On April 26th,1941 Ernest Tubb stepped into the Biggs Studio in Dallas Texas to record "Walking The Floor Over You". Although there is another report stating the song was recorded in Fort Worth. Anyway, when later released it sold one million copies and cemented Tubb's career and becoming a country staple.
I have read in many articles (and also agree when I hear his singing) that Tubb did not possess the best singing voice back in the day. He sang flat and actually mocked his own singing on many occasions. Typical example when singing in a bar, someone would say they could sing better than that and Ernest would go out of his way and agree with the guy !!
So then you have Jim Reeves, of course known as the best singing voice in the world and no one to compare him to.
I guess my question is how Ernest Tubb could possibly become a star when in competition with singers like Jim. Two singers a world apart, but Tubb being successful despite his somewhat lack of singing talent.
Mind you, I still like a lot of Ernest Tubb's songs, especially "Walking....." as strange as it may sound, with it's flat sound. But I can not explain why. just something there that's appealing I guess. And in that way my friends , maybe I answered my own question in a way.
So, can anyone add to this head scratcher.. Thank you and appreciate if you.
Very interesting question,Roy. I think a lot of the appeal,and why singers that don't exactly have a great singing voice become so popular,has to do with character and personality and their delivery. There are quite a few singers in my opinion that do not have the greatest singing voices, and yet, I enjoy them very much. Ernest Tubb is a good example. I have a DVD that was released years ago that includes many songs by Jim, Ray Price and Ernest. I always enjoyed the Ernest Tubb portion of the disc.Another reason for their popularity might very well have to do with the songs. There is a tune called "Dear Judge" sung by Ernest on this DVD about a divorce and who will gain custody of their little boy that I find very likeable. Johnny Cash does not have what you would call a great singing voice either, but I've always enjoyed his recordings. Even Chet Atkins,the great guitarist and record producer, who is not known for singing at all, has sung on a few of his recordings. He recorded a song back in the 80's called "I Still Can't Say Goodbye" about his late father that is quite charming.
I completely neglected to mention that a song, not quite exceptional, can be appreciated and cherished for its connection to personal events such as a first date, wedding, birth, death, or other momentous occasions in ones life.
Robert,you mentioned quite a few other good reasons why some singers that don't have great voices become very popular. The songs themselves can indeed remind someone of a special moment in their life. I suppose the answer to this question is endless...
Its partly timing. When the singer came alomg. Tubb, Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, just to name a few, came along at a time when they could appeal to a segment of the audience. They probably could not do that today.
I happened to watch a bit of "America Got Talent" last night and what I saw in some acts confirms the theory that just because you don't have talent, you can still be a star.
Case in point...... A dancer entered the stage with questionable talent. However the kicker was the visual effects , using scantly clad girls dancing circles round him, along with strobe lighting, pyro and camera angles. Well, as the old saying goes "They brought the house down". Everyone in the audience were standing ,clapping, dancing and totally enjoying the set. The conclusion I can only make is, despite the man's lack of talent, if it's packaged right, you have "Entertainment". Right time, right place. Entertainment being the key word !!
And who could ever forget "Gangnam Style" and its unbelievable rise to fame. On stage for "American Idol" saw a very nervous and out of place South Korean trying to sing with disastrous results. That has to be the epitome of no talent. But someone saw something there (again right time right place) and working with the right agencies, a no talent went on to become a sensation, garnering one Billion views on YouTube. And, oh yeah, at the same time made him rich and famous.
And the list goes on. Endless searching for meaning to a question that has no answer, or at least one I can not find.
Thank you all for your thoughts. This has become quite an interesting topic.
on May 29, 2025, 7:03 pm