Bill Carlisle

Bill Carlisle (born December 19, 1908 Wakefield, Kentucky - died March 17, 2003) was an American country singer, songwriter and guitarist.

Biography

William Toliver Carlisle performed in the 1920s, with his older brother Cliff Carlisle, at radio stations WLAP in Lexington, Kentucky and WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee. Bill's first solo single and hit was the 1933 recording of "Rattlesnake Daddy", released on ARC Records. In the same year, he formed the Carlisle Brothers with Cliff and together, the brothers signed with Decca Records in 1938 and continued performing regularly on Kentucky country radio programs. Bill's guitar style was noted for its precision and speed, and he employed yodeling as a vocalist. Also like his brother, Bill released many songs which included humorous, veiled references to sexuality.

The duo signed with King Records after World War II, and hit big with the Ernest Tubb cover "A Rainbow at Midnight" in 1946. Bill had a solo hit in 1948 with "Tramp on the Street". Cliff retired from the business about 1950, and Bill put together a backing ensemble which he called The Carlisles, though none of them were related to him. Among its members were singer Martha Carson and songwriter Betty Amos. Carlisle created an alter ego for the "Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round" and "Tennessee Barn Dance" shows, called Hot Shot Elmer, a bumbling buffoon in costume who would "interrupt" Bill's own performances. His athleticism on stage won him the moniker "Jumpin' Bill".

Carlisle continued to put out novelty song hits in the 1950s, such as "Too Old to Cut the Mustard", a Top Ten country hit in 1951 which was subsequently covered by artists such as Rosemary Clooney. Other hits included the #1 smash "No Help Wanted" and the Top Ten "Taint Nice (To Talk Like That)" (both 1953). That year the Carlisles were invited to join the "Grand Ole Opry". His own children became members of the Carlisles in the 1960s; his last hit was "What Kind of Deal Is This", released in 1965. After his fame receded, he continued to be a regular on the Opry, appearing there less than two weeks before his death in March of 2003.

He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in September 2002.

References

* [http://wc10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0pfrxqe5ldhe~T1 Bill Carlisle] at Allmusic
*http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=105#