Pee Wee King

Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski (February 18, 1914 – March 7, 2000), King joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1937, with the help of his father-in-law J.L. Frank. In 1955, he hosted a 90-minute ABC network summer series with the same name. This musical variety show, which originated from the Cleveland studios of WEWS-TV, again featured the Golden West Cowboys, along with vocalist Redd Stewart, comedienne Little Eller Long, and singer Neal Burris. The show also featured square dancing and was broadcast on Mondays at 9:00 pm, airing from May 23 to September 5, 1955.

His band also introduced on-stage dancing and Nudie Cohn's customized "rhinestone cowboy" outfits (Nudie suits), which later became popular with Nashville and country musicians, including Elvis Presley, to the Opry. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974.

He joined producers Randall Franks and Alan Autry for the In the Heat of the Night cast CD Christmas Time's a Comin performing "Jingle Bells" with the cast released on Sonlite and MGM/UA for one of the most popular Christmas releases of 1991 and 1992 with Southern retailers.

He died of a heart attack in Louisville, Kentucky, at age 86.

Discography

Albums Pee Wee King, RCA Victor, 1954 Waltzes, RCA Victor, 1955 Swing West, RCA Victor, 1956 Country Barn Dance, RCA Camden, 1965 Ballroom King, Detour, 1982 Hog Wild Too!, Zu Zazz, 1990 Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys (6-CD box set), Bear Family, 1995 Pee Wee King's Country Hoedown (live radio performances), Bloodshot, 1999

Singles Year Single Chart Positions US Country US 1948 "Tennessee Waltz" 3 1949 "Tennessee Tears" 12 "Tennessee Polka" 3 1950 "Bonaparte's Retreat" 10 1951 "Tennessee Waltz" (re-release) 6 "Slow Poke" 1 1 1952 "Silver and Gold" 5 18 "Busybody" 8 27 1954 "Changing Partners" 4 "Bimbo" 9 "Backward, Turn Backward" 15