Patrick Charles Eugene Boone
10 min read
Reading time
1,917
Words
Published
72
Film credits
16
Books
2
Awards
Pat Boone sold millions of records in the 1950s with hits like Moody River and Speedy Gonzales, and hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Born June 1, 1934 in Jacksonville, Florida, he later earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Pat Boone — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Pat Boone by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Pat Boone — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
An early break came when Pat Boone emceed a teenage talent show on Nashville radio and television. He had been raised in Denton, Texas, where his father was a building contractor and his mother a nurse. He studied at the University of North Texas before transferring to Columbia University and earning a B.S. in 1958.
His first professional recording in 1955 led to hits like Ain’t That a Shame and Long Tall Sally within two years. In 1958, A Wonderful Time Up There became the first million-selling record with religious lyrics. He also acted in films such as Mardi Gras and hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the 1960s. Boone served on the board of the Northeastern Institute for Christian Education.
Boone married Shirley Boone in 1953. They had four daughters: Cherry, Linda, Debby, and Laura. He was a longtime friend of Wink Martindale and a cousin of actor Richard Boone. He did not smoke and turned down a television sponsorship from a cigarette company. He supported Republican candidates Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
Boone sold millions of records and expanded religious music’s reach, earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording and television. His 1962 hit Speedy Gonzales featured vocal impressions by Mel Blanc, who improvised all his lines. In 2006, he and Shirley donated $3 million to Pepperdine University. He is remembered for his clean-cut image, bringing rock n roll to mainstream audiences while maintaining his religious convictions.
The complete filmography of Pat Boone — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Pat Boone — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Pat Boone's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Pat Boone — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
You Know There’s Something About Me That Makes a Lot of People Want to Throw Up. and I Think I Know What It Is … in Some Cases, It May Be a Reaction to My Music. in Most Cases, I Think It’s a Reaction to My Lifestyle and the Things That I Stand For.
Now Do You Want a Governor Who’d Like Kentucky to Be Another San Francisco?
And While It Maintains, by Far, the Highest Average Living Standards and Per-capita Income, Exceeding Even Those of the UK, Israel Is the Largest Immigrant-absorbing Nation on Earth, Relative to Its Population. It Is Truly an Unparalleled Marvel of Our Time.
I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes and Ears. Here Was the Very Liberal Senator from New York, Wife of the Former President, Part of the Team That Favored Partial-birth Abortion – in Fact, Abortion as a Woman’s Choice Under Virtually Any Circumstance. Weren’t She and Bill Pretty Consistent Supporters of Same-sex Marriage and Multiple Homosexual Rights, and Champions of the Much Perverted and Misapplied Separation of Church and State Slogan? Was This the Same Person Now Using the Bible and Well Known Bible Parables and Names in Vigorous Statements Advocating Governmental Policy?
Little-known facts about Pat Boone — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Boone turned down a television offer when he learned its sponsor was a cigarette company; he did not smoke and did not want to imply approval of the habit.
Singer Roy Orbison was a classmate of Boone when both attended North Texas State College.
Boone badly wanted the lead role in The Sand Pebbles 1966, but director Robert Wise chose Steve McQueen instead.
His 1962 hit Speedy Gonzales featured vocal impressions by Mel Blanc, who improvised all his lines.
Boone is a cousin of actors Richard Boone and Randy Boone.
He was once next-door neighbor to Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne; his cover of Crazy Train became the theme for The Osbournes 2002.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower personally invited Boone to perform at his inaugural ball on January 20, 1957.
Boone supported Ronald Reagan’s campaigns for Governor of California in 1966 and 1970, and his 1976 presidential bid.
He was one of the owners of the American Basketball Association’s Oakland Oaks from 1967 to 1969, later selling his interest.
All of Boone’s film contracts included a term that kissing scenes could not be forced by the director due to his religious beliefs.
His 1958 recording A Wonderful Time Up There became the first million-selling record with religious lyrics.
Boone hosted Israel’s 70th Anniversary Gala in Jerusalem in May 2018.
He is a Republican and campaigned for George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
Boone has four daughters: Cherry, Linda, Debby, and Laura.
He is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Christian Hall of Fame.
In 2006, Boone and his wife Shirley donated $3 million to Pepperdine University for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology Center for the Family.
Boone has been a longtime friend of Wink Martindale since they were both under contract with Dot Records in 1956.
His father-in-law was Red Foley.
Boone was raised in Denton, Texas, USA.
His brother, Nick Boone, had a popular music career under the name Nick Todd.
He supports the state of Israel.
Boone is a descendant of frontiersman Daniel Boone.
He counts many celebrities as friends, including Shirley Jones, Florence Henderson, Julie London, Gavin MacLeod, Dick Clark, Casey Kasem, Wink Martindale, Elvis Presley, Peter Marshall, Dick Van Dyke, Don Adams, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Johnny Cash, Patti Page, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Engelbert Humperdinck, David Meece, Amy Grant, Robert Conrad, Larry Manetti, Art Linkletter, Dick Sargent, Doris Day, Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Carol Channing, Billy Graham, Robert H. Schuller, Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, Jose Ferrer, Rosemary Clooney, Tom Dreesen, Rich Little, Larry King, Joan Rivers, Johnny Carson, and Dave Hull.
He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for Recording at 1731 Vine Street and one for Television at 6268 Hollywood Boulevard.
His father was a building contractor; his mother was a nurse.
Boone is mentioned in the song Beautiful by Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg.
He considered running for office in 1968 on a pro-war platform.
Boone faced criticism for recording sanitized versions of rock n roll songs originally by African American artists, such as changing Fats Domino’s Ain’t That a Shame title and altering lyrics of Little Richard’s Long Tall Sally.
In the 1980s, Boone owned a television station in Orange County, California, featuring conservative evangelical shows and ultra-right-wing host Wally George.
In 2006, Boone wrote an article arguing that opponents of the Iraq War cannot be considered patriotic, and he later defended Mel Gibson after Gibson’s antisemitic tirade.
In early 2007, Boone wrote two articles claiming that evolution is absurd and a bankrupt false religion.
Boone released the book Questions About God.
He is father-in-law of Gabriel Ferrer.
Friends with Tammy Renne Harris, Miss Chicago 1990.
Released the book Pray to Win: God Wants You to Succeed.
He was a star athlete and honors student in high school.
Attended the University of North Texas.
Grandfather of Jessica Corbin and Gabi Ferrer.
Celebrated his 80th birthday at Shepherd’s Grove in Irvine, California on May 29, 2014.
Appeared in the film Mardi Gras with backing by Ray Anthony’s orchestra.
He supported Mitt Romney and campaigned for him in the 2012 presidential election.
Released the book Pat Boone Devotional Book with Dan O’Neill.
His first record was Two Hearts, Two Kisses, made about 1956.
Spokesperson for the 60 Plus Association.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Pat Boone.
Celebrities similar to Pat Boone — same craft, ranked by reach.
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