Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!

Well, maybe not tomorrow -- but if you haven't had a chance to visit our exhibit, Hear Hair Here: Hair Do's and Hair Don't from the Hoole Library's Sound Recording Collections, please be sure to do soon. New and exciting exhibits are coming to the Hoole Library lobby soon -- stay tuned. And speaking of hair, this photograph is from the Keyes Family Papers, 1846-1944, a collection of correspondence, diaries, biographical notes, scrapbooks, photographs, memorabilia, and other papers concerning the emigration of the family of Athens, Alabama native Dr. John Washington Keyes and his wife Julia Hentz Keyes to Rio de Janiero Brazil after the Civil War. The family subsquently travelled all over the world.

The finding aid for this manuscript is available here. The photograph shown here is labeled on the back with the caption, "Beth's hair abt. 17 yrs."

Shazam! Happy Birthday UA Alum Jim Nabors

Jim Nabors, UA Homecoming 1968

University of Alabama alum Jim Nabors (class of 1952) was born on June 12, 1930 in Sylacauga, Alabama. Best known for his beloved character, Gomer Pyle on both the Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pile, U.S.M.C., Nabors has had a long and successful career as both an actor and singer.

Nabors with a young fan in Alabama, 1966

Jim Nabors' earliest acting experience was on the UA campus, as part of the Jason's Jamboree, where he wrote skits and performed with his Delta Tau Delta fraternity brothers. After graduating, he did head off to New York, but not for a career in show biz -- he started out as a typist for the United Nations. He then moved and took a job working in the film industry -- not in Hollywood, but rather in Chattanooga, Tennessee as a film cutter.

It was asthma that brought him west, and he started his career in Los Angeles as an apprentice film cutter, and began performing cabaret in the evenings, in a club called The Horn, which showcased new talent. His singing style and "hillbilly" monologues brought him an audition to the Steve Allen show, where he became a regular.

When Allen's show was cancelled, Nabors tried his luck in San Francisco, but in six months he was back in Los Angeles. Soon after, he auditioned for Andy Griffith -- and from there, a career was born.

Nabors has recorded over two dozen albums, has stared on TV, film, hosted his own talk show, his own variety show, and and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jim Nabors album cover from Hoole Special Collections Library
Featured in Hear Hair Here Exhibit

Nabors is also a well-known face to racing fans -- performing the song "Back Home in Indiana" 30 times since 1972 at the Indianapolis 500, most recently this year. And back home in Alabama, U.S. Highway 280 in Talladega, Alabama is named the "Jim Nabors Highway" in his honor. He was also recently honored at University of Alabama/University of Hawaii fooball game in 2006. Though he has lived in Hawaii for many, many years, he still follows The University of Alabama football team.

Here is an example of Jim Nabors' acting -- capturing the moment when Gomer Pyle leaves Andy Griffith to join the Marines:



Here is a great example from his variety show which showcases his rich singing voice! Olé!




A very happy birthday to you, Mr. Nabors!

Honey, for better or for worse, #1 Hit this week in 1968

Forty years ago this week, Alabama native son Bobby Goldsboro's song Honey (I Miss You) hit #1 on the Billboard Charts.

Honey holds a unique position in American popular music history as both a #1 hit (for five weeks, from April 13 - May 18, 1968) and, according to a 2006 CNN list, named "The Worst Song of All Time". Despite that dubious honor, Honey was covered by a long list of performers including: Ed Ames, Eddy Arnold, Percy Faith, David Houston, John D. Loudermilk, Roger Miller, Jimmy C. Newman, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Tammy Wynette, Leon Ashley (Mental Journey, Jack Greene, Hank Snow, Lynn Anderson, Orion, Jim Nabors, Roger Whittaker, Sil Austin, Billy Joe Winghead, Lawrence Welk, Dean Martin, and Hana Zagorova.

Bobby Goldsboro was born Marianna, Florida and grew up in Dothan, Alabama. He also attended Auburn University before leaving to begin a music career. Goldsboro is still performing writing music. He is also featured in the "Homegrown in Alabama" section of our exhibit, Hear Hair Here! at the Hoole Library.

Watch a performance of Honey here:

Need a break? Let your hair down with Hear Hair Here! Hairdos and Hair Don'ts from the Hoole Library's Sound Recording Collections

If the stress of final exams, papers, and the holidays have you down, and you want to take a little break -- please stop by the lobby of the Hoole Special Collections Library and see our exhibit, Hear Hair Here! Hair Do's and Hair Don't From the Hoole Library's Sound Recording Collections. Most of the records selected are from the Wade Hall Collection of Southern History and Culture and feature some amazing, gravity-defying looks that will brighten your day! The Hoole Library is open M-F 8 am to 5 pm, with Thursday evening hours until 9 p m.

I’ll pray for you [sound recording] / The Liberty Sounds.
Central City, Ky. : Cardinal, [196-?]
1 sound disc : 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; 12 in.
Wade Hall Sound Recordings | LP 9514

Quiet fire [sound recording] / Roberta Flack.
New York : Atlantic, 1971.
1 sound disc : 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; 12 in.
Wade Hall Sound Recordings | LP 13188

Hear Hair Here! Hairdos and Hair Don'ts from the Hoole Library's Sound Recording Collections

Please visit the Hoole Library and check out some of the biggest and wildest hair in the music industry. We were looking for a little levity, and found some in the incredible album covers in our collections. Most of the covers come from the Wade Hall Sound recording collections, and others from the Ed Hall collection (no relation!). The most difficult part was selecting from the thousands of sound recordings we hold at the library. Among the categories featured are "The Pantheon", "Just for Men", and "The Higher the Hair, the closer to God". The exhibit will be in the Hoole Library lobby through the Fall 2007 semester.