GROWING UP BOONE

Charles Eugene Patrick Boone was born June 1, 1934 in Jacksonville, Florida; a descendant of American frontier hero Daniel Boone, he attended high school in Nashville, TN - Music City USA. "Pat" sang in church with his brother Nick and family, and originally was drawn to Pop music, influence by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Nat Cole and others.

 

From age 12 on, Boone sang all over Nashville at school affairs, Kiwanis meetings, Junior Chamber of Commerce events, Ladies Club luncheons, and on local TV and radio. During his junior and senior years in high school he hosted the Youth on Parade teen talent show on Saturday mornings on WSIX and was voted student body president.

 

He developed a sudden interest in Country music when Shirley Foley, daughter of famed singer Red Foley transferred to David Lipscomb High School during his junior year. They became "an item" immediately, and Pat wrote his first Country song "Until You Tell Me So" and sang for Eddy Arnold in a meeting arranged by Shirley, accompanied by himself on a ukulele his mom had taught him to play (a few chords and a strum). Eddy was very nice but passed on the song. Later he recorded it for a local recording company, Republic Records, and it got considerable airplay.