Guy Hovis
Encyclopedia
Guy Lee Hovis, Jr. is an American
-born singer who, along with his former wife, Ralna English
of West Texas
, was one of the featured acts of television's The Lawrence Welk Show
.
Born and reared in Tupelo
, Mississippi
, he was the son of an officer from the Mississippi Highway Patrol
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree from the University of Mississippi
at Oxford
. After a two-year stint in the Army
, Hovis decided to try a career as a musical performer in Hollywood.
His first break came with an appearance on the House Party television program hosted by Art Linkletter
on CBS
; following that, he teamed with David Blaylock as the singing duo of Guy & David, which led to a recording contract
with ABC Records
. After the duo broke up, Hovis was a soloist
again, performing in Los Angeles
nightclubs such as The Horn in Santa Monica
; it was there he met his future wife and singing partner Ralna English. They wed in January 1969.
Later that year, Ralna joined the Lawrence Welk Show as a solo singer; it wasn't until the show had its Christmas
episode, later that year, that she convinced Welk to have Hovis on the show to sing a duet with her. He agreed, and the initial appearance, singing Little Toy Trains, led to more appearances. In time, Guy & Ralna became a regular member of the cast.
For the next twelve years, Guy & Ralna was one of the most popular duos on the show. Part of the act's appeal was the portrayal of Guy and Ralna as a happily married couple. After the show's run, Hovis continued to perform and added the duties of songwriter
and record producer
. He sang the title song "Too Many Yesterdays" for the movie Benji the Hunted
.
In 1977, their daughter Julie was born. Hovis and English divorced in 1984 after fifteen years of marriage, though they still perform together occasionally in concert venues. In 2002, Hovis married Sarah "Sis" Lundy, and the couple resides in Jackson
.
From 1990 to 2007, he had served as state director for former U.S. Senator Trent Lott
. The two have been friends since their college days at Ole Miss
. On his days off, Hovis still continues to perform, at the Lawrence Welk Resort in Branson
, Missouri
, for pledge specials on PBS
, or with Ralna at state fair
s, concert halls and casino
s.
Hovis sang Let the Eagle Soar
, a song written by then United States Attorney General
John Ashcroft
of Missouri, at the second inaugural of U.S. President George W. Bush
on January 20, 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born singer who, along with his former wife, Ralna English
Ralna English
Ralna Eve English American-born singer was born in Haskell, the seat of Haskell County, north of Abilene, Texas. She gained fame as half of the husband-and-wife singing duo of Guy & Ralna with then-husband Guy Hovis, both of whom were featured performers on The Lawrence Welk Show.English was reared...
of West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
, was one of the featured acts of television's The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...
.
Born and reared in Tupelo
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, he was the son of an officer from the Mississippi Highway Patrol
Mississippi Highway Patrol
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is the highway patrol, acting state police agency for Mississippi, which has jurisdiction over most of the state, and specializes in the patrol of state and federal highways in the State of Mississippi. It was formed in 1938 to enforce traffic laws on state and...
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
at Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
. After a two-year stint in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Hovis decided to try a career as a musical performer in Hollywood.
His first break came with an appearance on the House Party television program hosted by Art Linkletter
Art Linkletter
Arthur Gordon "Art" Linkletter was a Canadian-born American radio and television personality. He was the host of House Party, which ran on CBS radio and television for 25 years, and People Are Funny, on NBC radio-TV for 19 years...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
; following that, he teamed with David Blaylock as the singing duo of Guy & David, which led to a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
. After the duo broke up, Hovis was a soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
again, performing in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
nightclubs such as The Horn in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
; it was there he met his future wife and singing partner Ralna English. They wed in January 1969.
Later that year, Ralna joined the Lawrence Welk Show as a solo singer; it wasn't until the show had its Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
episode, later that year, that she convinced Welk to have Hovis on the show to sing a duet with her. He agreed, and the initial appearance, singing Little Toy Trains, led to more appearances. In time, Guy & Ralna became a regular member of the cast.
For the next twelve years, Guy & Ralna was one of the most popular duos on the show. Part of the act's appeal was the portrayal of Guy and Ralna as a happily married couple. After the show's run, Hovis continued to perform and added the duties of songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He sang the title song "Too Many Yesterdays" for the movie Benji the Hunted
Benji the Hunted
Benji the Hunted is a 1987 children's film about a dog trying to survive in the wilderness. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures. This was the last Benji movie to star Benjean in the title role.-Plot:...
.
In 1977, their daughter Julie was born. Hovis and English divorced in 1984 after fifteen years of marriage, though they still perform together occasionally in concert venues. In 2002, Hovis married Sarah "Sis" Lundy, and the couple resides in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
.
From 1990 to 2007, he had served as state director for former U.S. Senator Trent Lott
Trent Lott
Chester Trent Lott, Sr. , is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and has served in numerous leadership positions in the House of Representatives and the Senate....
. The two have been friends since their college days at Ole Miss
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
. On his days off, Hovis still continues to perform, at the Lawrence Welk Resort in Branson
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, for pledge specials on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, or with Ralna at state fair
State fair
A state fair is a competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs....
s, concert halls and casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s.
Hovis sang Let the Eagle Soar
Let the Eagle Soar
"Let the Eagle Soar" is a song written by former Missouri Senator and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who is seen singing the song at a Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary function in 2002. The song was sung during President of the United States George W...
, a song written by then United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
of Missouri, at the second inaugural of U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on January 20, 2005.