Bobby Bare

After working unsuccessfully for a number of years as a songwriter, Ohio-born country singer Bobby Bare found chart success in the late 1950s when his single 'All American Boy' was a transatlantic hit, reaching number two in the USA and the UK. He was subsequently scouted by Chet Atkins and offered a contract with RCA Victor at which point Bare found himself at a crossroads in his performing career; he had recently had an acting part in 'A Distant Trumpet', a Western starring Troy Donahue, and had also appeared in few episodes of the TV series 'No More Sergeants'. Fortunately for Bare the lure of Nashville proved stronger than Hollywood and he opted for a career in music.

After a string of country hits in the '60s Bare became a household name in the US and received numerous Grammy Award nominations, winning one for Best Country and Western Recording in 1964 for his single 'Detroit City'. By the 1970s Bare's audience appeal had started to decline and he found a fresh niche recording novelty songs, building up a more pop-orientated fan base before returning to his country roots in the '80s with a series of well-received albums. He went on to host his own show on the Nashville TV network and formed the band Old Dogs with Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed and Mel Tillis. In 2013 Bare was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in recognition of his 50-year career in the music business.