Eddy Arnold Set the Standard for Humility
In the hours after Eddy Arnold’s death early Thursday morning, country music stars and everyday working class people from Nashville have been sharing their stories of the Country Music Hall of Fame member. And if there’s one underlying theme, it’s the kindness and decency he showed to everyone he had contact with long after he had anything to prove or anyone to impress.
He was a superstar long before anyone ever coined the expression, but he didn’t act like a superstar and you certainly wouldn’t pick him out of a crowd as being a multi-millionaire. Up until a few months ago, he could be seen most weekdays having lunch at a modest meat-and-three restaurant south of downtown Nashville.
Several major country artists issued statements reacting to Arnold’s death, but at least three of them seem to stand out, including a comment from LeAnn Rimes. When she reprised his 1955 hit, “The Cattle Call,” she convinced him to record it with her as a duet. It became the last song Arnold charted, reaching No. 18 on Billboard’s country single list.
He was an amazing man who not only had a beautiful voice and was groundbreaking in so many ways, but also he set the highest standard for being a gentleman,” Rimes said. “He was kind to everyone and maintained a level of class that we could all learn from.”
Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn said Arnold’s passing made him think about what the word “legend” means. “It’s generally tied to hell-raising, wild-and-crazy stories and a lifetime of great music. Eddy Arnold was certainly a great singer, but ‘class’ is the word I think of when I think of him — a man with a sense of dignity and integrity that can only be described as one of a kind.”
Garth Brooks noted that Arnold’s career should put things in perspective for contemporary artists. “What Eddy Arnold accomplished as an artist and as a man is why all of us artists today in any format should remain more than humble,” he said.
Eddy Arnold was a man of genuine humility. Current country artists would do well to differentiate between genuine humility and the thanking of record label executives, managers, country radio and various other personal saviors that seem to be mentioned so often at award shows. More than ever, country music needs more people who are the real deal. God knows, we lost one of those when Eddy Arnold passed away.
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Donna Wayer says:
Eddy Arnold was a great country artist, and a true gentleman! I have loved his music for many years, He will truly be missed. We can rest assured he is home with our precious Lord Jesus Christ and his wonderful wife Sally!! My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and his many many fans!!We will hold you in our heart’s Alway’s
Jay Peterson says:
Some thirty years ago a friend of mine in Minnesota gave me a cassette tape he had painstakingly made from a stack of Eddy Arnold’s 78’s, over 30 songs from what I think of as his Golden Era, the late 40’s and early 50’s. That collection of music set me off on a path of discovery of this all but forgotten era of Country Music, the years that Hank, Lefty and Webb held forth along with Eddy Arnold. Those songs, like “Heartful of Love, Handful of Kisses” “It’s A Sin”, “I’m Throwing Rice At The Girl That I Love” “Beatin’ My Time”, “Molly Darling”, “The Love Bug Itch”, and on and on, they are true treasures, and only hint at the change that was to come in Eddy’s music a few years later, after “Cattle Call”. He chose a less country, more uptown, sound in the late 50’s and almost seemed to be embarrassed by his early music, but that was his choice. Perhaps , like Ray Price and Jim Reeves, they saw Elvis’ writing on the wall in the mid 50’s and traded in the Nudie suits for Tuxes. I don’t care for Eddy’s music from the post Cattle Call era at all, but that’s not important today. Today I remember a singer whose voice was smooth as silk , and when backed up by a fine band with Hank Garland and Roy Wiggins, etc.,he helped shape the not-so-honky-tonk side of that wonderous era of Country Music just after WWII and the befginning of Rock and Roll. Along with Red Foley and Redd Stewart, and even Tommy Duncan, he introduced a more smooth side to country vocals, that at least to these ears, got so far from its roots in the late 50’s and 60’s so as to be classified as pop. All that aside, Eddy Arnold deserves to be remembered just as much, if not more so, for the pioneering role he played in the 40’s and the 50’s. He made a LOT of great music way before “Make the World Go Away” and that style, and I hope others will seek out that body of work, which is easily accessible, thanks to our German friends at Bear Family Records. There are precious few Pioneers left, like Jimmie Dickens and Ralph Stanley, and we’ll miss Eddy Arnold.
Doyle Hicks says:
I am 82 years of age and altho we never met,I referd to him as my [frend Eddy].That is the way he made me feel and when I would hear [Cattel Call]I knew it was Eddy because no one could sing it like Eddy could.I’v missed him for a long long time. I think rado made a big mistake for not playing him.
Bernard D’Lasselle, says:
I grew up in INDIA collectiog all Eddy Arnolds 78’s I can collect as he was one of my favourites in country music. Then I migrated to Australia in 1970 and started to visit Nashville from 1978 to 2000 14 visits. Finally met Mr. Eddy Arnold at the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1989 and have an article in The Tennessian News Paper dated 7th. June 1989 which I treasure and what a thrill it was for me that day. Have his lp’s and cd’s about sixty. The world will miss him and may his music go on forever like the Great Gentleman Jim Reeves May His Soul Rest In Peace. Melbourne, Australia.
Gary E. Taylor says:
I only met him once in 1965 when he did some Aunt Jemima radio jingles. He had the best voice I ever heard. He will be singing with the Heavenly Hoast when we all join them.
Lewis D Callahan says:
What a wonderful man we have lost ,I have listened to his songs for sixty Years and what a blessing it was to hear his voice on the Radio in the early years. We will miss Eddy very much but he is now home with his Maker and Sally, may God’s Blessings Be with Eddy’s Family at this time, our sympathy will be with the Arnold Family.
Patti Sage says:
My Beloved Dad, Whom Eddy & his Wifejoins him enternal Life , Started me into Eddy’s music , and boy,wasi was hook, His magical voice and his sincerely Personity, Whom, I got to meet at Melody Fair a few years back, So warm and lovable that you can’t help to love him more. I’ve always written to him and he always wrote me back hand written and plus he sign my program book when i seem him in concert, Eddy will always be remember and loved in my heart forever . I’ll still always played his music in memory of him and My Dad,Gordon. May Eddy& Sally be in peace with the Heavenly Lord and the Angels , eagely to hear is warm and soft smoothing voice.
ed and ellen gagnon says:
my husband ed and i are country music fanatics. we have every album and recordings eddy arnold did. he will be greatly missed even though he was retired.eddy and salley are finally together again may the angels in heaven take care of them now. we will remember him in our hearts and will still enjoy his for many years to come.
robert parker says:
Eddy Arnold had a voice that nobody copied. I listened to it in the late 40’s. Red foley was popular also, but Eddy had so many records that were popular. He was actually outselling Perry Como and a lot of pop singers. On their top country singers they listed Eddy as # 20- Travis Tritt was in the top 20 because he had a nice butt! Give me a break! Eddy rates up there with Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Merle, and Marty. For their voices not there butt. How about Tennessee Ernie ford!
Sandy Witer says:
I never had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful man, but I will truly miss him. I grew up with Eddy Arnold, and own almost all his lp’s 78’s and 45’s, when my time comes my children will be left a collection from this wonderful man. Him and Sally are with our Savior now and are being well taken care of. I am truly blessed to have been born in the era of all the country ledgends.
Beverly Burkett says:
When I was little my dad put his speakers out in the back yard to crank the Eddy Arnold music out! Our whole family loved him and now my children have been enjoying when I put a cd of Eddy’s in my car we all sing along. He is will be truly missed. My dad sings his songs on karaoke when the family gets together..and we all sing along because we know all of the words. I have children ages 25,22,19, and 17 and I know they will be letting their children (when they are born someday) enjoy and sing along as well. I hope there are plenty of specials on tv to enjoy and let people who (are there any?) don’t know Eddy’s music to hear him.
I’ll miss you Eddy. love, BEVERLY
marlon&ruby white says:
Eddy Arnold To us meant real country music, What a joy to have been privilage to have known his music and such a wonderful gentleman.Heaven is enjoying him now.GOD bless his loved ones. WE’ll miss you .LOVE,MARLON & RUBY WHITE. BASTROP,TEXAS
helen mccardle says:
did he and wife have children what are their ages do they live in nashville did he help his mother and daddy financially
Brendan Bous says:
Eddy Arnold was such a great persom I really Enjoyed his music
William C.Shoop says:
Eddy Arnold was my hero!!From the first time I heard his lp “The Everlovin World Of Eddy Arnold” at the tender age of 10 I was his biggest fan.I was fortunate to meet him at several meet and greets after his concerts.I also was blessed to see President Clinton present him the National Medal Of The Arts.I had nominated him and was invited.Imagine me,seeing his childhood hero honored by our nations President.This in the company of Barbara Streisand,Barishnikov,and other prominent talented people.
Eddy was a national treasure on loan from god.I dont know what I loved more his superb baritone or awesome laughter that radiated from his heart.He was a gift to the world.
More important than his voice was his humanity.He was the real deal a man who loved everybody .He never got above his raising.His moral integrity speaks volumes about the very person he was.
So sad the Kennedy Center Folks snubbed him as a Kennedy Center Honors recipient.They missed the boat big time on overlooking the best of the best.
“Well Done Thy Good And Faithful Servant!!”
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