Singer Pat Boone Tells All in New Book Pat Boone calls it his museum. The walls of his office are covered with paintings and photos of the singer in his prime, as well as covers of his albums, which sold in the millions — more than Elvis. There's a bronzed bust of the singer as a young man, a bronzed pair of his signature white buck shoes and a box containing a worn catcher's mask sent after Boone was seriously injured while bicycling.
Next time use this. Francis Albert" — as in Sinatra. Despite his wall to wall memorabilia, Pat Boone doesn't live in the past.
He just returned from Arizona where he gave concerts for retirees. Last year, he recorded five new albums, which he released under his own record label. He and his wife, Shirley, remain active in church work.
And, he's also promoting a new book, "Pat Boone's America 50 Years." It's one of those volumes called coffee-table books — large-size, 156 pages jammed with 200 photos and an autobiography as well as some comments about his causes, including anti-abortion. "The book is part of a trilogy," Boone said.
"When I was 21-22, I was getting 5,000 letters a week from young people. Many asked for advice that they couldn't get from other sources. I wanted to write a book that would answer those letters.
" He called it "Twixt 12 and 20." Years later, he wrote "My New Song," which told of his spiritual journey. "I got on my soapbox," he said of the new book.
"It seemed to me that it was an opportunity to say to my fellow citizens that America has become something different to the world." His dark hair slightly tinged with gray, Boone is a rugged 72, thanks to daily workouts and sensible diet. In an interview, he talked about his movie career and why it came to a halt.
Boone's fame with records, concerts and TV in the mid-1960s prompted 20th Century Fox to sign him to a movie contract. He starred in musicals and dramas such as "April Love," "Mardi Gras," "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "State Fair." Then the studio offered him a role opposite Marilyn Monroe in a film based on William Inge's play "Celebration.
" "Believe me, I would have loved to play opposite Marilyn Monroe," Boone said.
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