Milton Estes

Milton Esco Estes (May 9, 1914 – August 23, 1963) was an American country music and Southern gospel singer and musician. Estes was a host and house performer at the Grand Ole Opry.

Milton Estes
Birth nameMilton Esco Estes[1]
BornMay 9, 1914
Arthur, Tennessee, United States
OriginNashville, Tennessee, United States
DiedAugust 23, 1963(1963-08-23) (aged 49)[2]
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
GenresCountry
Southern gospel
Occupation(s)Singer
Master of ceremonies
Caller
Songwriter
InstrumentsVoice
Bass
Guitar
Mandolin
Piano[1]
Years active1937–1963
Associated actsPee Wee King
Bill Monroe

Early life

Milton Esco Estes was born on May 9, 1914, in Arthur, Tennessee.[1][3]

Career

Estes moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and in 1937, he debuted as a singer and MC at the Grand Ole Opry with Pee Wee King’s Golden West Cowboys. With Pee Wee King, he performed with Tommy Sosebee, Redd Stewart, Eddy Arnold and Cowboy Copas.[3] Estes sang bass.[4]

In 1941,[1] Estes moved from Nashville to Raleigh, North Carolina. He left country music and began performing Southern gospel music. He became lead singer for Lone Star Quartet, a group originally from Texas. The group was popular in Raleigh and were regulars on WPTF. In 1946, Estes moved back to Nashville and began performing in country music again, though he often wove gospel music into his country performances. He was a main performer for the Grand Ole Opry and bandleader of the Musical Millers.[3] As Milton Estes and his Musical Millers, he recorded ten singles, and four solo, for Decca Records in 1947 and 1949, including a cover of A House of Gold.[5] He also hosted the Martha White sponsored segments as the "flour peddler".[1][3] Estes also hosted morning and afternoon radio shows, including Noontime Neighbors with Owen Bradley,[1] on WSM. On WSM, his guests included Lew Childre and Jimmie Selph.[3]

In the 1950s, Estes co-wrote "20/20 Vision and Walking Around Blind" with Joe Allison. The song was recorded by Gene Autry and Jimmy Martin. Estes was also a square dance caller. He called dances at the Opry and also performed on square dancing music records. Estes moved to Detroit in 1953, where he promoted Grand Old Opry musicians and MC'd the Motor City Jamboree.[3] In 1954, he recorded vocals on four Bill Monroe and the Blues Grass Boys singles, including recordings of I'm Working on a Building.[5] He relocated to Columbus, Georgia, where he worked as a television announcer.[3]

Later life

By the time of his death on August 23, 1963,[2] Estes was living in Oklahoma City.[3] He is buried at Drummonds Cemetery in Tazewell, Tennessee.[6]

References
  1. The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. 1 February 2012. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-19-992083-9.
  2. "Milton Estes". Hillbilly Music. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  3. "Estes: From Claiborne Co. to Grand Ole Opry". Middlesboro Daily News. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. Neil V. Rosenberg; Charles K. Wolfe (2007). The Music of Bill Monroe. University of Illinois Press. pp. 94–. ISBN 978-0-252-03121-2.
  5. "Milton Estes (vocalist) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". Discography of American Historical Recordings. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  6. "Milton E Estes". Find A Grave. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
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