Ernest Dale Tubb was born on February 9, 1914, near Crisp, Texas, to Calvin Tubb and Nora Tubb. Raised on a cotton farm during a period when rural life demanded hard physical labor from an early age, he developed a deep appreciation for country music while listening to the recordings of Jimmie Rodgers, whose singing style would profoundly influence his own career.
Tubb attended local schools in Ellis County but did not pursue higher education, leaving school after completing his early studies to help support his family through farm work and a variety of manual labor jobs. Even while working long hours, he remained devoted to music, teaching himself to play guitar and singing whenever opportunities arose. Determined to become a professional musician,
Tubb began performing on local radio stations during the 1930s and made his first recordings in 1936. His earliest releases achieved only modest success, but his persistence eventually paid off after recovering from vocal surgery that permanently lowered his voice, giving him the distinctive baritone that became his trademark. His breakthrough came in 1941 with “Walking the Floor Over You,” one of the most influential recordings in country music history. The song became a massive hit and helped establish the honky-tonk style
that would dominate country music for decades. The Texas Troubadours were Ernest Tubb’s legendary backing band and became one of the most influential ensembles in the history of country music. Formed during the early 1940s, the group accompanied Tubb on thousands of performances, radio broadcasts, recording sessions,
and appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, helping define the emerging honky-tonk sound through its combination of steel guitar, electric lead guitar, fiddle, piano, bass, and drums. Unlike many backing bands of the era, the Texas Troubadours developed a reputation as a showcase for extraordinary musicianship, with numerous members later becoming stars or
highly respected session players in their own right. The band’s roster changed frequently over the decades, but among its most celebrated members were steel guitar pioneers Jerry Byrd and Buddy Charleton, electric guitar innovators Billy Byrd and Leon Rhodes, fiddler Tommy “Butterball” Paige, drummer Jack Greene, who later became a successful solo artist, and bassist Buddy Emmons before he
achieved fame as one of country music’s greatest steel guitar players. The Texas Troubadours were admired for their precise yet energetic playing, blending traditional country, Western swing, blues, and early rockabilly influences into a polished sound that complemented Tubb’s distinctive baritone without overshadowing it. Their instrumental introductions, tasteful solos, and impeccable stage professionalism became a model for country bands throughout the 1950s and 1960s,
influencing countless performers in Nashville and beyond. Although the lineup evolved continually as musicians joined and departed, the Texas Troubadours remained synonymous with excellence for more than four decades, and their recordings with Ernest Tubb are widely regarded as some of the finest examples of classic honky-tonk music ever produced. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, he enjoyed a remarkable string of successful recordings, including classics
such as “Soldier’s Last Letter,” “Rainbow at Midnight,” “Slippin’ Around,” “Filipino Baby,” and “Thanks a Lot.” Tubb became a longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, where his warm personality and dependable performances made him one of the institution’s most beloved stars.
My Mother was a member of the Ernest Tubb Fan Club
Studio Albums
All Decca Records unless Noted
- Ernest Tubb Souvenir Album (1947)
- Favorites (1952)
- Old Rugged Cross (1952)
- Songs of Jimmie Rodgers (1953)
- Favorites (1956)
- Daddy of ‘Em All (1957)
- The Importance of Being Ernest (1959)
- Ernest Tubb Record Shop (1960)
- Ernest Tubb and His Texas Troubadours (1960) Vocalion Records
- Midnight Jamboree (1960)
- All Time Hits (1960)
- Golden Favorites (1961)
- On Tour (1962)
- Ernest Tubb’s Fabulous Texas Troubadours (1963)
- Just Call Me Lonesome (1963)
- The Family Bible (1963)
- Thanks a Lot (1964)
- Blue Christmas (1964)
- My Pick of the Hits (1965)
- Hittin’ the Road (1965)
- Stand by Me (1965) Vocalion Records
- By Request (1966)
- Country Hits Old and New (1966)
- Another Story (1967)
- Ernest Tubb Sings Hank Williams (1968)
- Country Hit Time (1968)
- Saturday Satan Sunday Saint (1969)
- Let’s Turn Back the Years (1969)
- Good Year for the Wine (1970)
- One Sweet Hello (1971)
- Say Something Nice to Sarah (1972)
- Baby It’s So Hard to Be Good (1972)
- I’ve Got All the Heartaches I Can Handle (1973) MCA Records
- Ernest Tubb (1975) MCA Records
Album Collaborations
All Decca Records unless Noted
- Red and Ernie (with Red Foley) (1956)
- Mr. & Mrs. Used to Be (with Loretta Lynn) (1965)
- Singin’ Again (with Loretta Lynn) (1967)
- If We Put Our Heads Together (with Loretta Lynn) (1969)
- Story (with Loretta Lynn) (1973) MCA Records
- Just You and Me, Daddy (with Justin Tubb) (1999) First Generation
Singles
Release Year “Title” #Country Chart/#Pop Chart (Charting positions only noted if in the Top 40)
- 1936 “The Passing of Jimmie Rodgers”
- 1936 “This TB Is Whipping Me”
- 1940 “Blue Eyed Elaine”
- 1940 “I’ll Get Along Somehow”
- 1940 “I’ll Never Cry Over You”
- 1941 “I Cared For You More Than You Know”
- 1941 “Walking the Floor Over You” Pop 23
- 1941 “Mean Mama Blues”
- 1943 “You Nearly Lose Your Mind”
- 1944 “Try Me One More Time” Country 2/Pop 18
- 1944 “Soldier’s Last Letter” Country 1/Pop 16
- 1944 “Yesterday’s Tears” Country 4/Pop 29
- 1945 “Keep My Mem’ry in Your Heart” Country 6
- 1945 “Tomorrow Never Comes” Country 3
- 1945 “Careless Darlin'” Country 3
- 1945 “It’s Been So Long Darling” Country 1
- 1946 “Rainbow at Midnight” Country 1
- 1946 “Filipino Baby” Country 2
- 1946 “Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin” Country 5
- 1947 “Don’t Look Now (But Your Broken Heart Is Showing)” Country 4
- 1947 “So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed” Country 5
- 1947 “I’ll Step Aside” Country 4
- 1948 “Seaman’s Blues” Country 5
- 1948 “You Nearly Lose Your Mind” Country 15
- 1948 “Forever Is Ending Today” Country 5/Pop 30
- 1948 “That Wild and Wicked Look in Your Eye” Country 9
- 1948 “Have You Ever Been Lonely?” Country 2
- 1948 “Let’s Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello” Country 5
- 1949 “Till the End of the World” Country 4
- 1949 “Daddy, When Is Mommy Coming Home” Country 15
- 1949 “Mean Mama Blues” Country 6
- 1949 “Slippin’ Around” Country 1/Pop 17
- 1949 “My Filipino Rose” Country 6
- 1949 “Warm Red Wine” Country 8
- 1949 “My Tennessee Baby” Country 10
- 1950 “Letters Have No Arms” Country 2
- 1950 “I’ll Take a Back Seat for You” Country 8
- 1950 “I Love You Because” Country 2
- 1950 “Unfaithful One” Country 8
- 1950 “Throw Your Love My Way” Country 3
- 1950 “Give Me a Little Old Fashioned Love” Country 9
- 1950 “You Don’t Have to Be a Baby to Cry” Country 10
- 1950 “(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You” Country 5
- 1951 “Don’t Stay Too Long” Country 9
- 1951 “Hey La La” Country 6
- 1951 “Driftwood on the River” Country 7
- 1952 “Missing in Action” Country 3
- 1952 “Somebody’s Stolen My Honey” Country 9
- 1952 “Fortunes in Memories” Country 5
- 1953 “Divorce Granted” Country 9
- 1953 “I’ll Miss You When You Go” Pop 22
- 1953 “Counterfeit Kisses” Pop 25
- 1954 “Two Glasses, Joe” Country 11
- 1955 “The Yellow Rose of Texas” Country 7
- 1955 “Thirty Days (To Come Back Home)” Country 7
- 1957 “Don’t Forbid Me/God’s Eyes”
- 1958 “House of Glass” Country 13
- 1958 “Half a Mind” Country 8
- 1958 “The Blues” Country 21
- 1959 “What Am I Living For” Country 19
- 1959 “I Cried a Tear” Country 12
- 1959 “Next Time” Country 14
- 1960 “Ev’rybody’s Somebody’s Fool” Country 16
- 1961 “Thoughts of a Fool” Country 16
- 1961 “Through That Door” Country 14
- 1962 “I’m Looking High and Low for My Baby” Country 16
- 1962 “Show Her Lots of Gold” Country 30
- 1963 “Mr. Juke Box” Country 28
- 1963 “Thanks a Lot” Country 3
- 1964 “Be Better to Your Baby” Country 26
- 1964 “Pass the Booze” Country 15
- 1965 “Do What You Do Do Well” Country 29
- 1966 “Another Story” Country 16
- 1968 “Too Much of Not Enough”
- 1968 “I’m Gonna Make Like a Snake”
- 1969 “Saturday Satan Sunday Saint”
- 1973 “I’ve Got All the Heartaches I Can Handle”
- 1977 “Sometimes I Do”
- 1977 “Half My Heart’s in Texas” (flip)
- 1979 “Waltz Across Texas” (re-release) Pop 31
- 1979 “Walking the Floor Over You” (w/ Merle Haggard) Country 31/Pop 18
Single Collaborations
Release Year “Title” (Artist) #Country Chart/#Pop Chart (Charting positions only noted if in the Top 40)
- 1949 “I’m Bitin’ My Fingernails and Thinking of You” (The Andrews Sisters) Country 2/Pop 30
- 1949 “Don’t Rob Another Man’s Castle” (The Andrews Sisters) Country 6
- 1949 “Tennessee Border No. 2” (Red Foley) Country 2
- 1950 “Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Age” (Red Foley) Country 7
- 1950″Goodnight Irene” (Red Foley & The Sunshine Trio) Country 1/Pop 10
- 1950 “Hillbilly Fever No. 2” (Red Foley) Country 9
- 1951 “The Strange Little Girl” (Red Foley & Anita Kerr) Country 9
- 1952 “Too Old to Cut the Mustard” (Red Foley) Country 5
- 1953 “No Help Wanted #2” (Red Foley) Country 7
- 1957 “Mister Love” (The Wilburn Brothers) Country 8
- 1958 “Hey, Mr. Bluebird” (The Wilburn Brothers) Country 9
- 1964 “Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be” (Loretta Lynn) Country 11
- 1965 “Our Hearts Are Holding Hands” Country 24
- 1965 “Waltz Across Texas” (His Texas Troubadours) Country 34
- 1966 “It’s for God, and Country, and You Mom (His Texas Troubadours)
- 1966 (That’s Why I’m Fighting in Viet Nam)” (His Texas Troubadours)
- 1966 “Till My Getup Has Gotup and Gone” (His Texas Troubadours) Country 32
- 1967 “Sweet Thang” (Loretta Lynn)
- 1969 “Who’s Gonna Take the Garbage Out” (Loretta Lynn) 18
He also opened the famous Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Nashville in 1947, which became an important gathering place for country music fans and performers while hosting the influential Midnight Jamboree radio show that introduced countless emerging artists to wider audiences.
Known affectionately as the “Texas Troubadour,” Tubb spent decades touring almost constantly, building one of the most loyal fan bases in country music. His straightforward singing style, sincere delivery, and emphasis on traditional country instrumentation made him one of the genre’s defining figures. Although he was never known for elaborate vocal techniques, his authenticity and emotional connection with
audiences inspired generations of performers, including Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, George Jones, Merle Haggard, and many others. His influence extended beyond his own recordings through his encouragement of younger artists, many of whom credited him with providing opportunities early in their careers. During a career spanning nearly five decades, he recorded dozens of albums and charted more than ninety singles, helping shape the sound of modern country music. In his personal life, Tubb married Elaine McCook in 1937, and the couple had children before eventually divorcing.
He later married Olene Janes, and although his demanding touring schedule often kept him away from home, he remained devoted to his family. His son, Justin Tubb, also became a successful country singer and songwriter, continuing the family’s musical legacy. Tubb was widely respected within the music industry for his generosity, professionalism, and willingness to mentor newcomers, earning a reputation as one of Nashville’s true gentlemen.
Tubb received numerous honors throughout his lifetime and after his death. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1965, recognizing his enormous contributions to the development of country music. He also became a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and was later honored by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame for his influence on early rockabilly performers. His recordings have been preserved and celebrated as landmarks in American popular
music, and “Walking the Floor Over You” remains one of the defining songs of the honky-tonk era. Ernest Tubb died from complications of emphysema on Thursday, September 6, 1984, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 70. He was survived by his wife, Olene Tubb; his son, Justin Tubb; his daughters, including Jimmie Tubb and Elaine Tubb; several grandchildren; and other family members. His funeral drew many of country music’s biggest stars,
reflecting the enormous respect he had earned throughout his life and career. Today, Ernest Tubb is remembered as one of the founding fathers of honky-tonk music, a pioneering recording artist, and an enduring symbol of traditional country music whose influence continues to resonate with performers and fans around the world.
Media
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia “Ernest Tubb” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Tubb#Discography “Ernest Tubb discography” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Tubb_discography
- 45 Cat https://www.45cat.com/
- Country Music Hall of Fame “Ernest Tubb” https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/ernest-tubb
- Alan Cackett “Ernest Tubb” https://alancackett.com/ernest-tubb-biography
- Texas State Historical Association “Ernest Tubb: The Gold Chain Troubadour of Country Music” https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/tubb-ernest-dale
- Allmusic “Ernest Tubb” https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ernest-tubb-mn0000200775
- Country Legends “Ernest Tubb” https://www.legendsofcountrymusic.com/artists-biographies/ernest-tubb
- Discogs “Ernest Tubb” https://www.discogs.com/artist/572858-Ernest-Tubb
