English teacher-turned-songwriter Arlie Duff showed an interest in music at an early age. Born in Jacks Branch, near Warren, TX, he began singing with his father and sister Lois as The Duff Trio. They performed gospel songs at singing conventions and school shows. While attending Nederland High School, Duff was an All-State basketball player. 

 

After graduation, he served for three years in the Navy during World War II. Returning from the war, he attended Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas, earning a Master's in Education. 

 

Duff coached and taught in Deweyville and Warren, Texas, where he adopted the nickname "The Singin' Schoolteacher." Duff released as his fourth single for the Beaumont based Starday label, the song "Y'all Come" (1953) went to the seventh slot on the country music charts and spawned countless renditions by other artists, including George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bing Crosby, Patti Page, and Bobby Vinton. 

 

In 1954 Duff was the featured regular performer on KNUZ-TV's Houston Hometown Jamboree, and "Y'all Come" became its theme song. Later that year, he performed on The Louisiana Hayride and joined the cast of Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee. Duff continued to write hits throughout the fifties, including "Another Story" recorded by Ernest Tubb, "It's the Little Things" for Sonny James, and "Alligator Came Across," a minor hit recorded 

under his own name.