Inventory of the George Hamilton IV Collection, 1956-2006

Collection Number 20410

Manuscripts Department, University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contact Information:

Manuscripts Department

CB#3926, Wilson Library

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890

Phone: 919/962-1345

Fax: 919/962-3594

Email: mss@email.unc.edu

URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/

Descriptive Summary

Repository

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.

Creator

Hamilton, George, 1937-

Title

George Hamilton IV Collection, 1956-2006

Call Number

20410

Language of Materials

Materials in English

Extent

Items: About 2300

Linear Feet: 7.0

Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access

This collection has restrictions to access. Please see details below or contact the Manuscripts Department for more information.

Usage Restrictions

RESTRICTED: Use of audiotapes or videotapes may require production of listening or viewing copies.

Acquisitions Information

Received from George Hamilton V of Franklin, Tenn., in May 2006 (Acc. 100413) and December 2006 (Acc. 100567).

Processing Information

Processed by: Marc Brodsky, May 2007

Encoded by: Marc Brodsky and Carrie Stubblefield, May/June 2007

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the George Hamilton IV Collection #20410, Southern Folklife Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Allan, David, vocalist.

Atkins, Chet.

Brabec, Jiri, 1940-2003.

Chilton, Charles.

Clark, Jim, 1954-

Cline, Patsy, 1932-1963.

Colonial Records (Chapel Hill, N.C.)

Conn, Mervyn.

Count, Clarence.

Country Express (Musical group)

Country music.

Country music--Canada.

Country music--Czech Republic.

Country music--England.

Country music--North Carolina.

Country musicians.

Davis, Skeeter.

Derry, Pat.

Eller, Bruce.

Emery, Ralph.

Gay, Connie B.

Grand ole opry (Radio program)

Grand Ole Opry (Theater)

Grealis, Walt.

Hamilton, George, 1937-

Harris, Rolf.

Hartford, John.

Hillsiders (Musical group)

Ifield, Frank.

Kelly, Sandy.

Lightfoot, Gordon.

Loudermilk, John D.

Lynn, Loretta.

Miki & Griff.

Moore, Jim.

Murray, Anne, 1945-

Music festivals.

Newton-John, Olivia.

Radio programs, Musical.

Rodgers, Jack.

Television programs.

Whitman, Slim, 1924-

Whyton, Wally.

Yandell, Paul.

Related Collections

John D. Loudermilk Collection (#20418)
Southern Folk Cultural Revival Project Collection (#20004)
Southern Folklife Collection Artist Files (#30005)

Biographical Note

George Hamilton IV was born on 19 July 1937 in Winston-Salem, N.C. On 18 June 1956, while a student at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Hamilton recorded the song, "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" (written by John D. Loudermilk) for Orville Campbell's Colonial Records, also in Chapel Hill. From that recording, which became a hugely successful pop teen hit, Hamilton went on make the transition to country music; become a mainstay at the Grand Ole Opry; and, through his work abroad, become recognized as the International Ambassador of Country Music.

By the late 1950s, Hamilton had moved to Washington, D.C., and become a regular performer (with Patsy Cline, for a time) on Jimmy Dean's "Town and Country Jamboree" show. He had also toured with Bobby Darin, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and the Everly Brothers, along with many other well-known pop stars, and made numerous national television appearances. Although "A Rose and a Baby Ruth," acquired by ABC-Paramount Records, had become the label's first million-selling record, in January 1960, feeling miscast as a teen pop singer and following his love of country music, Hamilton and his young family moved to Nashville.

On 8 February 1960, Hamilton officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Later that year, he began recording for RCA Records, having been signed by Chet Atkins. In 1963, John D. Loudermilk's "Abilene" became a number-one hit for Hamilton on the country charts and reached the top 20 in pop. His interest in Canadian songwriters became evident in the late 1960s when he recorded songs by Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Gordon Lightfoot. In 1969, his first record of all Canadian music was released. Hamilton's internationalism was also shown by a long-standing involvement with the annual International Festival of Country Music, held at Wembley (UK), which began that same year. An association with the BBC also developed as Hamilton hosted many programs--variety and documentary--that showcased country music. His performance at Moscow University in 1974 was the first for an American country music performer. Other "first" performances on this tour were in Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. Later that year, Billboard Magazine began to refer to Hamilton as the "International Ambassador of Country Music."

In 1971, Hamilton left Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry for Charlotte, N.C., to join the broadcasts of Arthur Smith's country music televison show. He continued to work overseas while also maintaining a busy touring schedule in the United States. In the 1990s, he became involved with several musical theater and concert productions that featured the work of Patsy Cline, with Irish singer Sandy Kelly playing the title role.

Hamilton has continued to record country, folk, and gospel albums, including two with his son, George Hamilton V. In 2006, he celebrated his 50th year as a recording artist, which included a special reception hosted in London by the United States Ambassador to Britain.

Collection Overview

The George Hamilton IV Collection includes audiovisual materials, papers, and photographs pertaining to the life and career of the country singer and guitarist. Audio recordings consist of audiocassettes, open reel recordings, and transcription disc recordings of perfomances, interviews, radio shows, and an early recording session, all featuring Hamilton. Included are recordings of the BBC's How the West Was Sung; Country Crossroads; The Ralph Emery Show; a recording of Hamilton's first performance at the Grand Ole Opry; a 1956 recording session at Colonial Records; interviews for BBC Radio and Radio Scotland; and other recorded performances and interviews. Also in the collection is a demo tape of "Gentle on My Mind" by John Hartford. Visual materials include films and videotapes of television shows and promotional spots from the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. Papers consist of newspaper clippings, press releases and other promotional materials, programs, correspondence, posters, and other materials pertaining to Hamilton's career. Photographs consist of both professional and candid photographs of George Hamilton IV, his family and friends, and associated musicians and music industry professionals, including David Allan, Chet Atkins, Jiri Brabec, Charles Chilton, Jim Clark, Patsy Cline, Mervyn Conn, Clarence Count, Country Express, Skeeter Davis, Pat Derry, Bruce Eller, Connie B. Gay, Walt Grealis, Rolf Harris, The Hillsiders, Frank Ifield, Gordon Lightfoot, John D. Loudermilk, Loretta Lynn, Miki & Griff, Jim Moore, Anne Murray, Olivia Newton-John, Jack Rodgers, Slim Whitman, Wally Whyton, and Paul Yandell.

Arrangement of Collection

1. Audio Recordings, 1956-2006
1.1. Audiocassettes
1.2. Open Reel Recordings
1.3. Transcription Disc Recordings
1.4. Audiodiscs
2. Films, 1971-1976
3. Videotapes, 1969-2006
4. Papers, 1955-2006
4.1 Clippings
4.2 Promotional Materials
4.3 Performance Programs
4.4 Other Materials
5. Photographs

Items Separated

Sound recordings (FS-8050-FS-8170, FT-12805-12808, FC-16546-16550) and FC Notes
Films (F-20410/1-F-20410/9)
Video recordings (VT-20410/1-VT-20410/72)
Oversized papers (OP-20410/1-2)
Photographs (P-4818 - P-5083)
Posters (OP-P-20410/folder 1)

Detailed Description of the Collection