Pee Wee King Biography

Fast Facts

• The Tennessee Waltz became an official song of the State of Tennessee in 1965
• Had a personal number one hit with the novelty song "Slow Poke" in 1951
• Was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974
• Formed his first band, the Golden West Cowboys, in 1937 and joined the Grand Ole Opry, where he gained a reputation for being a musical innovator
• Started out as an accordion and concertina player in his father's polka band
• Was the host of his own musical variety show, "The Pee Wee King Show," in 1955 and also appeared in several western films
• Best known as a country music singer and songwriter who co-wrote "The Tennessee Waltz․"
• Frequently used nontraditional instruments in his band, like the trumpet and drums, and would include polkas and waltzes in his country sets
• In addition to "Tennessee Waltz," he wrote three other songs celebrating the state, including "Tennessee Polka," "Tennessee Tears," and "Tennessee Tango․"
• Wrote more than 400 songs during the course of his career