Rodney Leon Brasfield (August 22, 1910[1] – September 12, 1958)[2] was an American comedian who was prominently featured on the Grand Ole Opry from 1947 until his death in 1958. In 1987, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Brasfield was recruited by George D. Hay for the Grand Ole Opry in 1944.[2] With his trademark baggy suit, battered hat and rubbery face, he could make audiences laugh before he spoke a word. He soon became the primary comic on The Prince Albert Show, the Opry's NBC Radio broadcast, playing off the show’s host, Red Foley. Assuming the role of a hapless hayseed, he often poked fun at country life—always with good humor.
He formed a double act in 1948 with Minnie Pearl, playing what she referred to as "double comedy", in which each of them delivered alternating punch lines and neither played the straight man.[2] Some of these routines were broadcast on the Opry's live ABC television network show from 1955–56. He lived in Hohenwald, called himself the Hohenwald Flash, and often mentioned the local restaurant (which he once owned), the Snip-Snap-and-Bite, in his routines. Brasfield sometimes did ventriloquist routines with a dummy named Bocephus, after whom Hank Williams Sr. nicknamed his then-infant son Hank Williams Jr.; and also did comedy with June Carter.
brasfield, rodney, leon, brasfield, august, 1910, september, 1958, american, comedian, prominently, featured, grand, opry, from, 1947, until, death, 1958, 1987, inducted, into, country, music, hall, fame, brasfield, 1950bornrodney, leon, brasfield, 1910, augus. Rodney Leon Brasfield August 22 1910 1 September 12 1958 2 was an American comedian who was prominently featured on the Grand Ole Opry from 1947 until his death in 1958 In 1987 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Rod BrasfieldBrasfield c 1950BornRodney Leon Brasfield 1910 08 22 August 22 1910Smithville Mississippi U S DiedSeptember 12 1958 1958 09 12 aged 48 Martin Tennessee U S OccupationComedianYears active1947 1958Known forGrand Ole Opry Member Contents 1 Life and career 2 Filmography 3 References 4 Other sources 5 External linksLife and career editBrasfield was born in Smithville Mississippi United States 2 He began his career in the late 1920s with Bisbee s Dramatic Shows a touring tent repertory troupe serving as a straight man for his older brother actor and comedian Boob Brasfield 2 In 1931 he married Eleanor Humphrey a Hohenwald Tennessee school teacher Brasfield was recruited by George D Hay for the Grand Ole Opry in 1944 2 With his trademark baggy suit battered hat and rubbery face he could make audiences laugh before he spoke a word He soon became the primary comic on The Prince Albert Show the Opry s NBC Radio broadcast playing off the show s host Red Foley Assuming the role of a hapless hayseed he often poked fun at country life always with good humor He formed a double act in 1948 with Minnie Pearl playing what she referred to as double comedy in which each of them delivered alternating punch lines and neither played the straight man 2 Some of these routines were broadcast on the Opry s live ABC television network show from 1955 56 He lived in Hohenwald called himself the Hohenwald Flash and often mentioned the local restaurant which he once owned the Snip Snap and Bite in his routines Brasfield sometimes did ventriloquist routines with a dummy named Bocephus after whom Hank Williams Sr nicknamed his then infant son Hank Williams Jr and also did comedy with June Carter In March 1956 Brasfield appeared with Elvis Presley at Atlanta s Fox Theatre In A Face in the Crowd 1957 he played Andy Griffith s ex con sidekick and appeared in Country Music Holiday 1958 Heart failure combined with an ongoing problem with alcohol abuse led to his death at age 48 in 1958 in Martin Tennessee 2 He is buried in Smithville Filmography editYear Title Role Notes 1957 A Face in the Crowd Beanie 1958 Country Music Holiday Pappy Brand final film role References edit Rod Brasfield Cause of Death Rohoborestaurant com Retrieved August 4 2021 a b c d e f Colin Larkin ed 1993 The Guinness Who s Who of Country Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 48 ISBN 0 85112 726 6 Other sources editEncyclopedia of Country Music Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oxford University Press Faye Byron Remembering Rod Brasfield FayFair s Opry Blog August 22 2011 Rod Brasfield Smithville at the Mississippi Country Music TrailExternal links edit nbsp Biography portal At the Country Music Hall of Fame Rod Brasfield at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rod Brasfield amp oldid 1196176195, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
