Today's birthday boy, the "King of Western Swing," Spade Cooley

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Spade Cooley



Donnell Clyde Cooley (December 17, 1910 – November 23, 1969), better known as Spade Cooley, was an American Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality. His career ended in 1961 when he was arrested and convicted for the murder of his second wife, Ella Mae Evans.
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Music career
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The film short Spade Cooley: King of Western Swing was filmed in May 1945 and released September 1, 1945. It was followed by Melody Stampede released on November 8, 1945. Spade Cooley & His Orchestra came out in 1949. In 1950, Cooley had significant roles in several films.

In the summer of 1946, the Cooley band fragmented after the bandleader fired Tex Williams, who had offers to record on his own. A number of key sidemen, including guitarist Johnny Weis, left with Williams, who formed the Western Caravan, which incorporated a sound similar to Cooley's. Williams had his hit recording of "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" in 1948. Cooley reconstituted his band with former Bob Wills sidemen, including steel guitarist Noel Boggs and the guitar ensemble of Jimmy Wyble and Cameron Hill. He also added full brass and reed sections to the band.

Beginning in June 1948, Cooley began hosting a variety show on KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, California broadcast from the Santa Monica Pier Ballroom. The show became a mainstay of television in the area, and won local Emmy awards in 1952 and 1953. Guests included Frankie Laine, Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore. The Hoffman Hayride was so popular that an estimated 75 percent of all televisions in the L.A. area were tuned into the show each Saturday night. Making use of video transcriptions, The Spade Cooley Show was viewed coast-to-coast via the Paramount Television Network. KTLA eventually cancelled Cooley's program and replaced it with a competing show brought over from KCOP, Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree.

Western swing is just like glam -- you can never get too much of it. Here is Spade Cooley: King of Western Swing:

This might be the only video ever made that has both a harp and a steel guitar:

[Brother Buzz]

1. Interesting side note: Lawrence Welk and his white bread Champagne Music Makers...

usurped Spade Cooley's popularity, using the same venue at the Santa Monica pier ballroom three years later, with the same radio station, KTLA-TV.

It's really a shame genuine western swing cowboy music didn't gain a bigger following. Would have, could have, should have been.

[unc70]

2. You are probably right about harp and steel guitar

There was also a fine bit of yodeling in the penultimate number.