Snow in Persian Gulf? But for His Age, He’d Go

Country music pioneer Hank Snow, who performed for American soldiers in Korea and Vietnam, would be eager to entertain U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf if he were younger.

Snow, 76, established himself as one of country music’s ambassadors by making several overseas tours to perform for U.S. armed forces between 1950 and the mid-1960s.

“If I was 20 years younger, I’d jump at the chance to go over again,” said Snow, celebrating his 40th anniversary on the Grand Ole Opry country music show.

“I’ve seen what good it can do. When we entertained over there before, the amount of good you could feel you were doing made you want to go back. They just needed a touch of home.

“It’s one of the things that stays in my memory. This was a great experience, one that money couldn’t buy. It was the most important part of my life as far as entertaining is concerned.”

RCA Records has just released the “Hank Snow Collector’s Series,” reissuing eight of his records. Bear Records of Germany is putting out every song he ever recorded. This is a mammoth undertaking. Snow has sold an estimated 70 million records and made more than 100 albums.

His “I’m Moving On,” which he wrote, was No. 1 on the country music charts for almost a year in 1950. Emmylou Harris, one generation younger, brought it back with her version six years ago. The song has been recorded by about 60 other performers.

The “Hank Snow Collector’s Series” includes “I’m Moving On,” his version of the pop music classic “Sentimental Journey” and “Today I Started Lovin’ You Again,” which was a hit for Kenny Rogers.

Snow has had more than 40 songs in the country music Top 10. His heyday was the ‘50s and ‘60s.

He was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. He left home at age 12 and became a cabin boy on a freighter for four years. As a teen-ager, he used $30 in earnings from a two-week stint unloading salt from a ship to buy his first guitar.

He moved to the United States in the ‘40s and began singing in Dallas. Country music star Ernest Tubb helped him get a spot on the Grand Ole Opry in 1950, and he’s performed on the show ever since.

“I think it gets in your blood. Sometimes you say, ‘I’m tired of going to the Opry.’ But if you didn’t go over there and laid off for three or four weeks, you’d want to get back there again.”