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On this day, January 20, 1923, Slim Whitman was born.
One hundred and one years ago today
Slim Whitman
Whitman in 1968
Born: January 20, 1923; Oak Park, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Died: June 19, 2013 (aged 90); Orange Park, Florida, U.S.
Website: http://www.slimenet.com
Ottis Dewey Whitman (January 20, 1923 – June 19, 2013) known by stage name Slim Whitman, was an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his yodeling abilities and his use of falsetto. He personally stated that he had sold in excess of 120 million records, although the recorded sales figures give 70 million, during a career that spanned over seven decades, and consisted of a prolific output of over 100 albums and around 500 recorded songs, that not only consisted of country music, but also of contemporary gospel, Broadway show tunes, love songs and standards. In the 1950s, Whitman toured with Elvis Presley as the opening act. In the 1990s and 2000s a new generation was exposed to Whitman through his songs featured in the film Mars Attacks!; his famed "Indian Love Call" would kill the invading Martians every time the record was played and his rendition of "I Remember You" was heard in Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses.
{snip}
Biography
Whitman was born in Oak Park, Tampa, Florida, on January 20, 1923, one of six siblings, to Otis and Lucy Whitman. Growing up, he liked the country music of Jimmie Rodgers and the songs of Gene Autry, but he did not embark on a musical career of his own until the end of World War II, after he had served in the South Pacific with the United States Navy. Whilst aboard ship he would sing and entertain members aboard. This resulted in the captain blocking his transfer to another ship—hence saving his life, as the other ship later sank with no surviving hands. Whitman's early ambitions were to become either a boxer or a professional baseball player.
Whitman was a self-taught left-handed guitarist, though he was right-handed. He had lost almost all of the second finger on his left hand in an accident while working at a meat packing plant. He worked odd jobs at a Tampa shipyard while developing a musical career, eventually performing with bands known as the Variety Rhythm Boys and the Light Crust Doughboys. He was briefly nicknamed The Smiling Starduster after a stint with a group called The Stardusters. Whitman's first big break came when talent manager "Colonel" Thomas Parker heard him singing on the radio and offered to represent him. After signing with RCA Records, he was billed as "the cowboy singer Slim Whitman", after Canadian singer Wilf Carter, who was known in the United States as Montana Slim. Whitman released his first single in 1948, "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards The Sky", complete with yodel. He toured and sang in a variety of venues, including the radio show Louisiana Hayride.
{snip}
Whitman in 1968
Born: January 20, 1923; Oak Park, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Died: June 19, 2013 (aged 90); Orange Park, Florida, U.S.
Website: http://www.slimenet.com
Ottis Dewey Whitman (January 20, 1923 – June 19, 2013) known by stage name Slim Whitman, was an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his yodeling abilities and his use of falsetto. He personally stated that he had sold in excess of 120 million records, although the recorded sales figures give 70 million, during a career that spanned over seven decades, and consisted of a prolific output of over 100 albums and around 500 recorded songs, that not only consisted of country music, but also of contemporary gospel, Broadway show tunes, love songs and standards. In the 1950s, Whitman toured with Elvis Presley as the opening act. In the 1990s and 2000s a new generation was exposed to Whitman through his songs featured in the film Mars Attacks!; his famed "Indian Love Call" would kill the invading Martians every time the record was played and his rendition of "I Remember You" was heard in Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses.
{snip}
Biography
Whitman was born in Oak Park, Tampa, Florida, on January 20, 1923, one of six siblings, to Otis and Lucy Whitman. Growing up, he liked the country music of Jimmie Rodgers and the songs of Gene Autry, but he did not embark on a musical career of his own until the end of World War II, after he had served in the South Pacific with the United States Navy. Whilst aboard ship he would sing and entertain members aboard. This resulted in the captain blocking his transfer to another ship—hence saving his life, as the other ship later sank with no surviving hands. Whitman's early ambitions were to become either a boxer or a professional baseball player.
Whitman was a self-taught left-handed guitarist, though he was right-handed. He had lost almost all of the second finger on his left hand in an accident while working at a meat packing plant. He worked odd jobs at a Tampa shipyard while developing a musical career, eventually performing with bands known as the Variety Rhythm Boys and the Light Crust Doughboys. He was briefly nicknamed The Smiling Starduster after a stint with a group called The Stardusters. Whitman's first big break came when talent manager "Colonel" Thomas Parker heard him singing on the radio and offered to represent him. After signing with RCA Records, he was billed as "the cowboy singer Slim Whitman", after Canadian singer Wilf Carter, who was known in the United States as Montana Slim. Whitman released his first single in 1948, "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards The Sky", complete with yodel. He toured and sang in a variety of venues, including the radio show Louisiana Hayride.
{snip}
I'm working on this song for my next office-wide meeting. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics.
I Remember You (1941 song)
Slim Whitman,I remember you
272,571 views • Nov 15, 2008
wim pas
1.72K subscribers
I Remember You
272,571 views • Nov 15, 2008
wim pas
1.72K subscribers
I Remember You
Another hit of his:
Slim Whitman "Rose Marie"
1,071,520 views • Apr 24, 2008
David Bates
5.22K subscribers
a legend in the country music world there was rumours that he died earlier this year but they were wrong he is still going strong at 84. that was back in 2008 but sadly he did pass away this year 2013
1,071,520 views • Apr 24, 2008
David Bates
5.22K subscribers
a legend in the country music world there was rumours that he died earlier this year but they were wrong he is still going strong at 84. that was back in 2008 but sadly he did pass away this year 2013
I absolutely love this cover. It has been blocked. It was Andy Kaufman on Letterman, doing his Elvis impersonation. Andy Kaufman was a big fan of Slim Whitman.
Sat Nov 18, 2023: On this day, November 18, 1909, Johnny Mercer was born.
Fri Jan 20, 2023: On this day, January 20, 1923, Slim Whitman was born.
Thu Jan 20, 2022: On this day, January 20, 1923, Slim Whitman was born.
Fri Jan 22, 2021: On January 20, 1923, Slim Whitman was born.
Wed Jan 22, 2020: On January 20, 1923, Slim Whitman was born.
Friday, January 19, 2018, with edits: A very special "happy 95th birthday" to January 20's honoree, Slim Whitman
4 replies
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