Artist Biography - Homer & Jethro

Homer & Jethro


	Home Biographies On The Fringe Artist Profile Archives News Flash Message Board Reader's Poll Fan Pics Photo Album Merchandise Artist Websites Related Sites Website Resources Contact Us Get the latest Countrypolitan news! Join our mailing list today! Click Here				Homer and Jethro started their careers at the age of twelve. They belonged to separate bands competing for a slot on Lowell Blanchard's WNOX radio show The Mid Day Merry Go Round in Knoxville, Tenn. Homer teamed up with Jethro, Jethro's older brother and another musician to form The String Dusters, a rural show band, which had it's own self contained comedy act "Junior and Dude". During a 1936 broadcast, Blanchard forgot their nicknames and introduced them as Homer and Jethro. The legend begins………. The String Dusters disbanded in 1938 and Homer and Jethro began working the Renfro Valley Barn Dance in Kentucky. In 1941 the war broke up the act, Jethro served in the Pacific while Homer served as a medic in Europe. After the war, they resumed their careers working on WLW in Cincinnati. It was there that they signed with King Records but WLW management would only allow them to record for King if their names didn't appear on the record labels. They appeared on many hit records as part of the King house band such as Grandpa Jones's Mountain Dew and Cowboy Copas's Signed Sealed and Delivered. They decided they wanted to record on their own and were dropped by WLW. In 1947 they returned to Knoxville and the Mid Day Merry Go Round. They began performing with Chet Atkins and were rejected by the Grand Ole' Opry because they didn't like Chet's guitar style. In 1949 they signed with RCA and recorded Baby It's Cold Outside with June Carter which was an immediate hit. They continued to parody country and pop hits with great success. They were booked with Spike Jones's agency Arena Stars which led to a guest appearance on WLS's Breakfast Club with Don McNeill in Chicago. They were invited to join the National Barn Dance and make regular Breakfast Club appearances. In 1959, they won a Grammy for Best Comedy Performance Musical for their parody to the Battle of New Orleans-The Battle of Kookamonga. When they were announced the winners at the award ceremony, they got up to accept their award when the presenter announced that the academy would accept for Homer and Jethro because they couldn't make it to the award ceremony. The 60's brought them into America's living rooms and grocery stores as the spokesmen for Kellogs Corn Flakes. They also appeared on many variety and late night television shows. In the early 1970's, they teamed up with Chet Atkins to form the Nashville String Band, but the bands' success would be short lived. Homer passed away unexpectedly on August 7, 1971 after suffering a fatal heart attack while preparing for an engagement at the Great Midwest Fair in Crete, Illinois. The early 70's also brought them the honor of being imitated by two audio animatronic bears in Disney's Country Bear Jamboree. To this day, the two bears Henry and Wendell, perform two Homer and Jethro songs, Fractured Folk Song and Mama Don't Whoop Little Buford. Unfortunately, Homer did not live to see the opening of Disney World and his bear legacy, which opened in October 1971, although he was very excited about the project. Jethro continued as a soloist and toured for 5 years with Steve Goodman as well as recording with legendary musicians. He also attempted to revive the act with a new partner, Ken Eidson, calling themselves the New Homer and Jethro but met with little success. Jethro died on February 4, 1989 after a long battle with cancer. Homer and Jethro are remembered fondly today not only for their comedy genius, but for their outstanding musicianship. At one point a country hit was not considered successful if Homer and Jethro didn't make fun of it. At the time of his death, Homer was considered the greatest rhythm guitar player in the world and Jethro's mandolin prowess will always remain legendary. Sadly, they are two of the most over looked legends in Nashville and to this day they have never been formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Surely they were true pioneers of country comedy and have paved the way for acts such as Weird Al Yankovic and Cledus T. Judd. When you listen to song parodies today, remember Homer and Jethro did it first, the original pioneers of the song parody. Update: Homer and Jethro were posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 4, 2001. *Written by Tracy (Haynes) Vrab for Countrypolitan.com, January 2001.*

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