Forty-nine years ago today, on Jan. 29, 1969, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour debuted on CBS.
Campbell earned his own variety show following his tenure as a successful summer replacement for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968. The artist’s hit single “Gentle on My Mind” became the theme song of the show, and his industry connections allowed him to book guests such as the Beatles, John Wayne, Tim Conway, the Monkees, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Roger Miller and Mel Tillis, among others, for his variety show.
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour is credited with helping to launch the careers of Anne Murray and Jerry Reed, thanks in part to their appearances on the series. The show was nominated for numerous awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards; a collection of highlights from The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour is available on DVD via Amazon.
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour ran until 1972, when the show was canceled by CBS; however, Campbell’s days of being on in the spotlight were far from over. Following his tenure on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, the musical icon starred in The Glen Campbell Music Show, a music variety show that ran for one season (1982-1983); he also starred in several movies and TV shows, including True Grit, Norwood and Uphill All the Way.
Campbell’s finals onscreen appearance came in his documentary, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, which chronicles his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The song “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” co-written and sung by Campbell for the film’s soundtrack, earned an Oscar nomination for Original Song and won a Grammy for Best Country Song.
Glen Campbell Through the Years
This Article Was Originally Posted at www.TheBoot.com
