Happy Hal Burns, 1955 Publicity Photo

Happy Hal Burns, 1955 Publicity Photo

Happy Hal Burns (Harold Frank Byrnes) was a popular, longtime Birmingham radio personality and a mentor to many of the city’s “hillbilly” and country acts, including Hank Penny, Sidney “Hardrock” Gunter, and Gordon Edwards “Country Boy Eddie” Burns (no relation). Born in Muleshoe, Texas, Happy Hal spent his childhood in and out of orphanages before running away to join the army. In California, he worked as a disc jockey, appeared in singing cowboy films, and managed the legendary Bob Wills, before moving to Birmingham around 1934 and establishing himself on local radio.

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