Back to Oral History
  • Oral History

Ernie Newton

September 24, 1974 OH136 192 min.

Biography


Bass player. Born November 7, 1909. Died October 19, 1976. One of the leading Nashville session musicians during the late 1940s-late 1950s. Recognized as the first Nashville bass player to use a drumhead mounted on the bass and played with a brush. He can be heard on numerous classic recordings, including Red Foley’s “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy,” Hank Snow’s “I’m Moving On,” and Johnnie & Jack’s “Poison Love.”

Interview Summary

1974 September 24
(3 hours, 12 minutes)
Bass player Ernie Newton describes the development of his career. Discussion includes his childhood; experiences as a child in Hollywood during the 1920s; the start of his music career, including his experiences in a Hawaiian band; his experiences as a club performer during the early years of the Depression; his move to country music and his start as a bass player; working on WLS Chicago, including work with Mac & Bob, and the Hilltoppers; the formation of the Les Paul Trio; working with Red Foley; his start as a session player; his experiences in the recording studio, including work with Bill Monroe; working with other session musicians, including Grady Martin; development of the Nashville Sound; his move away from music to a pro golf career; changes in country music; his songwriting; changes in the music industry; and memories from his years as a performer.

We use cookies in the following ways: (1) for system administration, (2) to assess the performance of the website, (3) to personalize your experience, content and ads, (4) to provide social media features, and (5) to analyze our traffic. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Please consult instructions for your web browser to disable or block cookies, or to receive a warning before a cookie is stored on your computer or mobile device. Read our Privacy Policy.