It's A Little Too Heavy

Tennessee Ernie Ford's legendary career spanned over 50 years and he sold more than 60 million records worldwide.

From 1956 to 1965 Ford played host of "The Ford Show," a top-rated variety show for both NBC and ABC.

Ford's final television appearance came in 1991 in a taped interview with Dinah Shore.

Ford fell ill after attending a State Dinner at the White House in 1991 with the the elder Bush. He passed away on October 17th, 1991, thirty-six years to the day after the release of his most famous song, Sixteen Tons.

Among his lifetime achievements are the release of eighty-three albums, third recipient of The Minnie Pearl Award, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and The Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by President Ronald Reagan.

Charlie Bowman is credited for the lyrics to Nine Pound Hammer, from a tune he had heard from some railroad workers.

A Nine Pound Hammer is a sledgehammer used mostly during railroad construction and by blacksmiths.

In railroad construction, the Nine Pound Hammer was used to drive a steel spike or drill bit into solid rock so that explosives could be inserted into the hole.