Rod Brasfield
Encyclopedia
Rodney Leon Brasfield was an American comedian who was prominently featured on the Grand Ole Opry
from 1947 until his death in 1958. In 1987, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
. He began his career in the late 1920s with Bisbee’s Dramatic Shows, a touring tent repertory troupe, serving as a straight man for his older brother, actor and comedian Boob Brasfield
. In 1931 he married a Hohenwald, Tennessee
school teacher, Eleanor Humphrey.
In 1944, Brasfield was recruited by George D. Hay
for the Grand Ole Opry. With his trademark baggy suit, battered hat and rubbery face, he could make audiences laugh before he spoke a word. He soon became the primary comic on The Prince Albert
Show, the Opry’s NBC Radio
broadcast, playing off the show’s host, Red Foley
. Assuming the role of a hapless hayseed, he often poked fun at country life—always with good humor.
In 1948, he began teaming with Minnie Pearl
, playing what she referred to as "double comedy" in which each of them delivered alternating punch lines and neither played the straight man. Some of these routines were broadcast on the Opry's live ABC
television network show from 1955–56. He lived in Hohenwald, called himself the Hoenwald Flash, and often mentioned the local restaurant (which he once owned), the Snip-Snap-and-Bite, in his routines. Brasfield sometimes did ventriloquist routines with a dummy named Bocephus, after whom Hank Williams nicknamed his then-infant son Hank Williams, Jr.
; and also did comedy with June Carter.
In March 1956, Brasfield appeared with Elvis Presley
at Atlanta's Fox Theatre. In 1957, he played Andy Griffith
’s sidekick in A Face in the Crowd; and appeared in Country Music Holiday the same year. Heart failure combined with an ongoing problem with alcohol led to his death at age 48 in 1958 in Martin, Tennessee
. He is buried in Smithville.
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
from 1947 until his death in 1958. In 1987, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Biography
Brasfield was born in Smithville, MississippiSmithville, Mississippi
Smithville is a town in Monroe County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 882 at the 2000 census. Smithville is the birthplace of Rod Brasfield, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.-Geography:...
. He began his career in the late 1920s with Bisbee’s Dramatic Shows, a touring tent repertory troupe, serving as a straight man for his older brother, actor and comedian Boob Brasfield
Uncle Cyp and Aunt Sap Brasfield
Laurence Lemarr Brasfield and Neva Inez Fisher Brasfield , better known as Uncle Cyp and Aunt Sap, were an American country comedy duo with acting careers beginning in the late 1910s that spanned vaudeville to network television...
. In 1931 he married a Hohenwald, Tennessee
Hohenwald, Tennessee
Hohenwald is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,754 at the 2000 census. The name "Hohenwald" is a German word that means "High Forest". The town was founded in 1878 and later merged with a town named "New Switzerland" to the south. New...
school teacher, Eleanor Humphrey.
In 1944, Brasfield was recruited by George D. Hay
George D. Hay
George Dewey Hay was an American radio personality. He was the founder of the original Grand Ole Opry radio program on WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee, from which the country music stage show of the same name evolved....
for the Grand Ole Opry. With his trademark baggy suit, battered hat and rubbery face, he could make audiences laugh before he spoke a word. He soon became the primary comic on The Prince Albert
Prince Albert tobacco
Prince Albert is an American brand of tobacco, introduced by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1907. It has been owned since 1987 by John Middleton Inc.-History:...
Show, the Opry’s NBC Radio
NBC Red Network
The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network , the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network.It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the...
broadcast, playing off the show’s host, Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
. Assuming the role of a hapless hayseed, he often poked fun at country life—always with good humor.
In 1948, he began teaming with Minnie Pearl
Minnie Pearl
Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon , known professionally as Minnie Pearl, was an American country comedienne who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991.-Early life:Sarah Colley was born in Centerville, in Hickman County, Tennessee,...
, playing what she referred to as "double comedy" in which each of them delivered alternating punch lines and neither played the straight man. Some of these routines were broadcast on the Opry's live ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television network show from 1955–56. He lived in Hohenwald, called himself the Hoenwald Flash, and often mentioned the local restaurant (which he once owned), the Snip-Snap-and-Bite, in his routines. Brasfield sometimes did ventriloquist routines with a dummy named Bocephus, after whom Hank Williams nicknamed his then-infant son Hank Williams, Jr.
Hank Williams, Jr.
Randall Hank Williams , better known as Hank Williams, Jr. and Bocephus, is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and traditional country...
; and also did comedy with June Carter.
In March 1956, Brasfield appeared with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
at Atlanta's Fox Theatre. In 1957, he played Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
’s sidekick in A Face in the Crowd; and appeared in Country Music Holiday the same year. Heart failure combined with an ongoing problem with alcohol led to his death at age 48 in 1958 in Martin, Tennessee
Martin, Tennessee
Martin is a city in Weakley County, Tennessee, United States. Martin is the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin. The population was 10,515 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martin is located at ....
. He is buried in Smithville.