BluePower Presents....What Ever Happened To Big Hugh Baby?

I have had the pleasure of meeting some remarkable people in my time but rarely has there been anyone quite like Hugh Jarrett.

Born in Nashville, Hugh started his career in the music business singing with several local gospel groups prior to joining the world famous Jordanaires.

While with the Jordanaires, in early 1954, Hugh and the group were approached by Colonel Tom Parker to sing back-up for the up and coming star, Elvis Presley. The first records on which the Jordanaires sang back-up vocals were "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel." Two of the largest selling records in recording history up to that time.

When the group wasn't on tour with Elvis, they were busy 'round the clock singing in studios in Nashville and Los Angeles with such luminaries as Patsy Cline, Ricky Nelson, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis and literally thousands of other young and aspiring artists.

It was after his years with the Jordanaires that I first met Hugh Jarrett. It was on a trip to Nashville in 1963 while promoting for Mercury Records that I met Hugh at WLAC Radio where he was sitting in for Bill Allen, "The Hoss Man." Hugh had an extraordinary way with a microphone and you can still hear it in his voice today.

A year or so later I met Hugh again at WPLO Radio in Atlanta where he had resumed his Big Hugh Baby shows. In fact, when I left Atlanta for Detroit in 1965, Hugh was the last person I saw there. We had lunch and he waved goodbye in my rear view mirror.

It had been a long time since I'd seen Hugh or spoken with him. (41 years) To be able to sit for a few hours and reminisce with this dignified, gentle man was pure pleasure.

Tune in to hear a very talented human being and one of the truly great radio voices of our time. The recording quality of the interview is not great but the history is amazing.

John Rhys/BluePower.com

Here's the music for the show:

1)...."On The Wings Of A Dove"....The Jordanaires....Capitol
2)...."Hound Dog"....Elvis Presley....RCA
3)...."Don't Be Cruel"....Elvis Presley....RCA
4)...."Are You Lonesome Tonight"....Elvis Presley....RCA
5)...."Will The Circle Be Unbroken"....The Jordanaires....Capitol
6)...."Young Love"....Sonny James....Capitol
7)...."I Can't Help Falling In Love With You"....Elvis Presley....RCA

Click here to play....BluePower Presents....What Ever Happened To Big Hugh Baby?

This show is dedicated to our dear friend....JoAnn Braheny. Or, as Hugh would have known her....JoAnn Jaffe, who worked on the air in the fledgling FM division at WPLO in Atlanta, Georgia with Big Hugh Jarrett.

I made a mistake with the call letters of the station at which Hugh is currently working. I said they were WFOM. They are actually WWEV, 91.5 on the FM dial. My apologies.