Eddie Hodges

Samuel Hodges (born March 5, 1947), professionally known as Eddie Hodges, is an American former child actor and recording artist (his 1961 cover of the Isley Brothers’ “I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door” reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100), who left show business as an adult.[3]

Eddie Hodges
Hodges and Archie Moore on the set of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1960
Born (1947-03-05) March 5, 1947
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
OccupationActor, singer, mental-health counselor[1]
Years active1953–1969
Children2[2]

Early life

Hodges was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States,[3] and traveled to New York City with his family in 1952. This began a long career in show business for Hodges in films, on stage and popular recordings.

Career

Stage

Hodges made his professional acting debut on stage in Meredith Willson's 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man,[3] in which he originated the character of Winthrop Paroo,[4] and introduced the song "Gary, Indiana", with Robert Preston and Pert Kelton.

Film

He made his film debut in the 1959 film A Hole in the Head with Frank Sinatra and Edward G. Robinson, in which Hodges and Sinatra performed the song "High Hopes".[3] However, when Sinatra recorded the song for Capitol Records, Hodges was not invited to participate as his record label, Decca, would not grant him permission to record on Capitol.

Hodges made eight feature films and numerous TV guest appearances. He is probably best remembered for playing the title role in Michael Curtiz's 1960 film The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.[3] He also appeared in the 1962 film Advise and Consent in a minor role as well as the Disney films Summer Magic (1963)[3] and The Happiest Millionaire (1967).

TV

Hodges made guest appearances on shows such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Cimarron Strip and The Dick Van Dyke Show. He was also a "mystery guest" on What's My Line?.[5]

On October 4, 1957, the day the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik 1 satellite, Hodges made a memorable appearance on the game show Name That Tune in which he partnered with then Major (and future astronaut and United States senator) John Glenn.

In the early 1990s, the adult Hodges appeared live on a talk show on Swedish TV, where he played guitar and sang "I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door".[6]

Recording

In 1959 at age 12, Hodges became Mississippi's first Grammy Award winner for his contribution to the original Broadway cast album of The Music Man, on which he sang a solo ("The Wells Fargo Wagon") and was credited as lead singer on the song "Gary, Indiana". It was the first year the Grammys were awarded.[7]

At the age of 14, Hodges recorded his biggest hit for Cadence Records, "I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door" in 1961.[3] He also scored a minor hit with "(Girls, Girls, Girls) Made to Love," a song written by Phil Everly and originally recorded by the Everly Brothers.[3] He subsequently recorded for several other record labels.

Before leaving Hollywood he was a union musician, record producer, songwriter and music publisher. He collaborated with Tandyn Almer ("Along Comes Mary"), with whom he wrote and published several songs and owned his own music publishing business. Hodges continues to write songs today but is no longer involved professionally in the music industry.

Personal life

Hodges was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s but remained in the U.S. in a non-combat assignment. After he was discharged, he returned to Hollywood and became disillusioned with show business. He decided to return to his native Mississippi and entered the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received his B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Counseling.[8] He became a mental health counselor and eventually retired from practice after a long career in the field.

Hodges converted to Catholicism in 1998. He is divorced and has two grown children as well as six grandchildren. He occasionally gets in touch with his old show business friends and still writes songs, though he is unable to play guitar due to spinal nerve injuries. Hodges rode out Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and informed his fans that he was fine after being without water, electricity and telephone/internet contact for 19 days until the utilities were finally restored.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1959A Hole in the HeadAlly Manetta
1960The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn
1962Advise and ConsentJohnny Leffingwell
1963Summer MagicGilly Carey
1967C'mon, Let's Live a LittleEddie Stewart
1967The Happiest MillionaireLivingston
1968Live a Little, Love a LittleDelivery Boy

References
  1. Former Child Star Central. Members.tripod.com. Retrieved on August 23, 2017.
  2. classicmoviekids.com Archived April 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. classicmoviekids.com. Retrieved on August 23, 2017.
  3. Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 196. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  4. The Broadway League. "The official source for Broadway Information". IBDB. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  5. "What's My Line? - Eddie Hodges; Ben Gazzara [panel] (Aug 2, 1959)". YouTube. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  6. "I´m gonna knock on your door - Eddie Hodges". YouTube. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  7. "Miss. Man Gives friend Grammy-Like Gift 'From the Heart'". WLTX 19, a Gannett Company. April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  8. "Eddie Hodges page in Classic Movie Kids, featuring child stars of yesteryear". Classicmoviekids.com. March 5, 1947. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.

Bibliography
  • Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 264.

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