Vince Gill Leads Eddy Arnold Memorial

Country Music Hall of Fame member Eddy Arnold. Photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

May 15, 2008 — Eddy Arnold was not the most flamboyant of country singers. He prided himself in driving used cars, eating at inexpensive restaurants and wearing understated clothing, yet he quietly became the No. 1 artist in the history of the Billboard country charts.

His normalcy, his sense of humor and his frugality were all celebrated yesterday at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, where Vince Gill’s performance of "Go Rest High On That Mountain" and Eddy’s classic "You Don’t Know Me" provided a reverent emotional setting.

Eddy was "the most successful artist in our history," Vince said, adding that he "taught you how to be kind and how to be a gentleman. It was a great gift."

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame since 1966, Eddy died last Thursday. His service was attended by several living Hall members in addition to Vince, including singer-songwriter Bill Anderson, broadcaster Ralph Emery, guitarist Harold Bradley and record executive Jim Foglesong. Sony BMG chief Joe Galante, Curb Records owner Mike Curb and TV personality Charlie Chase were among the pallbearers, and the event was also attended by Steve Wariner, Hal Ketchum, Jim Ed Brown, Roni Stoneman, session keyboard player David Briggs and John D. Loudermilk, who authored Eddy’s hit "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye."

Eddy’s wife of 66 years, the former Sally Gayhart, died in March, and the last few months were clearly troublesome for Eddy, whose career was built on love songs. Bishop Robert Spain, of the United Methodist Church, counselled Eddy repeatedly after her passing.

"Over and over and over with great hurt," the bishop recalled, "Eddy would say, ‘I want to be with her.’"

Music was a natural part of the ceremony. Jeanine Walker, backed by husband-arranger Bill Walker, delivered a pair of spiritual songs, and Hall of Fame quartet the Jordanaires offered "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and "Peace In The Valley." A number of Eddy’s hits were played in the prelude, including "Bouquet Of Roses," his theme song "The Cattle Call" and the appropriately funereal "(Jim) I Wore A Tie Today." The casket was wheeled out to the stately resignation of his string-laden "Make The World Go Away."

Eddy was, the bishop said, "a first-class entertainer. But just as important, he was a first-class gentleman." Eddy Arnold would have been 90 today.