June 1: Crooner Pat Boone - April Love," "Bernadine," "Love Letters in the Sand" - is 79-years-old today.

Did you know?
Boone has claimed to be a direct descendant of the American pioneer Daniel Boone. He is a cousin of two stars of western television series: the late Richard Boone of CBS's Have Gun, Will Travel and Randy Boone, one of the co-stars of NBC's The Virginian and CBS's Cimarron Strip.

-----

Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone was born in 1934 in Jacksonville, Florida, but grew up primarily in Nashville, Tennessee, was a successful pop singer in the US during the 1950s and early 1960s. Among his hit songs were cover versions of black R&B artists' songs including a 1955 version of Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame"; "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard.

Boone sold over 45 million albums, had 38 Top 40 hits and appeared in more than 12 Hollywood movies. Boone's talent as a singer and actor, combined with his old-fashioned values, contributed to his popularity in the early rock and roll era.

According to Billboard, Boone was the second biggest charting artist of the late 1950s, behind only Elvis Presley but ahead of Ricky Nelson and The Platters, and was ranked at No. 9—behind The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney but ahead of artists such as Aretha Franklin and The Beach Boys—in its listing of the Top 100 Top 40 Artists 1955–1995.

Boone still holds the Billboard record for spending 220 consecutive weeks on the charts with one or more songs each week.

Boone's well-groomed, clean-cut, boyish image won him a long-term product endorsement contract from General Motors during the late 1950s, lasting through the 1960s.

In 1953, shortly before he turned 19, Boone married Shirley Lee Foley. daughter of country music great Red Foley and his wife, singer Judy Martin.

They had four daughters: Cheryl Lynn, Linda Lee, Deborah Ann (better known as Debby who had a huge hit with "You Light Up My Life"), and Laura Gene. During the late 1950s, he made regular appearances on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee, hosted by his father-in-law.

However, In the 1960s, Boone's marriage nearly came to an end due to his use of alcohol and wild nightlife. After having a charismatic encounter, Shirley began to focus more on her religion and would eventually influence Pat and their daughters toward a similar religious focus.

In the 1960s and 1970s the Boone family toured as gospel singers and made gospel albums, such as The Pat Boone Family and The Family Who Prays.

Boone refused songs and movie roles that he felt might compromise his standards—including a role with sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. In his first film, April Love, he refused to give co-star and love interest Shirley Jones an onscreen kiss, because the actress was married in real life.

As an author, Boone had a No. 1 bestseller in the 1950s (Twixt Twelve and Twenty, Prentice-Hall). In the 1960s, he focused on gospel music and is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He continues to perform, and speak as a motivational speaker, a television personality, and a conservative political commentator.

-----

For more about Pat Boone, vbisit his Website at -

http://www.patboone.com/

####