Jimmy Wakely

James Clarence Wakely (February 16, 1914 – September 23, 1982) was an American actor, songwriter, country music vocalist, and one of the last singing cowboys. During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, he released records, 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. His duet singles with Margaret Whiting from 1949 until 1951, produced a string of top seven hits, including 1949's number one hit on the US country chart and pop music chart, "Slippin' Around". Wakely owned two music publishing companies in later years, and performed at the Grand Ole Opry until shortly before his death.

Biography Early years Wakely was born in Howard County, Arkansas, but his family moved to Rosedale, Oklahoma by 1920.

Country musician In 1937 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he 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. In 1941, The Jimmy Wakely Trio appeared in Hopalong Cassidy films Twilight on the Trail and Stick to Your Guns, singing songs such as "Lonesome Guitar", "My Kind of Country", and "Twilight on the Trail". In the 1940s, Wakely groups provided songs and musical support for several B-western movies, including appearances with: the Range Busters at Monogram Pictures Don "Red" Barry at Republic Pictures Johnny Mack Brown and Tex Ritter at Universal Pictures Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures Wakely made only one film with Autry, Heart of the Rio Grande, at Republic in 1942.

Recording company In the 1960s and 1970s, Wakely developed Shasta Records and owned two music publishing companies.

Later years Later in life, Wakely performed at the Grand Ole Opry and 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 made appearances at Western film nostalgia conventions and continued personal appearances and stage shows, often with his daughter Linda and son Johnny in the act. 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.

1952 "Love Song of the Waterfall" (c/w "Goodbye, Little Girl")

1956 "The Call of the Canyon"

Collaborations Year Single Artist Chart Positions 1949 "Slippin' Around" Margaret Whiting 1 1 "Wedding Bells" 6 30 "I'll Never Slip Around Again" 2 8 1950 "Broken Down Merry-Go-Round" 2 12 "The Gods Were Angry with Me" 3 17 "Let's Go to Church (Next Sunday Morning)" 2 13 "A Bushel and a Peck" 6 6 1951 "My Heart Cries for You" Les Baxter 7 12 "Beautiful Brown Eyes" 5 12 "When You and I Were Young Maggie Blues" Margaret Whiting 7 20 "I Don't Want to Be Free" 5

Filmography

Movies This is a partial list of his movie credits, most of them are Westerns:

Money, Women and Guns (1959) Arrow in the Dust (1954) The Marshal's Daughter (1953) 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) The 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) The 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)

Radio The Jimmy Wakely Show (1952–1958) Melody Ranch (1940–1942) CBS Hollywood Barn Dance (1945–1947)

Television Wakely appeared as himself on several TV shows including: The Jimmy Wakely TV Show(1950s) The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) Toast of the Town (1951) Ozark Jubilee (ABC, 1956–58, 60) Country Hoedown (late 1950s, syndicated) sponsored by US Navy Recruiting Five Star Jubilee (NBC, 1961) Here's Hollywood (1961)