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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOOLEY, Spade(b Donnell Clyde Cooley, 17 December 1910, Pack Saddle Creek OK; d November 1969, Oakland CA) Singer, fiddler, leader; nickname from playing cards. He played with bands at Venice Pier Ballroom (Venice CA), started his own band and opened a Santa Monica ballroom, keeping it filled during WWII when many ballrooms were losing money because of fuel rationing. His no. 1 record on the hillbilly chart (as it was then called) was 'Shame On You' '45. He had a popular radio show; his 25-piece band had Tex Williams as vocalist, not recorded in the studio at its peak because of the musicians' union strike; he made western films (Outlaws of the Rockies '45) and musical shorts; had a show on the first commercial TV station in Los Angeles '47. The influence of the Western Swing genre is still aound; the foremost practioner for some years has been Asleep at the Wheel. In its heyday Bob Wills was the king, but it suffered because the very popular Milton Brown was killed in a car crash '36; meanwhile the dance hall business was staggering after WWII. Cooley was allegedly booked into Carnegie Hall c.1958 and the concert cancelled because of poor ticket sales. He drank heavily, had heart attacks, then killed his estranged second wife in July '61 and was sentenced to life in prison. Allowed out to play a benefit concert, he had a final heart attack. A Club of Spade label made available eight albums including volumes of Best Of radio transcriptions, Mr Music Himself, Spade Cooley And Tex Williams; there was also Swinging The Devil's Dream on Charly UK; The Essential '44-6 on a Columbia CD in the USA. |