Memories from the Homestead: Remembering the King of Western Swing, Spade Cooley

     Grand, Oklahoma was the birthplace of Donnell Clyde Cooley, born December 17, 1910.  His life is maybe a bit difficult to describe. I'd call it rags-to-riches-to-disgrace. But one thing in particular grabbed my attention when I was introduced to his music in 1994. His fiddling and his band were always brilliant. 

     Cooley's beginnings in Day County, now known as Ellis County, were in a poverty stricken region of Western Oklahoma. Grand was located near the Texas/Oklahoma border, and area often referred to as "no man's land." Today, Grand is a ghost town. 

Spade Cooley and the Sons of the Pioneers would work together in 1949 and 1950. Here they are together on the set of the Lippert Pictures film, "Everybody's Dancin'." Left to right are Hugh Farr, Tommy Doss, Ken Curtis, Spade Cooley,  Lloyd Perryman,  Karl Farr and Shug Fisher. (Photo courtesy of the Sons of the Pioneers Museum)

     Cooley's musical influence was his father John, a talented fiddler, who often played local dances. He would later receive formal training in Oregon from a school teacher, becoming familiar with cello and violin.

    Being part Cherokee, the family moved to Salem, Oregon, where he attended the Chemawa Indian School. In 1930, the Cooleys moved to California.   

     He was given the nickname "Spade" after participating in a poker game where he won three straight flush hands, all in spades.

     It was in Venice, California at the famous Venice Pier Ballroom where Spade got his professional start in music. He took a fiddle position with Jimmy Wakely who was leading weekly dances in front of thousands of guests. When Wakely signed his movie deal with Universal, Spade took over as the bandleader.

     Cooley would conduct his own orchestra throughout most of the 1940s. It was during this time when he wrote "Shame on You" with Tex Williams doing the vocal. This was released on the Okeh label in early 1945 and it climbed to the top of the charts.

     Between 1945 and 1950, Cooley appeared in 38 Western films, many of which were low budget and didn't get a lot of attention. He recorded at one time or another on all three major labels, Decca, Columbia and RCA, signing with them in 1948. Known for releasing box sets that focused on square dances, he backed cowboy superstar Roy Rogers on two square dance themed releases, one in 1940 and another in 1949.

     On January 3, 1950, Cooley with his orchestra along with Noel Boggs on steel guitar, Muddy Berry on drums, and John Haynes on piano, recorded fabulous versions of "The Last Round-Up" and "Wagon Wheels" with the vocals being performed by the legendary Sons of the Pioneers. These RCA releases were very successful and  can be heard on YouTube. Search for Spade Cooley and type in each of the above song titles to hear these impressive records. By the way, Ken Curtis (Festus on Gunsmoke) will be the middle voice in the Pioneers vocal trio on those cuts.

     Cooley and the Sons of the Pioneers would also do a movie together, released on March 31, 1950, by Lippert Pictures. "Everybody's Dancin'."  This particular film was also very low budget; the Pioneers sang two songs. The film is about a dance hall owner who is about to lose his business unless he can find some big name acts.  It's an excellent Country-Western musical, and is one of my personal favorites. The Pioneers are featured well with no interruptions. Check out this 65-minute film on YouTube. 

     Spade would remain Los Angeles based with a KTLA television series, “The Spade Cooley Show,” which made its debut in 1948. The series did very well. Broadcast from the Santa Monica Ballroom on the pier, the musical variety show won Emmys in 1952 and 1953.

     Cooley's television series ran through 1956, and he announced his retirement from show business in 1960. "Fidoolin'" was his last recorded project in 1959. It was reissued on CD in 2004.

     And unfortunately, here's where things really didn't end so well for the King of Western Swing. In 1961, Cooley was convicted for the murder of his second wife, Ella Mae Evans. After serving an eight-year prison sentence, he was to be released on parole which was to become active in February 1970. On November 23, 1969, Cooley was given a 72-hour furlough to play a concert in Oakland for the Deputy Sheriff's Association of Almeda County at the Oakland Auditorium. During intermission, just after receiving a standing ovation, Cooley while backstage suffered a fatal heart attack.

     Spade Cooley was laid to rest at the Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery in Hayward, California. 

      Many of his recordings are still available through various reissues over the past twenty-five years. A recent 2019 CD project on Jasmine Records, "Spade Cooley: Shame On You: the Singles Collection 1945-1952" offers an excellent look at one of America's top Western Swing bandleaders.  

    And by the way, a special shout out to my buddy, Butch Gregory, of the Horsecreek Band at Silver Dollar City, who along with cousin and bandmate Larry Sledge have been musical heroes of mine for over thirty years. They also perform here in the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama at night. It's always a treat to pick with you both! Butch recently requested that I give ya'll a look back at Spade Cooley!

     Happy trails, everyone!