Roy Acuff
Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee, 1973

Roy Acuff lorded over the Grand Ole Opry from 1937 virtually until his death in 1992. More of a live act than a recording star, Acuff's most creative period came early with signature hits "Great Speckled Bird" and "Wabash Cannonball" in the late 1930s. Though he was a crooning singer, his band’s sound was purely "old-time," and featured ace dobro picker "Bashful" Brother Oswald. Acuff wasn't your average hillbilly singer. His dad was a lawyer, not a farmer or factory hand. And he had political aspirations of his own, running for governor of Tennessee twice (as a Republican). Most of all, Acuff was an astute businessperson, co-founding Acuff-Rose in 1942, arguably the most important music publisher in the industry, featuring the Hank Williams catalog.