Andy Griffith
June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012
Although known the world over for his portrayal of two iconic television characters, Andy Griffith was also a Grammy-winning singer. Regularly exposed to music from a young age, Griffith gravitated toward the arts while in school. While growing up, he performed in many local productions while learning to sing and play the trombone. After graduating from college with a degree in music, Griffith headed to Broadway. But by the late ’50s he was earning rave reviews for his performances in films like A Face In The Crowd and No Time For Sergeants. In 1960, Griffith began starring as Sheriff Andy Taylor, the non-gun toting lawman in the television comedy series, The Andy Griffith Show. The program, which ran until 1968, went on to become one of the most beloved television series of all time. Another of Griffith’s iconic characters came in the form of Ben Matlock in the legal drama series, Matlock. The popular show, which began in 1986, ran until 1995, after which Griffith went on to appear in countless films and television programs. Being a trained singer and musician afforded Griffith the opportunity to perform in some of his acting roles, most notably, The Andy Griffith Show and A Face In The Crowd. Over the years, he released over a dozen albums which were generally Southern Gospel. His 1996 album, I Love To Tell The Story: 25 Timeless Hymns, sold over a million copies and earned him two Grammys. Griffith stayed active well into the 2000s with numerous cameos and such. On July 3, 2012, it was reported that Andy Griffith passed away of natural causes. He was 86.
Read about Andy Griffith’s influence on Bob Dylan.
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