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Pat Boone Celebrates His 50th Year in Show Business With Multiple-Genre Album Releases Planned

Legendary crooner Pat Boone celebrates 50 years in music in 2005 and 2006 with releases planned in multiple genres including country, gospel and R&B. 2005 alone has seen Boone's release of the patriotic songs album "American Glory," country record "Ready to Rock," and a gospel album, "Glory Train: The Lost Tapes," which features "Thank You, Billy Graham." a star-studded homage to "America's pastor." The video, which is included with every copy of "Glory Train," features contributions from Bono, LeAnn Rimes, Michael McDonald, Andre Crouch, and TV talk-show host Larry King.

Given his youthful appearance and demeanor, it's hard to believe that Pat first topped the charts back in 1955 with a cover of Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame." Over the years, Pat has maintained his pop icon status by continually surprising people with his innovative takes on covers and snappy original tunes.

Pat is still knocking 'em dead at radio (and video), as well. The singles "NASCAR Time" and "Thank You, Billy Graham" are accumulating impressive airplay at stations and outlets around the country. "NASCAR Time," the lead track from the country album, "Ready to Rock," is Pat's tribute to America's favorite pastime and all its major racetracks, at which Pat has made several appearances this year alone.

There's no stopping Pat as he rolls into his 51st year of performing. 2006 heralds the release of a ballad-heavy love song collection, "Hopeless Romantic." The album will feature "Waltz for the Lonely," a song he wrote with guitar great Chet Atkins, which is Atkins' last recorded performance before his death. Also included is "You Make My Life a Song," co-written with Paul Williams as Pat's 50th anniversary present to his beloved wife, Shirley. The first single, "Still Waters Run Deep," has been a smash with the "stepping" crowd in Chicago and is a rising radio hit at AC and Urban formats.

Pat's spring 2006 release, "We Are Family," will be a twist on Sinatra's "Duets" concept featuring covers of R&B classics recorded with their original performers. Included are performances by Smokey Robinson ("Tears of a Clown"), the Four Tops ("I Can't Help Myself") and what Boone calls the piece de resistance, with James Brown doing "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag."

Boone's calling this effort "my big finale, a musical fireworks display," and insists he intends to stop touring next year -- though he knows better than to say "never." "If something comes up that I need to do after that, of course I can do it," he says. "But I do consider this just a giant thanks and farewell."

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