Bob Atcher
Encyclopedia
James Robert Owen "Bob" Atcher (May 11, 1914 – October 31, 1993) was an American country music
ian.
, Kentucky
, and learned violin and guitar from his father, who was adept at fiddle. He started out on radio
in Louisville
on WHAS
, and was offered spots on a number of other stations in the American South and Midwest. In 1939 he was offered a regular gig on Chicago
station WBBM
which was broadcast nationally by CBS
. The show made him a national star, and he signed with ARC
just before CBS bought the company. After the purchase Atcher was transferred to Okeh Records
and then to Columbia Records
, both CBS subsidiaries.
Between 1939 and 1942, he recorded many duets with Loretta Applegate, who went by the stage name
Bonnie Blue Eyes. Among these was the first #1 of Jimmie Davis' "You Are My Sunshine
". Bob's younger brother Randy Atcher
also appeared on some of his records. After 1942 Atcher fought in the Army
in World War II
and returned to performing in 1946, charting hits which included "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me" and "I Must Have Been Wrong".
In 1948 Atcher signed on with WLS
and became a performer on their National Barn Dance
. As one of their biggest stars, he continued to chart national hits, including "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes". He released two long plays entitled Early American Folk Songs in 1948, which were among the earliest LPs Columbia Records issued. In 1950, he signed with Capitol Records
, and later in the 1950s moved to Kapp Records
. In 1950 he recorded "Christmas Island
" with the Dinning Sisters. He continued with the Barn Dance well into the 1960s, and re-signed to Columbia that decade, re-recording many of his songs in stereo.
Atcher, like Gene Autry
, was a shrewd businessman, and bought several businesses and invested in banking with the proceeds from his career. He was also the mayor
of Schaumburg, Illinois
from 1959 to 1979. He died in 1993.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
ian.
Biography
Atcher was born in Hardin CountyHardin County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 94,174 people, 34,497 households, and 25,355 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 37,673 housing units at an average density of...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and learned violin and guitar from his father, who was adept at fiddle. He started out on radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
on WHAS
WHAS (AM)
WHAS, known by the on air branding as "84 WHAS", is an AM radio station broadcasting in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a 50,000 Watt clear channel radio station assigned to frequency 840 kHz. With clear channel status, its nighttime signal can be heard in most of the continental U.S...
, and was offered spots on a number of other stations in the American South and Midwest. In 1939 he was offered a regular gig on Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
station WBBM
WBBM
WBBM may refer to any of four stations in the Chicago, Illinois area owned and operated by CBS:*WBBM-TV, a television station licensed to Chicago and affiliated with the CBS Television Network...
which was broadcast nationally by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. The show made him a national star, and he signed with ARC
American Record Company
The American Record Company was a United States record label, in business from about 1904 to 1908. Then re-activated in 1979.The American Record Company was founded by Ellsworth A. Hawthorne and Horace Sheble and Frederick M. Prescott. It was based in Springfield, Massachusetts...
just before CBS bought the company. After the purchase Atcher was transferred to Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
and then to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, both CBS subsidiaries.
Between 1939 and 1942, he recorded many duets with Loretta Applegate, who went by the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Bonnie Blue Eyes. Among these was the first #1 of Jimmie Davis' "You Are My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine
"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by...
". Bob's younger brother Randy Atcher
Randy Atcher
Randall "Randy" Atcher was an American country musician.Atcher was born in Tip Top, Kentucky, the fifth in a family of eight. Soon after his birth his family moved to North Dakota, and then back to Kentucky when he was twelve. As a high schooler, Atcher played guitar and mandolin on WHAS radio in...
also appeared on some of his records. After 1942 Atcher fought in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and returned to performing in 1946, charting hits which included "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me" and "I Must Have Been Wrong".
In 1948 Atcher signed on with WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
and became a performer on their National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance, broadcast by WLS-AM in Chicago, Illinois starting in 1924, was one of the first American country music radio programs and a direct precursor of the Grand Ole Opry...
. As one of their biggest stars, he continued to chart national hits, including "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes". He released two long plays entitled Early American Folk Songs in 1948, which were among the earliest LPs Columbia Records issued. In 1950, he signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, and later in the 1950s moved to Kapp Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
. In 1950 he recorded "Christmas Island
Christmas Island
The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is located northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and ENE of the Cocos Islands....
" with the Dinning Sisters. He continued with the Barn Dance well into the 1960s, and re-signed to Columbia that decade, re-recording many of his songs in stereo.
Atcher, like Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, was a shrewd businessman, and bought several businesses and invested in banking with the proceeds from his career. He was also the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Schaumburg, Illinois
Schaumburg, Illinois
Schaumburg is a city located in Cook County in northeastern Illinois. A common misspelling of the city name is Schaumberg, a spelling which persists on some modern maps. Schaumburg is located just under northwest of downtown Chicago and approximately northwest of O'Hare International Airport. As...
from 1959 to 1979. He died in 1993.