Bobby Lord, who died on 16 February, 2008, aged 74, was a velvet-voiced singer who was one of the most frequent faces on country music television during the 1950s and ’60s.

He recorded more than 90 singles and appeared on the most popular shows of the day, as both performer and host. But despite several top 10 country hits, an internationally syndicated show and praise for his interviewing, he never matched his own expectations of success and gave up performing at 35.

Mr Lord was born on 6 January, 1934, in Sanford, Florida. Although he had won numerous talent shows during his high school years and been invited to perform on local radio and TV, he never thought he could make anything from music and was preparing for a career in his father’s garage.

However, fate had different ideas. One day he received a telephone call from the director of a local television show he had previously guested on, desperate because his regular host had been "taken ill". The singer agreed to stand in and put together a band in less than 48 hours.

Before long the Bobby Lord Homefolks Show had been increased from 30 minutes to an hour. At 19, he became the youngest artist to sign for Columbia Records after a demo of his had found its way to their studios. In 1955 he became one of the regular performers on the Ozark Jubilee, an ABC show hosted by Red Foley.

Over the next five years he released a string of hit rockabilly and country singles. When the Ozark Jubilee stopped broadcasting in 1960, he relocated from Missouri to Nashville, signing with both Hickory Records and the Grand Ole Opry, the legendary weekly radio show broadcast from the venue of the same name.

At the height of his career Bobby Lord associated with the biggest names in the business, including Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash and June Carter. He even tried to help a young Elvis Presley get early gigs. But his record sales never matched those of his friends, much to his chagrin.

On the other hand, he was extremely proud that the Bobby Lord Show, which began in 1965, was being syndicated across the States and in 34 other countries, leading to his first European tour.

But it wasn’t enough to satisfy his ambition. "I told myself," he later revealed, "if I had not reached the pinnacle of success I wanted to reach by the time I was 35, I would quit and do something else."

That is exactly what he did in 1969, leaving Nashville for Florida where he set up a successful real estate business. He did return to recording briefly in the early 70s and made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1975, but was largely happy to spend time with his family and indulge in outdoor hobbies.

It was these that led to a second entertainment career, hosting the country pursuits show Celebrity Outdoors during the 1980s. During this time he also set up another successful, multi-million dollar business, selling insurance.

In 1989, he quit television for the second time to spend more time with his wife and high school sweetheart Mozelle, their three children and seven grandchildren, handing down his business interests to his youngest son Cabot in 2002. He died in hospital near his Jensen Beach home after a lengthy illness.