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Pat Boone (born June 1, 1934) is a singer whose
smooth style made him one of the most popular
performers of the 1950s and 1960s.  His cover
versions of rhythm and blues hits had a major
impact on the development of the broad popularity
of rock and roll.  He is also an actor and
television personality.  

==Biography and career==
Born Charles Eugene Patrick Boone in Jacksonville,
Florida, United States|USA, Boone is a direct
descendent of the legendary American pioneer
Daniel Boone.  He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee,
attended Lipscomb University | David Lipscomb
College and began recording in 1954 for Republic
Records.  His 1955 version of "Ain't That a Shame"
was a hit, selling far better than Fats Domino's
original version.  This set the stage for the
early part of Boone's career, which focused on
reworking rhythm and blues|R&B hits with a cleaner
image, bringing rock 'n' roll tunes to a much
wider audience, but also brought attention to the
original artists.  Little Richard once said "Pat
Boone is the man who made me a millionaire." 

Known as "The Kid in White Buck Shoes", Boone
sported a cleancut image that appealed to teens
and parents alike.  His singing style, a rich
baritone, followed in the tradition of his idol,
Bing Crosby.  Preferring to carry on in the Crosby
tradition, he soon began turning more and more to
ballads.  Some of his biggest hits included "Love
Letters In The Sand" (with the instrumental break
featuring Boone's whistling), "April Love",
"Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love)", and "Don't
Forbid Me".

His teen idol popularity in the late 1950s was
secondary only to that of Elvis Presley, and like
Elvis, soon tried his hand at acting.  Pat's
pictures were fewer in number than Elvis', but
significantly higher in quality, including 1960's
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959
movie)|Journey to the Center of the Earth along
with Hollywood notable James Mason.

His recording of the theme song from the 1957 film
'April Love' topped the charts for six weeks and
was nominated for an Academy Award.  Pat also
wrote the theme song for the movie Exodus
(movie)|Exodus.

A devout born-again Christian, he was raised in
the Fundamentalist Christianity|fundamentalist
Church of Christ but has been a member of the
Pentecostal church for more than thirty years.
Boone has refused both songs and movie roles that
he felt might compromise his standards, including
a role opposite the decade's reigning sex symbol,
Marilyn Monroe.  Among his other achievements, he
hosted a TV series in the late 1950s, and began
writing in the early 1960s, a series of self-help
books for adolescents, including Twixt Twelve and
Twenty. 

The British Invasion effectively ended Boone's
career as a hitmaker, though he continued
recording throughout the 60s.  In the 1970s, he
switched to gospel music|gospel and country
music|country, and he continued performing in
other media as well, most importantly radio.  He's
currently working as the disc jockey|deejay of a
popular oldies show, and runs his own record
company which provides a much-welcomed outlet for
new recordings by 1950s greats who can no longer
find a place with the major labels.  

Boone married Shirley Lee Foley, daughter of Red
Foley in 1953, and they had four daughters:
Cherry, Lindy, Debby Boone, and Laury. In the '60s
and '70s the Boone family toured as gospel singers
and made gospel albums, such as The Pat Boone
Family and The Family Who Prays.
 
In 1997, Boone released No More Mr. Nice Guy (Pat
Boone album)|No More Mr. Nice Guy, a collection of
heavy metal music|heavy metal cover version|covers
revamped to fit Pat Boone's style.  To promote the
album, he appeared at the American Music Awards in
black leather, shocking audiences and losing his
respectability among his largest constituency,
conservative Christians. He was then fired from
Gospel America, a TV show on the Trinity
Broadcasting Network. About a year later, the
controversy died down and many fans accepted his
explanation of the leather outfit being a "parody
of himself". He was re-hired by TBN and Gospel
America was brought back.

In recent decades, a contingent of rock 'n' roll
fans and fans of "African American music," as it
was known, have successfully boycotted Pat Boone's
cover records from the majority of oldies
stations.  Despite his having played a crucial
role in the popularization of rock 'n' roll, he
has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.  However, in 2003 the Gospel Music
Association of Nashville, Tennessee recognized his
gospel recording work by inducting him in its
Gospel Music Hall of Fame. 

Boone lives in Los Angeles, California with his
wife Shirley.  They are influential and respected
members of The Church on the Way in LA's San
Fernando Valley.

==Discography==

*1955: "Two Hearts, Two Kisses" (#16); "Ain't That
A Shame" (#1); "At My Front Door (Crazy Little
Mama)" (#7); "No Arms Can Ever Hold You" (#26) 

*1956: "Gee Whittakers!" (#19); "I'll Be Home"
(#4); "Tutti Fruitti" (#12); "Just As Long As I'm
With You" (#76); "Long Tall Sally" (#8); "I Almost
Lost My Mind" (#1); "Friendly Persuasion" (#5);
"Chains of Love" (#20); "Howdy!"(#14)

*1957: "Don't Forbid Me" (#1); "Anastasia" (#37);
"Why Baby Why" (#5); "I'm Waiting Just For You"
(#27); "Love Letters In The Sand" (#1);
"Bernadine" (#14); "A Closer Walk With Thee"
(#13); "Remember You're Mine" (#6); "There's A
Gold Mine In The Sky" (#20); "When The Swallows
Come Back To Capistrano" (#90); "April Love" (#1);
Albums: Pat (#19); Four By Pat (#5); Pat Boone
(#20); Pat's Great Hits (#3); Hymns We Love(#21);
April Love (soundtrack) (#12) 

*1958: "A Wonderful Time Up There" (#4); "It's Too
Soon To Know" (#11); "Cherie, I Love You" (#63);
"Sugar Moon" (#5); "If Dreams Came True" (#7);
"That's How Much I Love You" (#39); "Stardust"
(#2); "For My Good Fortune" (#21); "Gee But It's
Lonely" (#31); "Yes Indeed!" (#13); "I'll Remember
Tonight" (#34) 

*1959: "With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair"
(#21); "Good Rockin' Tonight" (#49); "For A Penny"
(#23); "The Wang Dang Taffy-Apple Tango" (#62);
"Twixt Twelve And Twenty" (#17);  "Fools Hall Of
Fame" (#29); "Beyond The Sunset" (#71); Album:
Tenderly (#17)

*1960: "(Welcome) New Lovers" (#18); "Words"
(#94); "Walking The Floor Over You" (#44); "Spring
Rain" (#50); "Moonglow" (#26); "Candy Sweet"
(#72); "Delia Gone" (#66); "Dear John" (#44);
"Alabam" (#47)

*1961: "The Exodus Song(This Land Is Mine)" (#64);
"Moody River" (#1); "Big Cold Wind" (#19); Albums:
Moody River (#29); White Christmas (#39)

*1962: "Johnny Will" (#35); "Pictures In The Fire"
(#77); "I'll See You In My Dreams" (#32);  "Quando
Quando Quando" (#95); "Speedy Gonzales" (#6); "Ten
Lonely Guys" (#45); "White Christmas" (#116);
Albums: Pat Boone's Golden Hits (#66);  State Fair
(soundtrack) (#12);

==Films==
* Bernadine, April Love (1957)
* Mardi Gras (1958)
* Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (1960) 
* State Fair (1962) featuring Pat's only on-screen
kiss

==External links==
*http://www.patsgold.com/index.cfm Pat's Gold
(Link to Pat Boone's Website/Label)
*http://www.tsimon.com/boone.htm Brief biography
*imdb name|id=0004769|name=Pat Boone