Ernie Lee (12 April 1916 – 23 May 1991) was a Country music singer and radio performer. He was a talented artist who despite having enjoyed regional popularity never got the break (or hit record!) to become a nationwide star. He was said to have had a singing style that was described as a mix of Burl Ives, Perry Como and Singin' Sam.
Ernie lee was born Ernest Eli Cornelison in Berea, Kentucky, USA. His father was the jailer at Madison County jail and Lee was taught to play guitar by one of the convicts. He completed high school in 1934 and began to play local venues on a part-time basis, while maintaining a day-time job, until 1940. John Lair, the producer of Renfro Valley Barn Dance, heard him singing and when Red Foley (who also came from Berea) was unable to present a show, Lee, who was in the audience, was chosen to deputise. Lair was impressed and changing his name to Ernie Lee, he linked him with steel guitarist Jerry Byrd and gave them a regular spot on the programme as the Happy Valley Boys.
In 1944, they relocated to WJR Detroit, a more powerful station, and spent two years on the popular Goodwill Frolic Gang. In 1947, the duo split when Lee moved to WLW Cincinnati, where he appeared on several shows, but most notably as a singer and compère of the station’s noted Midwestern Hayride. He also worked on a series of networked programmes with Judy Perkins, Louis Innis and the Turner Brothers for the Mutual Broadcasting System.
Between 1947 and 1950, he recorded for RCA Bluebird as Ernie Lee And His Midwesterners, gaining local success with such numbers as ‘Headin’ Home To Old Kentucky’ and ‘Hominy Grits’. In 1950, he recorded for Mercury Records being joined on some recordings by Byrd and the Turner Brothers. One Mercury single ‘One Little Candle’, even gained later release on the German Austroton label. In 1951, he made recordings for MGM Records. In 1951/2, when NBC networked the Hayride show, Lee was always a very popular performer.
Lee was a keen angler and always wanted to live in Florida, where he could pursue this sport and enjoy the warm climate. When in 1954, he was offered a daily radio and television show on WSUN St. Peterburg, he relocated to that State. In 1958, he moved to WTVT Tampa. For over 30 years, he became the major country music figure in Florida. He invited acts from the Hayride days to appear with him, played venues all over the State and was always the expected headline act at the annual State Fair.
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| 1959 Good Day Cast |
With the departure of popular WTVT kids show host Mary Ellen in 1964, the job of introducing Popeye cartoons was given to Ernie on a program titled "Cartoons With Ernie." In the late 1960's, Ernie's morning program was retitled 'A.M.,' and then 'Breakfast Beat.' Ernie found another fishing buddy in farm reporter Bruce Hutchcraft, whose high-pitched laugh caused many viewers and crew members to break up as well. Ernie often appeared solo on 'Breakfast Beat,' the result of a tighter budget for the morning program. His long-time friend 'Barefoot Brownie' continued to appear twice a week.
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| Ernie & Jean |
Although he suffered strokes in 1965 and 1979, he recovered each time sufficiently to continue performing until 23 May 1991, when he had a third and fatal stroke and died at Palms of Pasadena Hospital at the age of 75. But he’ll always be remembered for the way he ended each and every show: “Put on the coffee pot, Jeannie. I’m comin’ home honey.” He left a widow, Jean and three sons, Gordon, Sam and Stephen.
Lee was a talented performer who avoided the problems encountered by many of his contemporaries. He was unfortunate to never find the one record that would have started to turn his local into national success. He sang as well, arguably better, than Foley and possessed an equal ability to host radio and television shows but somehow national stardom sadly eluded him. His only album, “Ernie Lee’s BIG 13,” was released in 1965 and was a salute to his home base at Channel 13. In 1997, an “unofficial” compilation of 20 of his recordings were issued on CD by a German label and in 2020 a better 27 track CD "Easy To Please" by B.A.C.M was issued, covering many of his singles.
(Edited mainly from AllMusic with help from big13.com)