Bob Luman
Bob Luman started out as a rockabilly performer, switched to country, and then in the late '50s nearly ditched the music industry altogether; were it not for the interference of the Everly Brothers, Nashville would have lost a popular and talented performer to major-league baseball.
He was born in Blackjack, Texas, and grew up in Nacogdoches loving both sports and music. As a teen, Luman was a high-school baseball star, and was so good that he caught the eye of several major-league baseball scouts. Through his teens, Luman was primarily interested in singing country music like his idol Lefty Frizzell, but then he saw Elvis perform at a country music show. This inspired him to try his hand at the rockabilly sound and found his own band, which soon began performing at school activities and for area clubs. Soon after graduating, Luman won a talent contest, leading to his debut on The Louisiana Hayride. He was well received and became a regular in the mid-'50s. He was handsome, young, and talented to boot, so it was only natural that Luman begin appearing on television. In 1957, he had a small role in a Hollywood film, Carnival Rock. He also appeared in Las Vegas along with Tex Ritter and Johnny Cash. Still, his singles did nothing on the charts.
In 1959, the Pittsburgh Pirates offered young Luman a lucrative contract. Fed up with his lack of success, he decided to go for it and announced this during a concert one night. The Everly Brothers happened to be in the audience and after the show, they talked him into giving country music one more try. They suggested he record the Boudleaux Bryant song "Let's Think About Living," and sure enough, it was a Top Ten hit on both the country and pop charts. His follow-up, "The Great Snowman," was also a hit and Luman began organizing a promotional tour. Unfortunately, he was drafted and spent the next two years in the military. He was discharged in 1964 and began recording for Hickory Records.
His debut single, "The File," made it to the Top 25. The following year, he became a member of The Grand Ole Opry. Luman eventually signed with Epic Records and soon had a string of major hits on his hands, beginning with the Top 20 "Ain't Got Time to Be Happy." Over the next ten years, Luman released many more singles that made it into the Top 25 or better, including the Top Five hit "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers" in 1972. During these years, Luman toured extensively and frequently. The first country performer to perform in Puerto Rico, he also appeared on national and international television shows and remained a regular on The Opry, where his lively performances raised the eyebrows of the old-timers who thought his music veered dangerously close to rock & roll at times. Luman had a major heart attack in 1975, and it took him nearly five months to recover. (Afterwards, he joked about his enormous medical bills during his Opry performances.) His final chart appearance came in 1977 with the Top 15 hit "The Pay Phone." The following year he contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 41.
© Sandra Brennan /TiVo
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Livin' Lovin' Sounds
Country - Released by Sony - ATV Music on Oct 28, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Epic Sessions (1968-1976)
Country - Released by Epic - Legacy on Nov 17, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Alive and Well!
Country - Released by Columbia Nashville Legacy on Mar 1, 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Pop - Released by Legacy Recordings on Jun 17, 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let's Think About Living
Country - Released by Sony - ATV Music on Oct 28, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Greatest Hits
Country - Released by Columbia Nashville Legacy on Jan 1, 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let's Think About Living - The Best Of Bob Luman
Country - Released by Sony ATV on Sep 12, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Getting Back to Norma
Country - Released by Epic - Legacy on Mar 1, 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Honky Tonk Man
Country - Released by Country Rewind on Nov 1, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Neither One of Us
Pop - Released by Legacy Recordings on Jun 17, 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
When You Say Love
Country - Released by Epic - Legacy on Mar 29, 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Is It Any Wonder That I Love You
Country - Released by Columbia Nashville Legacy on Mar 1, 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Come on Home and Sing the Blues to Daddy
Country - Released by Epic - Legacy on Mar 1, 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Presenting Bob Luman
Rockabilly - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on Apr 22, 1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let's Think About Living
Country - Released by Hickory Records (2009 Deal) on Aug 21, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Still Loving You
Country - Released by Sony - ATV Music on Oct 28, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rocks of Reno
Country - Released by Sony - ATV Music on Oct 28, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rockabilly Rebel! - Shakin' with Bob Luman
Rockabilly - Released by Groovy Train on Aug 18, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Satisfied Mind
Country - Released by Columbia Nashville Legacy on Mar 1, 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Chain Don't Take to Me
Country - Released by Columbia Nashville Legacy on Mar 1, 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ain't Got Time to Be Unhappy
Country - Released by Epic - Legacy on Mar 1, 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo