 The Jimmie Rodgers Blues RCA Camden
1970 Sings Modern Country Certron
1972 The Best 2 RCA Victor
16 Great Country Performances ABC
1983 Days of the Yodeling Cowboys Cowgirlboy
1984 More Days of the Yodeling Cowboys
1986 Star Spangled Stardust

Singles[]

Year Single Chart Positions
US Country US
1942 "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" 7
1945 "I'm a Convict with Old Glory in My Heart" 7
1946 "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" 2
"Wave to Me, My Lady" 3 19
"Blueberry Lane" 4
"Detour" 5
"Blue Texas Moonlight" (w/ The Skytoppers) 6
"Gotta Get Together with My Gal" 4
1948 "Bells" (w/ The Skytoppers) 6
1949 "Candy Kisses" (w/ The Skytoppers) 4
1950 "Beyond the Sunset" (w/ The Three Suns & Rosalie Allen) 7
"Quicksilver" (w/ Rosalie Allen) 3
1952 "The Rovin' Gambler"[7]
1956 "Cannonball Yodel" -
1966 "Homesweet Homesick Blues" -
1968 "The Jimmie Rodgers Blues" 26
1969 "The Bitter Taste" 71

References[]

  1. ^ "Elton Britt | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Elton Britt". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 48/9. ISBN 0-85112-726-6.
  4. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 27. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Elton Britt's big break". Arkansasonline.com. 15 May 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  6. ^ Chism, Carlos (10 November 2015). "The Full Diamond City Radio Playlist From Fallout 4". Gameranx.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Elton Britt - The Rovin' Gambler (1952)". YouTube. Retrieved 2015-08-27.

External links[]

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