He received further musical training while serving with the US Navy in World War II, when he performed with the Fourth Fleet Band.

[1][2] After his discharge, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and from 1947 played in Smilin' Eddie Hill's band and on local radio and TV shows.

He also recorded in Nashville, and in 1952 joined a Grand Ole Opry tour that performed at the Astor Hotel in New York City.

He performed extensively at the Grand Ole Opry in the 1950s and 1960s, with musicians including Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, and Willie Nelson.

[1][2] He was also responsible for adapting a vocal chart to be followed by studio instrumentalists who did not read music, which became known as the Nashville Number System.