Considered to be one of his signature songs, “Wabash Cannonball” by Roy Acuff became one of his most famous songs throughout his career. As one of the crowds’ favorite singles from him, many artists produced a cover of this phenomenal song back then. It is also considered the greatest of all train songs.
Written by William Kindt and J. A. Roff, Roy Acuff, known as the “King of country music,” introduced their rendition of “Wabash Cannonball” in 1936. He regularly performs this song on the Grand Ole Opry and receives praise from his fans for his clear and powerful voice that brings the crowd to a standing ovation. After the release of his recording of this song, Acuff managed to sell millions of copies of his music and make him a famous country music star throughout the nation. This song and some of the other Roy Acuff songs convinced the whole music industry to become the first living artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1962.
About the Strong Railroad Melody
The myth of “Wabash Cannonball” is one of the most notable midwestern folk tales. The song tells the tale of a mythical train that travels from one coast to another. It became an anthem for the hoboes who had to travel while riding the rails and going wherever the trains would take them.
Roy Acuff’s version of “Wabash Cannonball” is the most significant version of this song that we know today. His light-hearted rendition and strong voice in this song make us look back at the various travel stories of people back in the day while riding their favorite mode of transportation, the train.
So if you want to bring back the old vibes of traveling on the railroads, feel free to listen to the “Wabash Cannonball” by Roy Acuff in the video below.
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