Clifton Clowers Was Real

Clifton Clowers (1891-1994), a World War I veteran, was the subject of the 1962 hit song, “Wolverton Mountain,” the lyrics of which begin:

“They say don’t go on Wolverton Mountain
If you’re looking for a wife
‘Cause Clifton Clowers has a pretty young daughter
He’s mighty handy with a gun and a knife.”

What the lyrics don’t tell you is that Clowers, never actually carried a gun. In fact, he was a highly educated man who could read and write both Latin and Greek, as well as play several musical instruments, not to mention play a fine game of chess.

He lived to a ripe old age, played dominoes and the mandolin until his dying days, and drove a well-matched team of mules.

According to folk who knew Clifton Clowers, he was friendly, sociable and just a darn good citizen. In fact, he was happily married, a deacon in the Baptist church, and lived until he was 102. He’s buried in the Woolverton Mountain Cemetery.

He was asked many times what his secret was to his longevity in life. His answer was always the same, “A firm belief in God. No alcohol or tobacco.”

“Wolverton Mountain” was co-written by Merle Kilgore as a birthday present for Clifton Clowers, his uncle.

Kilgore was a friend of Hank Williams, and he co-wrote the song “Ring of Fire” with June Carter Cash.

Kilgore started at the bottom in the music business when, as a kid, he used to carry the guitar of Hank Williams. Many years later, Kilgore went from gofer to become the manager of Hank’s son, Hank Williams Junior.

Clowers lived on Woolverton Mountain (the spelling was changed for the song), located 4 miles north of Center Ridge, Arkansas.

As for King, he was more interested in sports than music, but eventually he picked up a guitar and a country music career began.

He was born in 1923 and appeared on shows with various “unknowns” like Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash. And while those artists all went on to international stardom, King really only made it internationally with just the one song.

The song spent nine weeks at the top of the Billboard country chart in the United States in June and July 1962.

The crossover hit, “Wolverton Mountain” reached number six on the Billboard 100 pop chart and number three on the easy listening chart. In Canada, it was number 1 for 3 weeks, and in the top 10 for 7 weeks.