Hank Snow
A Canadian country singer whose smooth baritone and train-song rhythms carried him from Nova Scotia poverty to the Grand Ole Opry's inner circle.
1914–1999 (age 85)·Canadian musician·Birthday: May 9·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Hank Snow’s story is a hardscrabble odyssey set to a steady, chugging beat. Born in a small Nova Scotia fishing village, his childhood was marked by poverty and abuse, leading him to run away to work on fishing schooners as a pre-teen. A cheap mail-order guitar became his escape, and he modeled his early style on the lonely yodel of Jimmie Rodgers. For years he barnstormed across Canada, a relentless self-promoter playing radio stations and dance halls. His big break was the relentless ‘I’m Moving On,’ a 1950 hit that spent 44 weeks on the charts and finally opened the doors of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. Unlike many of his peers, Snow maintained a meticulous control over his business affairs, founding his own publishing company and cultivating a polished, almost pop-leaning sound within the country framework. His influence extended to mentoring a young Elvis Presley, whom he brought on tour, and his catalog of travel anthems, most famously ‘I’ve Been Everywhere,’ cemented his image as the restless, rolling troubadour of North American roots music.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Hank was born in 1914, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hank Was Born
The biggest hits of 1914
Hank's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1914Born
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Started school
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Became a teenager
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Could drive
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1932Could vote
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Turned 21
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1944Turned 30
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 40
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 50
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 60
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 70
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 80
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Died at 85
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
Key Achievements
- His 1950 single 'I'm Moving On' spent 21 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country chart, a record that stood for over 50 years.
- Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1985.
- Charted more than 85 singles on the Billboard country charts across three decades, from 1950 to 1980.
- Was a mainstay member of the Grand Ole Opry for over 45 years, from 1950 until his death.
Did You Know?
He was an avid collector of model trains and built elaborate layouts in his home, reflecting the theme of many of his songs.
His first guitar was purchased from the Eaton's mail-order catalog for $5.95.
He helped launch Elvis Presley's career by having him as an opening act on a 1955 tour and recommending him to record label executives.
“I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere.”
