Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 - October 17, 1991), better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country & western, pop and gospel musical genres. Signed with Capitol Records, he had his first hits in "Tennessee border" in 1949. In the same year he scored his first #1 hit with "Mule train" followed by his 2nd #1 hit "The shot gun boogie". His final number 1 became his biggest hit ever. Tennessee"s hit "Sixteen tons" sold in only eleven days after it"s release more than 400,000 single.In Twenty-four days, over one million records were sold, and "Sixteen Tons" became the fastest-selling single in Capitol"s history. By November, it had captured the top spot on every major record chart in the country, and by December 15 (less than two months after it"s release) more than 2,000,000 copies were sold, making it the most successful single ever recorded.