The Influential Life and Career of '60s Sitcom Legend Andy Griffith

Born in North Carolina, Andy Griffith was an only child. Things weren't easy for Griffith from the very beginning, as he faced a troubled upbringing. His parents were poor, and he had to live with his relatives until his parents were able to save enough money to afford a house. [SocialIntro]

When Griffith was three years old, his father started to work as a carpenter and gradually managed to buy a family home in an industrial neighborhood. Young Griffith grew up listening to various kinds of music. In school, he was the shyest and most introverted boy in his class.

Griffith was a musical man all along. He learned to play the trombone, while still at school. His love of music led him to attend the University of North Carolina to study music.

After years of teaching, Griffith and his then-wife, Barbara Edwards, decided to make a change in their lives. Barbara was an actress at the time. She and Griffith finally decided to break free and try their luck in the entertainment industry.

One particular monologue from his repertoire, named "What it Was, Was Football", told the story of a person trying to figure out what a football game is all about. In 1953, the monologue was released, under the same name, by Colonial Records. The single became an instant hit!