Francis Craig

Francis Craig (September 10, 1900 – November 19, 1966)[1][2] was an American songwriter and leader of a Nashville dance band. His works included "Dynamite" and "Near You".

Early years

A Methodist minister's son, Craig was born in Dickson, Tennessee, United States. He studied mathematics and political science at Vanderbilt University,[3] Nashville.[4] "Dynamite!" now the official fight song of Vanderbilt University, was written by Craig in 1922, when Craig was an undergraduate student.[5] It is played mainly at football games, basketball games, and at other Commodore sports events.

While he was at Vanderbilt, Craig formed an orchestra, the Vanderbilt Jazz Band. When the university's chancellor told Craig he would have to change the name of the group, disband it, or leave Vanderbilt, he dropped out and changed the orchestra's name.[3]

Radio

Craig had three stints on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee. His Francis Craig Orchestra played on the station in 1926-1928 and again in 1935-1939. He returned to the station in 1947 to work as a disc jockey on the program Featured by Francis Craig. He also worked on WGN in Chicago, Illinois, in 1940.[6]

Recording

His own recording of "Near You" was released by Bullet Records as catalog number 1001. It first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on August 30, 1947, and lasted 21 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. It held the number one spot for 12 straight weeks. (A 2004 article in Billboard says that the song "was No. 1 for 17 weeks in 1947.")[7] It eventually sold over 2.5 million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[4]

"Craig's version of the song was the first pop hit record ever to come out of Nashville, Tennessee."[8] Various recordings by other persons have followed.

Other works included "Beg Your Pardon" with Beasley Smith.

Death

Craig died aged 66 in November 1966, in Sewanee, Tennessee.[4]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Ikard, Robert W. "Francis Craig | Entries". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  3. 1 2 Wynne, Joseph (September 1938). "Home Town Boy Makes Good Music" (PDF). Rural Radio. p. 11. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 37/8. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  5. ↑ Traughber, Bill (2008-09-09). "The history of Vanderbilt athletics part 3". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  6. ↑ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 166.
  7. ↑ Bronson, Fred (June 26, 2004). "Chart Beat" (PDF) (Billboard). Billboard. p. 79. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Davis, Doug (February 18, 1977). "Sound Country". Minnesota, Bemidji. The Pioneer. p. 19. Retrieved March 14, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.


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