‘Purple People Eater’, 1958 Sheb Wooley’s ‘Purple People Eater’ stayed at No. 1 in the US charts for six weeks. Despite being a serious country musician since 1945, Wooley’s hit was a comedy song that parodied popular culture’s horror-movie craze. Wooley had to fight with his record label to get the song released, and despite its success, he ...
(Vocals, guitar, comedian, songwriter, actor, 1921–2003) With a career that cut across the entertainment industry, Oklahoma’s Sheb Wooley started out a country singer and songwriter but, with a few acting lessons behind him, arrived in Hollywood and became a much sought-after western character actor. His most famed roles were in High Noon and ...
(Musician, bandleader, 1924–2000) Merle Haggard called him the ‘Grandpappy of Bakersfield’ and, during his 14 years leading The Orange Blossom Playboys at the town’s hottest honky-tonk, the Blackboard, he employed both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, who were to define the Bakersfield Sound. A Texan by birth, he perfected his musical skills by entertaining ...
‘Cry Me A River’, 1955 ‘Cry Me A River’ was a US No. 2 hit single for Julie London, thanks in part to her involvement in the movie, The Girl Can’t Help It. In the film, London appears during a fantasy scene in press agent Tom Miller’s apartment and sings the song to him. Despite an extensive movie ...
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David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
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