Hank Snow

Canadian-American famed country western singer and guitarist most noted for his performances with the Grand Ole Opry since 1950 to the early '90s. His "I'm Movin' On" is the most played country record of all times. Snow is the founder of the Hank Snow Foundation for the Prevention of Abused and Neglected Children. Snow moved in with his grandma when he was eight at the time of his parents divorce. Four years later he rejoined his mom and step-dad, but his step dad was abusive and frequently beat Hank. He ran away at the age of 12, joining the Merchant Marines for four years working as a cabin boy and laborer. Returning home at 16, his mother encouraged his career by giving him a stack of Jimmie Rodgers records. After ordering a mail order guitar, he self-taught himself and played around Nova Scotia at local billings. He landed a regular paid position on the Canadian Farm Hour and later that year signed a contract with RCA-Victor's Montreal branch. In the early '40s he had his own show on CBS. By 1948, he was singing in Dallas and became a friend of Ernest Tubb. Tubb pulled enough strings to land Snow an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in early 1950. July 1950 saw his hit single "I'm Moving On" released sending him to the top of the charts and finally finding a name for himself in the U.S. Snow achieved being indicted into the Nashville Songwriters Int. Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1979. In 1981 his recording career ended with his contract being dropped by RCA after a 45-year relationship. Snow remained active in the Grand Ole Opry and spent a lot of time with his Foundation for Child Abuse. In 1994 Snow published his autobiography, "The Hank Snow Story." He married Minnie Aaiders in 1936. Snow died of heart failure on 12/20/1999 at home outside of Nashville at the age of 85. Link to Wikipedia biography