Pee Wee King King and co-writer Redd Stewart have said that they wrote "Tennessee Waltz" on an unfolded matchbox while riding in Stewart's truck.   Birth Name: Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski Induction Year: 1970 Date of Birth: 2/18/1914 Place of Birth: Milwaukee, WI Date of Death: 3/7/2000 Place of Death: Louisville, KY   Former Occupations: mechanical draftsman apprentice Education: Grade School--Wind Lake (Milwaukee) High School--Bay View High School (from 1919-1928) Career Milestones: 1928--saved up enough money to buy an accordion 1928--first professional radio appearance on WRJN in Racine, Wisconsin and WHBY in Green Bay with band The King's Jesters 1933--joined WRJN's Badger State Barn Dance in Milwaukee 1934--toured with Gene Autry 1935--played with the Log Cabin Boys on the Crazy Water Barn Dance, WHAS, Louisville 1936--formed the band Golden West Cowboys in Louisville, KY and performed on station WHAS 1937--first appeared on and joined the Grand Ole Opry 1937-1947--headed up his own show on KNOX (Knoxville) called Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round 1940--introduced the first use of an electric amplifier on stage at the Grand Ole Opry 1946--signed first recording contract with Bullett 1947--introduced the first use of drums on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry 1947--signed record deal with his band the Golden West Cowboys for RCA Victor 1947--wrote "Tennessee Waltz" with band-mate Redd Stewart 1948-1957--regular television show on WAVE-TV in Louisville with the Golden West Cowboys 1948--recorded "Tennessee Waltz" 1951--had success on pop charts with "Slow Poke" 1956--starred in "The Pee Wee King Show" on ABC television 1958--feature film debut in Gene Autry film, "Gold Mine in the Sky" 1959-1963--worked with Minnie Pearl 1965--"Tennessee Waltz" named state song of Tennessee 1968--disbanded the Golden West Cowboys Awards: 1952--Cash Box\Best Country and Western Artist 1974--Country Music Hall of Fame induction Catalog Highlights Tennessee Waltz Co-writer: Redd Stewart Artists: Pee Wee King and his Golden West Playboys, Cowboy Copas, Roy Acuff, Patti Page, Lacy J. Dalton, Les Paul, Sammy Kaye, Spike Jones, Guy Lombardo, Louvin Brothers, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Margaret Whiting, Chet Atkins, Faron Young, The Ames Brothers, Connie Francis Bonaparte's Retreat Co-writer: Redd Stewart Artists: Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys, Kay Starr, Carl Smith, Glen Campbell Slow Poke Co-writer: Redd Stewart, Chilton Price Artists: Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys, Helen O'Connell, Hawkshaw Hawkins You Belong to Me Co-writer: Redd Stewart, Chilton Price Artists: Patti Page, Dean Martin, Homer & Jethro, Pat Boone I'll Forgive You But I Can't Forget Artists: Roy Acuff (1944) Changing Partners Artists: Pee Wee King (1954) Tennessee Tango Co-writer: Redd Stewart Walk Me By the River A Crazy Waltz Co-writer: Redd Stewart, R Ayres River Road Two Step Co-writer: Redd Stewart Comments: From 1950-1955 voted #1 country and western band leader by Cashbox, Billboard, and Orchestra World Fellow Hall of Fame writer Redd Stewart sang lead on King's hits Appeared in the following feature films: "Gold Mine in the Sky" (with Gene Autry), "Flame of the West", "Ridin' The Outlaw Trail", and "The Rough, Tough West."