Jimmy Wakely Born On This Date 1914
James Clarence Wakeley (February 16, 1914–September 23, 1982), better known as Jimmy Wakely, was an American country-Western singer and actor, one of filmdom's last dying breed of "B" crooning cowpokes following WWII. Jimmy Wakely had many talents (singing, songwriting, guitar-playing) and performed in many venues (radio, film, TV, rodeos, clubs) over his career. He was born in Mineola, Howard County, Arkansas on February 16, 1914 to Major Anderson Wakeley and Caroline (or Carolin) "Cali" Wakeley (née Burgess). His family moved to Rosedale, Oklahoma by 1920. As a teenager, he changed James to Jimmy and his last name to Wakely, dropping the second "e".
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.
Wakely was never as natural an actor as Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, but his voice was attractive and his 28 Westerns were reasonably successful in their time. Amid Wakely's work in B Westerns, his recording career thrived, as he began recording a uniquely sophisticated array of country, cowboy, and pop songs. His string began with his own "Song of the Sierras," a richly atmospheric ballad that presented his voice in a deep, serious light. His first major crossover hit followed a year later in 1948 with "One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)," a touching song about a tragic romantic triangle that reached the top spot on the country & western charts and the Top Ten on the pop charts.His duet singles with Margaret Whiting from 1949–51 produced a string of top seven hits, including 1949's number one hit on the US country and pop music charts, "Slippin' Around." Wakely owned two music publishing companies in later years and performed at the Grand Ole Opry until shortly before his death. It was inevitable from all of this success that Wakely would become a media star. In 1952, he became the star of The Jimmy Wakely Show on the CBS radio network. After co-hosting the ABC television network series Five Star Jubilee in 1961 with Tex Ritter, he continued to record for his own Shasta Records label, which he founded as a mail-order distribution company in the mid-'60s. He continued to perform live in an act that included his son and daughter, and remained popular during the 1970s, until age and health problems began taking their toll. Wakely died of emphysema in 1982.
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.
Wakely was never as natural an actor as Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, but his voice was attractive and his 28 Westerns were reasonably successful in their time. Amid Wakely's work in B Westerns, his recording career thrived, as he began recording a uniquely sophisticated array of country, cowboy, and pop songs. His string began with his own "Song of the Sierras," a richly atmospheric ballad that presented his voice in a deep, serious light. His first major crossover hit followed a year later in 1948 with "One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)," a touching song about a tragic romantic triangle that reached the top spot on the country & western charts and the Top Ten on the pop charts.His duet singles with Margaret Whiting from 1949–51 produced a string of top seven hits, including 1949's number one hit on the US country and pop music charts, "Slippin' Around." Wakely owned two music publishing companies in later years and performed at the Grand Ole Opry until shortly before his death. It was inevitable from all of this success that Wakely would become a media star. In 1952, he became the star of The Jimmy Wakely Show on the CBS radio network. After co-hosting the ABC television network series Five Star Jubilee in 1961 with Tex Ritter, he continued to record for his own Shasta Records label, which he founded as a mail-order distribution company in the mid-'60s. He continued to perform live in an act that included his son and daughter, and remained popular during the 1970s, until age and health problems began taking their toll. Wakely died of emphysema in 1982.
"I joined (dad's band) right out of high school and two years later, Johnny (brother) did the same thing. It was a wonderful life for me. We worked the Mint and Golden Nugget in Vegas, Harrah's Club in Reno, and Lake Tahoe from 1960-1969 ... several times a year. And we also played one of Daddy's favorite places: Cactus Pete's in Jackpot, Nevada where he played Keno and golf and just loved it there. We worked state fairs and rodeos and supper clubs (not country or western, but with evening clothes and formal suits, etc.). The last ten years Daddy worked, we played mostly the northwest - Washington state and a few places in Oregon. We had a weekly TV show in L.A. We worked for the military - all the bases in Hawaii (Officer and NCO clubs) ... and just about all of them on the north and south west coast as well as home shows, special openings, etc. We also worked several times for the Shrine organization of which Daddy was so proud to be a Freemason and 32º Scottish Rite Mason. He put a show together with Tex Williams, Eddie Dean, Monte Montana, Billy Armstrong (award winning fiddle player), and occasionally a comic. When Pat Butram could join us it was great. It was always a great night of music, songs and fun." - Linda Wakely shortly before her death, April 15, 2008
This clip is from the 1948 Jimmy Wakely western The Rangers Ride. Fiddlin' Arthur Smith is playing in the band but unfortunately the soundtrack is not Artur's fiddling. It is most likely the brilliant lefty swing fiddler Tex Achison who played the fiddle both in Wakely westerns and others of the era. This is a shame for it would have been wonderful to hear Arthur's notes as he clearly has got something going on with his box. (The end of the clip has some fairly decent biography material on Arthur Smith)
"He was a natural and unpretentious singer and his screen appeal rested on his charm, not his muscle or gunplay". - Douglas B. Green (Ranger Doug - Riders In The Sky) in his book Singing In The SaddleWakely was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971 and the Western Music Association Hall of Fame in 1991.
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