On this day (September 15), Roy Acuff was born in Maynardville, Tennessee. After deciding to focus on a music career, he helped shape the modern country music world. He was also a key figure in the early days of the Grand Ole Opry and the first living artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Acuff grew up in a musical family. However, music wasn’t his first passion. Instead, he was an athlete. In high school, he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. After finishing high school, he turned down a chance to go to college, worked on the railroad, and played semi-professional baseball. In 1929, he tried out for the local minor league team, the Knoxville Smokies. However, he collapsed several times after suffering sunstroke, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This ended his baseball career…