Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

WOOLEY, Sheb

(b 10 April '21, Erick OK; d 16 Sep. 2003, Nashville) Country singer, songwriter, actor. Raised on farm; formed band in high school, worked in oil fields and decided music must be better. Recorded for Bullet in Nashville, guested on radio shows; landed radio show in Fort Worth advertising Calument Baking Powder '46, singing, writing the adverts, creating character the Chief from company's logo. To West Coast late '40s, studied acting, signed with MGM; began writing parodies of hits: 'When Mexican Joe Met Jolie Blon' was a hit for Hank Snow '53. Played in more than 40 films, his best-known role in High Noon '52 as the baddie trying to gun down Gary Cooper. Working on the set of Giant he wrote 'Are You Satisfied?' and had minor hit '55 but the cover by Rusty Draper was bigger. He wrote and recorded the novelty 'The Purple People Eater', a no. 1 pop hit for six weeks '58. 'That's My Pa' '62 made the pop chart but was a no. 1 country hit; he had sporadic hits in that chart for the rest of the decade. Acted in several TV shows including the role of Pete Nolan in 'Rawhide' with Clint Eastwood for five years late '50s-early '60s (and later was in the cast of Eastwood's film The Outlaw Josey Wales). As Ben Colder he made LPs and singles of parodies such as 'Detroit City No. 2' '63, 'Almost Persuaded No. 2' '66, 'Harper Valley P.T.A. (Later That Same Day)' '68; named comic of the year by CMA '68. He was seen on every major country TV show as well as playing bit parts on a great many dramas. Still a real cowboy, he went on a six-day cattle drive in Montana when he was in his 60s. CD Rawhide/How The West Was Won on Bear Family compiled two albums.