Hugh X. Lewis

Hubert Brad Lewis (born December 25, 1930 in Yeaddiss, Kentucky), known professionally as Hugh X. Lewis, is an American country music singer-songwriter-poet. In 2006, the State of Tennessee Senate and House designated Col. Hugh X. Lewis as the Poet Laureate of Christian-Country Music. He recorded between 1964 and currently for various labels, and charted fifteen singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. Lewis's debut single, "What I Need Most", peaked at number 21 on this chart. Lewis also wrote Stonewall Jackson's biggest hit, "B.J. the D.J.," and 11 other songs for Stonewall. He also wrote songs for many other country artists - Charlie Pride, Little Jimmy Dickens, Carl and Pearl Butler,Carl Smith, Freddie Hart, Kitty Wells, Lynn Anderson, Del Reeves, Billy Ed Wheeler, Mac Wiseman, Leon Mc Caluff and the original Texas Playboys, George Morgan, Tommy Cash, Ray Pillow, Hank Mills, Bobby Goldsboro, Bob Luman and many others. Stonewall Jackson's number one single "B.J. the D.J."

Biography

Hubert Brad Lewis was born in Yeaddiss, Kentucky.^[1] He performed with guitar and honky tonk piano all through his high school days in Cumberland, KY. He married his high school sweetheart, Anna. He worked in and around coal mines in Kentucky while performing in various clubs, stage and television shows throughout KY, TN, and VA. In the late 1950s he won a Pet Milk Country Music Amateur contest which took him to appearances at WLW in Cincinnati, the Renfro Valley Barndance and the Midday Merry-Go-Round in Knoxville. It was here where Lowell Blanchard offered Don Gibson's spot to Hugh on the Tennessee Barndance since Don was leaving for the Opry in Nashville. Later in 1963, after being brought to Nashville, Tennessee by Jim Denny, he performed on all Country Music radio and television shows and stages, including the Grand Ole Opry, Renfro Valley Barndance, Tennessee Barndance, Wheeling Jamboree, Louisiana Hayride, etc. and first had success as a songwriter, writing "B.J. the D.J." for Stonewall Jackson. He often laughingly boasted that the great Jim Denny (who fired Hank Williams form the Opry) is the one who brought him to Nashville and produced his first record session. Later, Jim Denny's son, John, talked Paul Cohen (the Decca/Kapp icon) into signing Hugh X. to Kapp Records. In 1964, Lewis released his first single for Kapp, "What I Need Most." The song peaked at #21 on the U.S. Country singles chart. Lewis released 10 more singles for Kapp, plus 5 albums, including the Top 40 hit, "Out Where the Ocean Meets the Sky," "I'd Better Call the Law On Me," "You're So Cold I'm Turning Blue," and "Evolution and the Bible." He also had a Top 20 hit in Canada with "All Heaven Broke Loose." Lewis says that his biggest regret of his career is when he left Kapp Records for Columbia Records. In 1966, Paul Cohen, President of CMA, placed the names of Hugh X. Lewis, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, and Red Foley in the original Walkway of the Stars on the sidewalks of Music Row. These names were later moved inside to the floors of the main reception area in the Original Country Music Hall of Fame on Music Row.

In the late 1960s, Hugh X. and his lifelong friend, Bud Beal, co-produced his syndicated television show The Hugh X. Lewis Country Club. Sponsored by the Heil Quaker Corporation, it was viewed in 71 major markets. Lewis later opened an actual Hugh X. Lewis Country Club in Printer's Alley in 1972 where virtually every Country Music Star performed on its stage. Of course, the #1 country band, Jim Vest and the Nashville Cats did the backup work. This club was the only club in Printers Alley visited by Beatle Paul McCartney while a guest of Buddy Killen.

Also, through the late 1960s, Lewis began his movie career with his buddy Del Reeves, with starring and feature roles in Forty Acre Feud, Gold Guitar, and Cotton Pickin' Chicken Pickers. Later, Lewis had a feature role in a children's film, Summer of Courage.

Through the 1960s and 1970s, the Country Music "Package Shows" were the greatest places to perform. These shows consisted of 4 - 8 country music stars. By the late 1970s, these type-shows had run their course. In 1979, Hugh X. worked his final package show with Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadors. On this tour, the Texas Troubadors backed him on stage. In 1984, Lewis came to the end of the Country Music road. After retiring, he and his wife Anna launched "Away With Words," a frameable greeting card company which is still active. In 1988, having missed the music business so much, he began recording Christian Country music on his own record label - Kingdom Come Records. In 2003, he joined the Solid Gospel Radio Network. For 5 days a week for 11 years, he recited some of his inspirational or comedic poems on a daily basis. In 2006, he began his tenure as a regular feature with his inspirational and "Laughter is the Best Medicine" poems in the Tennessee Baptist newspaper "The B&R" and still continues this today.

Throughout his Christian-Country music career, Lewis has received many awards. In 1971, Nashville's Mayor, Beverly Briley, appointed Lewis to the post of Nashville's Country Music Ambassador to the World. In recent years, he has received many awards including induction into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, Louisiana Governors Aide De Camp Award, Kentucky Governors Lifetime Achievement Award, Kentucky Colonel Award, and nomination for the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, and BMI songwriter awards. His most cherished award, designated by the Tennessee State Senate and House of Representatives, is his "Poet Laureate of Christian Country Music" appointment.

Lewis continues to produce Christian Country records, television and internet shows. His motto is "Don't ever stop dreaming......"

Discography

Albums

Singles

References