So the question came up on Facebook, that font of all wisdom: "What song was #1 on your seventh birthday? That song will define your 2024."
Hallelujah, I am lucky, because the #1 song when this old boy hit the 0-7 mark was "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley, and that gives me a chance to tell you about one of the most interesting men ever in the show business world.
F'rinstance:
- Sheb was born Shelby Frederick Wooley in 1921.
- He was married at age 19 to the cousin of Roger Miller, the great songwriter and singer who wrote "King Of The Road" and "England Swings" and dozens more hits.
- Sheb had novelty hits in the rock 'n' roll field ("Purple People Eater") and in country songs as well ("Almost Persuaded #2) under the name Ben Colder.
- Sheb was an actor of some renown, playing in "Rawhide" on TV and in movies such as "High Noon," "The Outlaw Josey Wales," and "Hoosiers," where he played the inebriated assistant coach.
- Have you ever been watching a western movie where a guy gets shot by an arrow, or the original "Star Wars" movies? You have heard this sound effect a million times and just now you're reading it was the original recording by Sheb!
Sheb passed away in Nashville at the age of 82, but what a good time he had along the way!
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