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The End of an Era
Bobby Lord, a renowned member of the Grand Ole Opry, passed away on February 16, 2008, at the age of 74. His death marked the end of an era in the world of country music. According to multiple sources, Lord’s cause of death was a long illness that he had been battling for some time.
A Life Dedicated to Music
Born on January 6, 1934, in Sanford, Florida, Bobby Lord was a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and television star. His musical career began as a teenager in Tampa, Florida. He had his own television show in Tampa while a freshman at the University of Tampa – The Bobby Lord Homefolks Show. He got this show when he was asked to be a guest on a local show, so he did this for two weeks. Then he got a call from the program director and was asked to take over the show.
A Star on the Rise
Lord’s first big break was an appearance on Paul Whiteman’s TV show in New York as the result of winning an amateur talent contest. In 1953, songwriter Boudleaux Bryant had a tape Lord cut in Nashville and had it played for Don Law at Columbia records, who then signed Lord to Columbia Records. He recorded several rockabilly hits and several country chart records for Columbia.
The Grand Ole Opry and Beyond
At the same time, he became a regular on The Ozark Jubilee (an ABC television show hosted by Red Foley based out of Springfield, Mo.), where he stayed for five and a half years. When The Ozark Jubilee went off the air in 1960, Lord moved to Nashville. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960, where he was a featured performer through the 1960s into the mid-1970s.
The Final Years
In the early 1970s, Lord grew tired of the road, and wanted to spend more time with his family. He semi-retired from music, returned to Florida and developed real estate and insurance businesses. Well known as an avid outdoorsman, Lord hosted TNN’s “Country Sportsman,” which was later called “Celebrity Outdoors.” After several years, he retired from the show in 1989 because he was about to have 2 new grandchildren, and he wanted to be home to enjoy them.
Remembering Bobby Lord
Bobby Lord’s cause of death may have been a long illness, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of country music fans around the world. His contributions to the genre and his dedication to his craft will never be forgotten. As we remember Bobby Lord, we celebrate a life well-lived and a career that touched countless lives.
