Jimmy Wakely

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Jimmy Wakely

Background information
Birth name James Clarence Wakeley
Born February 16, 1914(1914-02-16), Mineola, Howard County, Arkansas, USA
Died September 23, 1982 (aged 68), Mission Hills, California, USA
Genre(s) Country music, Western movies
Occupation(s) Vocalist
Musician
Songwriter
Actor
Instrument(s) Vocals, Guitar
Years active 1939 - 1970s
Label(s) Decca, Capitol, Coral, Dot
Associated acts Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy

Jimmy Wakely (born James Clarence Wakeley February 16, 1914, died September 23, 1982)[1] was an American Country-Western singer and actor, one of the last crooning cowpokes following the Second World War.

During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, he made several Country-Western recordings, appeared in several B-Western movies with most of the major studios, appeared on radio and television, and even had his own series of comic books.

For his work for recording, Wakely has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1680 Vine Street.[2]

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

James Clarence Wakeley was born in Mineola, Howard County, Arkansas on February 16, 1914 to Major Anderson Wakeley and Caroline (or Carolin) "Cali" Wakeley (nee Burgess). As a teenager, he changed James to Jimmy and his last name to Wakely, dropping the second "e".[3]

[edit] Country-Western music

In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1937, Wakely formed "the Bell Boys", a Country-Western singing group named after their Bell Clothing sponsor. The group performed locally, made some recordings, and did frequent radio broadcasts over Oklahoma City's WKY. Johnny Bond, Dick Reinhart, Scotty Harrell and Jack Cheney were members of the Bell Boys and later groups.[3] Over time, Wakely's groups were known as The Jimmy Wakely Trio, Jimmy Wakely and His Saddle Pals, Jimmy Wakely Trio and James Wakely.[1]

During a tour through Oklahoma, Western movie star Gene Autry invited Wakely to come to California. Autry felt the group might be a good addition to his new "Melody Ranch" radio show which debuted on CBS in January, 1940. The Wakely Trio joined the show in mid-1940. Jimmy stayed a couple of years, then left because of movie commitments and a recording contract with Decca Records that ran from 1941-1942 through 1947. Johnny Bond stayed with the show for most of its run (the show left the air in 1956).[3]

[edit] Western movie actor

In 1939, Wakely made his screen debut (with the Jimmy Wakely Trio) in a Roy Rogers Western, Saga of Death Valley.[4]

In the 1940s, Wakely groups provided songs and musical support for several B-western movies, including appearances with:

Interestingly, he made only one Autry film, Heart of the Rio Grande at Republic in 1942.[3] He appeared in 28 Westerns at Monogram between 1944 and 1949.[3][4]

Jimmy also appeared in some non-westerns including I'm from Arkansas in 1944, which is a showcase for a bunch of country and hillbilly performers that bring their comedy, tunes and yodelin' to Pitchfork, Arkansas.[3]

Jimmy Wakely was sometimes referred to as a low-budget Autry in films. His comment on this was: "Everybody reminds somebody of someone else until they are somebody. And I had rather be compared to Gene Autry than anyone else. Through the grace of God and Gene Autry, I got a career."[4]

[edit] Recording career

In 1941-1942, Decca gave Wakeley recording contract that ran until 1947.[3] After leaving films, Jimmy Wakely continued to record, switching to the Columbia label. Though most of his songs were country-western, some crossed over to the pop charts, including collaborations with singer Margaret Whiting and Karen Chandler, and for the Christmas song "Silver Bells".[4]

[edit] Comic books

Similar to other Western film stars of that era, Jimmy Wakely had his own comic book series. DC Comics produced between 1949 and July-August 1952, billing him as "HOLLYWOOD'S SENSATIONAL COWBOY STAR!".[3][4]

[edit] Radio and television appearances

In addition to Autry's "Melody Ranch", he had his own radio show on CBS and co-hosted other shows. He also made several appearances on television variety shows.[3]

[edit] Recording company

In the 1960s and 1970s, he developed Shasta Records and owned two music publishing companies. He converted part of his California ranch into a recording studio, producing recordings for himself as well as for other country western performers, including Tex Williams, Merle Travis, Eddie Dean, Tex Ritter and Rex Allen.[1][3]

[edit] Later years

In his later years, Wakely performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the National Barn Dance. His nightclub act visited Las Vegas, Reno and other venues. He did a Christmas USO Tour with Bob Hope. He made a few recordings on the Coral, Decca/Vocalion and Dot labels. He also made appearances at western film nostalgia conventions and continued with personal appearances and stage shows, often with his daughter Linda and son Johnny in the act.[3]

[edit] The end

After contracting emphysema, Wakely died of heart failure at Mission Hills, California on September 23, 1982.[1] He and his wife, who died in 1997, are interred next to each other in the Court of Remembrance at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles, California.[3]

[edit] Discography

This is a partial list of his recordings[3]

  • Tonight You Belong To Me (1956) duet with Karen Chandler
  • Silver Bells (1950) with Margaret Whiting
  • Signed, Sealed And Delivered
  • I Love You So Much It Hurts
  • Mine All Mine
  • Forever More
  • Till The End Of The World
  • I Wish I Had A Nickel
  • Someday You'll Call My Name
  • Peter Cottontail
  • Mona Lisa
  • My Heart Cries For You
  • Beautiful Brown Eyes
  • I'll Never Slip Around Again
  • Broken Down Merry-Go-Round
  • The Gods Were Angry With Me
  • Let's Go To Church Next Sunday Morning
  • A Bushel And A Peck
  • When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues
  • I Don't Want To Be Free
  • One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) (1948) number one on the country chart

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Movies

This is a partial list of his movie credits, most of them are Westerns:[1][3]

  • Money, Women and Guns (1959)
  • Arrow in the Dust (1954)
  • The Marshal's Daughter (1953)
  • The Lawless Code (1949)
  • Roaring Westward(1949)
  • Brand of Fear (1949)
  • Across the Rio Grande (1949)
  • Gun Law Justice (1949)
  • Gun Runner (1949)
  • Courtin' Trouble (1948)
  • Outlaw Brand (1948)
  • Silver Trails (1948)
  • Cowboy Cavalier (1948)
  • Range Renegades (1948)
  • Partners of the Sunset (1948)
  • The Rangers Ride (1948)
  • Oklahoma Blues (1948)
  • Song of the Drifter (1948)
  • Ridin' Down the Trail (1947)
  • Song of the Wasteland (1947)
  • Six-Gun Serenade (1947)
  • Rainbow Over the Rockies (1947)
  • Song of the Sierras (1946)
  • Trail to Mexico (1946)
  • West of the Alamo (1946)
  • Moon Over Montana (1946)
  • Lonesome Trail (1945)
  • Riders of the Dawn (1945)
  • Saddle Serenade (1945)
  • Springtime in Texas (1945)
  • Montana Plains (1945)
  • Rough Ridin' Justice (1945)
  • Sagebrush Heroes (1945)
  • Of the Range (1944)
  • Git Along Little Pony (1944)
  • Saddle Leather Law (1944)
  • Song of the Range (1944)
  • Cyclone Prairie Rangers (1944)
  • I'm from Arkansas (1944)
  • Cowboy from Lonesome River (1944)
  • Swing in the Saddle (1944)
  • Sundown Valley (1944)
  • Cowboy Canteen (1944)
  • Cowboy in the Clouds (1943)
  • Lone Star Trail (1943)
  • Robin Hood of the Range (1943)
  • Raiders of San Joaquin (1943)
  • Cheyenne Roundup (1943)
  • Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground (1943)
  • The Old Chisholm Trail (1942)
  • Strictly in the Groove (1942)
  • Little Joe, the Wrangler (1942)
  • Deep in the Heart of Texas (1942)
  • Come on Danger (1942)
  • Heart of the Rio Grande (1942)
  • Twilight on the Trail (1941)
  • Stick to Your Guns (1941)
  • Redskins and Redheads (1941)
  • Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie (1941)
  • Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga (1941)
  • Pony Post (1940)
  • Texas Terrors (1940)
  • Give Us Wings (1940)
  • The Tulsa Kid (1940)
  • Saga of Death Valley (1939)
  • Ridin' Down the Trail (1939)

[edit] Radio

  • The Jimmy Wakely Show (1952-1958)[3][1]
  • Melody Ranch (1940-1942)[3]

[edit] Television

Jimmy Wakely appeared as himself on several TV shows including:

  • Five Star Jubilee (1961)[3][1]
  • Here's Hollywood (1961)[1]
  • Country Hoedown (late 1950s, syndicated) sponsored by US Navy Recruiting[3]
  • Toast of the Town (1951)[1]
  • The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)[1]
  • CBS Hollywood Barn Dance (1945-1947)[3]

[edit] Awards and honors

Jimmy Wakely was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971 and the Western Music Association Hall of Fame in 1991.

[edit] Personal life

Wakely married Dora Inez Miser on Friday the 13th, December 13, 1935. They had four children: Deanna, Carol, Linda and son Johnny. Their marriage lasted until his death in 1982.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wakely, Jimmy. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
  2. ^ Wakely, Jimmy. Hollywood Walk of Fame Directory. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Wakely, Jimmy. B-Westerns. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
  4. ^ a b c d e Wakely, Jimmy. All Movies. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
  • Seemann, Charlie (1998). "Jimmy Wakely". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 566.

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Wakely, Jimmy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wakeley, James Clarence
SHORT DESCRIPTION American Country-Western singer and actor
DATE OF BIRTH February 16, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH Mineola, Howard County, Arkansas, USA
DATE OF DEATH September 23, 1982
PLACE OF DEATH Mission Hills, California, USA