Born 118 Years Ago Today in Texas, the Singing Cowboy Known as the “Original Juvenile Delinquent” Who Once Ran for President
Stuart Hamblen, born in Texas in 1908, became one of the early singing cowboys and a successful songwriter whose work was recorded by artists including Patsy Montana and Rosemary Clooney. His story is notable for a sharp change in direction: after attending a Billy Graham crusade in 1949, he converted to Christianity, stopped drinking and moved into Christian broadcasting.
Before that change, Hamblen called himself the “original juvenile delinquent” and struggled with alcohol addiction that brought repeated legal trouble. His prohibitionist convictions cost him a radio job when he refused to air alcohol adverts, and in 1952 he ran for US president as a Prohibition Party candidate, receiving no electoral votes as Dwight D. Eisenhower won. Hamblen later received several industry honours and died of brain cancer in 1989.
- Stuart Hamblen was an early singing cowboy and influential songwriter.
- A 1949 Billy Graham crusade prompted a major change in his life.
- He ran for president in 1952 on a prohibition platform.