Guy Hovis

Guy Lee Hovis, Jr. (born September 24, 1941), is an American singer,^[1] who, along with his former wife, Ralna English, a native of West Texas, was one of the featured acts of the ABC and syndicated television series The Lawrence Welk Show.

Background

Born and reared in Tupelo, Mississippi,^[2] Hovis was the son of an officer from the Mississippi Highway Patrol. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mississippi at Oxford. After a two-year stint in the United States Army, Hovis decided to try a career as a musical performer in Hollywood.

His first break came with an appearance on the CBS House Party television program hosted by Art Linkletter; thereafter, he teamed with David Blaylock as the singing duo of Guy & David, which led to a recording contract with ABC Records.

After the duo disbanded, Hovis was a soloist again, performing in Los Angeles nightclubs such as The Horn in Santa Monica, California; it was there he met his future wife and singing partner Ralna English. The couple wed in January 1969.

On October 30, 1977, Ralna gave birth to their daughter, Julie, who became an elementary schoolteacher. Hovis and English divorced in 1984 after fifteen years of marriage, but they still perform together occasionally in concert venues.

Musical career

Later in 1969, Ralna joined The Lawrence Welk Show as a solo singer; by the time the Christmas episode was filmed, Ralna convinced Welk to have Hovis on the show to sing a duet with her. He agreed, and the initial appearance, singing Little Toy Trains, led to Hovis becoming a regular member of the cast.

For the next twelve years, Guy and Ralna were one of the most popular acts on the show. Part of the appeal of their act was the portrayal of Guy and Ralna as a happily married couple. After the series ended in 1982, Hovis continued to perform and added the duties of songwriter and record producer. He sang the title song "Too Many Yesterdays" for the film, Benji the Hunted.

Hovis performed with such entertainers too as Dinah Shore and Jim Nabors and was a guest on the Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Joey Bishop, and Mike Douglas programs. In 1986, he launched a Christian music ministry and performed throughout the country in churches and other public gatherings.^[3]

In 2002, Hovis married Sarah "Sis" Lundy, and the couple resides in the capital city of Jackson, Mississippi. From 1990 to 2007, Hovis served as state director for former U.S. Senator Trent Lott.^[4] The two have been friends since their college days at Ole Miss. Hovis still performs at the Lawrence Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri, for pledge specials on PBS, or with Ralna at state fairs, concert halls, and casinos.

Hovis sang "Let the Eagle Soar", a song written by then United States Attorney General John Ashcroft of Missouri, at the second inaugural of U.S. President George W. Bush on January 20, 2005.

References