Robert Glynn Luman was born on 15th April 1937 in Blackjack,
East Texas to Joe and Lavine Luman. He died on 27th December 1978 aged just 41
(Johnny Cash sang at his funeral).
Bobby Glenn Luman was born in Nacogdoches (although some sources state birthplace as "Blackjack" TX) on April 15, 1937.
Throughout his boyhood he was fascinated by sports and he excelled as a baseball player.
But music also exerted a deep appeal for Bobby Glenn.
His father was an accomplished musician who taught Bobby Glenn to play several stringed instruments, including guitar.
Impressed by Country stars of the day, he modeled his singing style after his special friend, Lefty Frizzell.
The family moved to Kilgore, where Bobby Glenn became a star on the KHS Bulldog baseball team.
The young athlete attracted the attention of pro scouts, but he could not resist the pull of music.
Attending a country music package show, Bobby Glenn was profoundly affected by the wild performance of young Elvis Presley.
Girls in the audience were driven into frenzies by the gyrations and rockabilly sounds of Elvis.
"That was the last time I tried to sound like Left Frizzell," recalled Luman.
Bobby Glenn formed a band and, strongly influenced by rockabilly, began playing at school dances and in nearby clubs.
After winning a talent contest, he was booked onto the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport.
Doors opened rapidly for the handsome Texan with the rich, velvety voice.
Bob Luman became a regular member of the Louisiana Hayride.
He went to Hollywood for a small part in the 1957 motion picture, Carnival Park.
In Las Vegas he performed at the Showboat Hotel on a show with Tex Ritter and Johnny Cash.
Despite these successes, a recording contract with a major label failed to produce any hits.
Frustrated, Luman announced onstage at a performance that he had decided to leave country music and sign a minor league baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Fortunately, the popular Everly Brothers were in the audience.
They persuaded Luman to give country music one more try with Let's
Think About Living--which sold one million copies.
After a 2-year stint in the military, Bob Luman toured the United States as well as in Europe and Japan.
But Luman's heavy schedule eroded his health.
In 1975, he had a heart attack and spent 5 months recuperating at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
He was released and resumed touring and recording, but he contracted pneumonia and died on December 27, 1978 at the age of 41.
Bob's biography is simply too long to summarise here (or do justice)
so check out the link below for a full story.
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