Biography of Tom T. Hall

Nashville's reigning storyteller, Hall started off as a DJ and a songwriter. In the 60s his songs were recorded by Dave Dudley, Roy Drusky, and Flatt and Scruggs, but the bigtime arrived in 1968 when Jeannie C. Riley cut "Harper Valley PTA," which sold 6 million copies and led first to a movie in 1978, then to a TV series in the early 80s. Hall was phenomenally popular in the 70s, charting with many "message" songs, among them "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died," "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine," and "Ravishing Ruby." In the 80s he became host of "Pop Goes the Country," a syndicated TV show. With his low-key singing style and his unique songs, Hall is like no one else in the business. ~ David Vinopal