Elton Britt

Elton Britt (born James Elton Baker; June 27, 1913 – June 22, 1972) was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician, who was best known for his western ballads and yodelling songs.

Biography Britt was born on a farm near Marshall, Arkansas. His father was James Baker, and he had two younger sisters, Gretta Sanders and Druse Baker, and a younger brother Arl Baker.

Britt was born incredibly sick, and therefore wasn’t named until he was over a year old, however he was eventually given the name James, after his father and his middle name, Elton, after the man who looked after his health as a baby. Because of his poor health, Britt was allegedly spoiled copiously as a baby and was given the nickname “cute.”

Britt started playing guitar aged 10, most likely inspired by his family who all also had an interest in music, and eventually Britt would discover Jimmie Rodgers, which inspired him to learn to yodel, which he learned to do exceptionally well, his breath control being so good that he could often hold his breath for minutes at a time underwater.

Britt’s career kickstarted in 1930 when Britt was hired to replace Hugh Ashley (or Hobart Walton) in singing group The Beverly Hill Billies. Britt came up with his stage name after someone hired at The Beverly Hill Billies production company said that James Baker didn’t sound “hill-billy enough.”

Britt recorded over 600 sides and 60 albums for RCA Victor and other labels in more than a 30-year span, and is best known for such hit songs (several of which he wrote or co-wrote) as "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)", "Detour", "Chime Bells", "Maybe I'll Cry Over You", "Pinto Pal", and the million-selling wartime hit "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere". Britt became the first country artist to be awarded a gold disc. something many believe was a stunt pulled by his then-manager, Aubrey Mayhew.

Britt has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, given on February 8, 1960.

On June 22, 1972, five days before his 59th birthday, Britt suffered a heart attack while driving his car and died in a McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, hospital the next day. The song would again be featured in the Amazon Prime Video Fallout adaptation in the season two episode "The Other Player".

Discography Albums Year Album US Country Label1955 Presenting Elton Britt Universal Digital Enterprises 1956 Yodel Songs RCA Victor 1959 The Wandering Cowboy ABC 1960 Beyond the Sunset I Heard a Forest Praying 1963 The Best 1 RCA Victor 1965 Singing Hills ABC 1966 Somethin' for Everyone 31 1968 The Jimmie Rodgers Blues RCA Camden 1970 Sings Modern Country Certron 1972 The Best 2 RCA Victor 16 Great Country Performances ABC 1983 Days of the Yodeling Cowboys Cowgirlboy 1984 More Days of the Yodeling Cowboys 1986 Star Spangled Stardust

Singles Year Single Chart Positions US Country US 1942 "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" 7 1945 "I'm a Convict with Old Glory in My Heart" 7 1946 "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" 2 "Wave to Me, My Lady" 3 19 "Blueberry Lane" 4 "Detour" 5 "Blue Texas Moonlight" (w/ The Skytoppers) 6 "Gotta Get Together with My Gal" 4 1947 "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (w / The Skytoppers) 1948 "Bells" (w/ The Skytoppers) 6 1949 "Candy Kisses" (w/ The Skytoppers) 4 1950 "Beyond the Sunset" (w/ The Three Suns & Rosalie Allen) 7 "Quicksilver" (w/ Rosalie Allen) 3 1952 "The Rovin' Gambler" 1956 "Cannonball Yodel" - 1966 "Homesweet Homesick Blues" - 1968 "The Jimmie Rodgers Blues" 26 1969 "The Bitter Taste" 71