Spade Cooley
Spade Cooley ( born December 17, 1910 as Donnell Clyde Cooley in Grand, Oklahoma, † November 23, 1969 in Vacaville, California ) was an American country musician, bandleader and actor.
Although Cooley came from a poor family, he was trained in classical music. From a young age he earned with performances at dance events money. 1930th Spade ( the nickname originated in a poker game ) to Los Angeles in the local music scene to try his luck.
He found first as a bit player in the emerging film industry of California employment. In 1934 he was hired by Republic Studio as Roy Rogers' Double. Roy Rogers put it out soon as Fiddler in his backing band a. Early forties, he joined the band of the Singing Cowboys Jimmy Wakeley. This retired soon go out of business and gave him his musicians.
Career
Cooley initially hired other musicians, including the singer Tex Williams. The headquarters of the grown into an orchestra band was the Venice Pier Ballroom on the outskirts of Los Angeles. They played a danceable Western Swing and drew many visitors every evening. The breakthrough came in 1945, when the country charts was achieved with Shame On You number one. The song held for nine weeks at the top of the charts.
In 1946, he threw out after a dispute Tex Williams, and several members followed. Cooley turned unimpressed a new musician. Meanwhile, Spade Cooley And His Orchestra had grown to numerically largest formation in the history of country music. With their catchy sound they made even Bob Wills supremacy in dispute. The flashy and loud Cooley described himself as King of Western Swing.
Also in the film business, it went up. The former received extra now, thanks to increased awareness, more demanding roles. In 1947 he got his own TV show - The Hoffman Hayride - which in California quickly became popular. The band relocated their headquarters in the Santa Monica Ballroom, where she was still a first-rate public attraction.
1949 and 1950 created three B- Western with an extremely low budget, in which Cooley held the hero role.
Decline
Beginning of the fifties was by the interest in western swing, and Cooley suffered setbacks. The choleric quarreled repeatedly with his musicians. Alcohol and Drug Abuse loaded his work. In quick succession, he had two heart attacks. After a failed investment was threatened with financial ruin.
1961 Cooley tortured his second wife, Ella Mae Evans in a drama of jealousy in the presence of their daughter and kicked her to death. In prison, he was a mentor of Glen Sherley, who was a successful country musician was after his release. 1969 Cooley was on leave at short notice for a benefit concert in front of police officers; there he died of a heart attack backstage.