You know, it's strange that nearly every story relating to Hugh Jarrett's untimely death left out the fact that Hugh was one of the five most successful disc-jockeys of our time. After leaving the gospel business of The Jordanaires, Hugh became a highly visible air personality at WLAC Radio in Nashville, Tennessee.It was at WLAC Radio in Nashville that I met Hugh Jarrett for the first time. To say goings on at WLAC were insane is an understatement. The humor and raucousness of the jocks assembled there was well-known and that insanity bled into the music and general feeling of the jocks on the air. WLAC was the station of choice for the entire Eastern seaboard of the USA.
Hugh Jarrett was hired to take Bill Allen's (The Hossman) place in the Big Four which consisted of John Richbourg (John R.), Gene Nobles, Bill Allen and Herman Grizzard. WLAC was hugely responsible for the development of the Independent Record Business and bringing to the forefront dozens of young black entertainers. It was in this milieu that Hugh Jarrett adopted the name "Big Hugh Baby." Big Hugh became an instant icon and drew numbers to match that status. And then the FCC stepped in....and because of one silly statement, Hugh temporarily lost his broadcasting license, thus ending his meteoric rise at WLAC.
When I interviewed Hugh in 2006, he did not want to discuss this issue because he was then involved with a religious station in Marietta, Georgia and felt our discussing those facts from long ago would not cast an honorable light on his career.
Yes....Hugh sang bass for The Jordanaires and spent a number of years working with Elvis but that's certainly not all he did. His contributions to radio in the United States goes far beyond what is currently recognized.
Hugh Jarrett was an excellent human being and a good friend for many years. I will miss him as will the entire entertainment world.
May Big Hugh Baby ride that 50 gallon drum of White Rose into Paradise.
John Rhys/BluePower.com
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I have had the pleasure of meeting some remarkable people in my time but rarely has there been anyone quite like Hugh Jarrett.Born in Nashville, Hugh started his career in the music business singing with several local gospel groups prior to joining the world famous Jordanaires.
While with the Jordanaires, in early 1954, Hugh and the group were approached by Colonel Tom Parker to sing back-up for the up and coming star, Elvis Presley. The first records on which the Jordanaires sang back-up vocals were "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel." Two of the largest selling records in recording history up to that time.
When the group wasn't on tour with Elvis, they were busy 'round the clock singing in studios in Nashville and Los Angeles with such luminaries as Patsy Cline, Ricky Nelson, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis and literally thousands of other young and aspiring artists.
It was after his years with the Jordanaires that I first met Hugh Jarrett. It was on a trip to Nashville in 1963 while promoting for Mercury Records that I met Hugh at WLAC Radio where he was sitting in for Bill Allen, "The Hoss Man." Hugh had an extraordinary way with a microphone and you can still hear it in his voice today.
A year or so later I met Hugh again at WPLO Radio in Atlanta where he had resumed his Big Hugh Baby shows. In fact, when I left Atlanta for Detroit in 1965, Hugh was the last person I saw there. We had lunch and he waved goodbye in my rear view mirror.
It had been a long time since I'd seen Hugh or spoken with him. (41 years) To be able to sit for a few hours and reminisce with this dignified, gentle man was pure pleasure.
Tune in to hear a very talented human being and one of the truly great radio voices of our time. The recording quality of the interview is not great but the history is amazing.
John Rhys/BluePower.com
Here's the music for the show:
1)...."On The Wings Of A Dove"....The Jordanaires....Capitol
2)...."Hound Dog"....Elvis Presley....RCA
3)...."Don't Be Cruel"....Elvis Presley....RCA
4)...."Are You Lonesome Tonight"....Elvis Presley....RCA
5)...."Will The Circle Be Unbroken"....The Jordanaires....Capitol
6)...."Young Love"....Sonny James....Capitol
7)...."I Can't Help Falling In Love With You"....Elvis Presley....RCA
Click here to play....BluePower Presents....What Ever Happened To Big Hugh Baby?
This show is dedicated to our dear friend....JoAnn Braheny. Or, as Hugh would have known her....JoAnn Jaffe, who worked on the air in the fledgling FM division at WPLO in Atlanta, Georgia with Big Hugh Jarrett.
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