Songwriter named poet laureate of Christian country music
Hugh X. Lewis, 73, of Nashville has written more than 250 country and Christian songs that have been recorded by artists such as Charley Pride, Little Jimmy Dickens, Del Reeves, Jim Ed Brown, Stonewall Jackson, Carl Smith and Kitty Wells.
He’s also written inspirational poems and greeting card verses and is a regular guest on gospel radio’s “The Gregg Hutchins Morning Show.”
“I just hope I can live up to the name of it,” Lewis said of the resolution Monday.
Sen. Jim Tracy, who sponsored the resolution, said Lewis is deserving.
“He has been very influential in the country music business,” said Tracy, R-Shelbyville. “He has written a lot of poems, as well as songs. I just thought it would be good to recognize him.”
The House must concur with the resolution before it can go into effect.
Born in Yeaddiss, Ky., Lewis had a dual career of country entertainer and coal mine worker for about 11 years.
During the 1950s and ’60s he performed on several country music radio shows, including the Tennessee Barn Dance in Knoxville and the Ernest Tubb Show in Nashville.
His big break came in 1963 when Stonewall Jackson had a No. 1 hit with Lewis’ “B.J. the D.J.”
Lewis had a number of radio hits of his own in the ’60s, including “What I Need Most,” “Out Where the Ocean Meets the Sky” and “I’d Better Call the Law on Me.”
He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1964, and two years later his movie debut with “Forty Acre Feud.”
Lewis made two other movies, “Gold Guitar” and “The Cotton Pickin’ Chicken-Pluckers.” The films teamed him with Reeves and were mostly shown at drive-in theaters.
“Me and Del Reeves were like the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis of the country scene,” Lewis said.
Lewis also had a syndicated TV show from 1969-1971 which featured guests such as Pride, Don Gibson and Barbara Mandrell.