Topic: Chuck Woolery

Charles Herbert "Chuck" Woolery (born March 16, 1941) is an American game show host. He has had long-running tenures hosting several different game shows. He was the original host of Wheel of Fortune from 1975–1981, the original incarnation of Love Connection from 1983–1994, and Scrabble from 1984-1990 (and during a brief revival in 1993). He also hosted Lingo on GSN from 2002–2007, and most recently hosted Think Like a Cat, which premiered on GSN on November 15, 2008. Woolery started out as a singer and has occasionally dabbled in other entertainment roles including acting and talk show hosting.

Woolery was born in Ashland, Kentucky. He is a devout born again Christian and spends a great deal of time involved in volunteering in ministry.

Woolery served two years in the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school. In 1963, Woolery worked for Wasserstrom Wine & Import Company in Columbus, Ohio as a wine consultant, which contributed to his problem with alcoholism that put him in rehab for 4 years of his life. He was also a sales rep for Pillsbury. In the 1960s, Woolery and Elkin "Bubba" Fowler recorded as the musical duo The Avant-Garde which had one-hit wonder success in 1968 with the top 40 pop hit "Naturally Stoned." Also during this time, he sidelined as a truck driver to supplement his income. Between 1977 and 1980, Woolery recorded for Warner Bros. Records and Epic Records as a solo artist.