Wesley Tuttle
(Part 2 of
2)
[NOTE: Please be patient as all of the photos take a minute to load]
In 1957, after spending all of his adult life in the secular (
i.e., country and Western) music business and achieving remarkable
success and popularity, Wesley Tuttle asked for a release from his
recording contract and stopped performing in clubs and on TV.
That was when
Wesley Tuttle had become a Christian, a real born-again Believer. And,
much
as his mentor Stuart Hamblen had done many years before, Tuttle gave up
his recording contract and left the glamour of the country music world
for what he considered to be a much higher calling.
Tuttle enrolled in a Christian college to study for the ministry. He
became an evalgelist who could not only preach a revival but could do
the special music as well. And in that capacity he crisscrossed the
country, often traveling by himself, rather than with a band as he had
for so many years. It was a dramatically different life for both he and
wife Marilyn. And they loved it.
Wesley Tuttle also worked part-time as a producer for the Sacred
Records label, a side line that lasted until 1970. He helped numerous
ministers and other relatively unknown groups to record their gospel
music. And along the way, he and Marilyn recorded nine gospel music
albums of their own.
Wesley Tuttle and wife Marilyn produced several
gospel
albums together.
Wesley Tuttle had a
daughter, Harva (whom they called "CheChe"), from his first marriage.
Then he and Marilyn had three children: twins Wesley and Leslie, and
then Matt.
Leslie Tuttle drowned in the family swimming pool just short of her
fourth birthday. The Sons of the Pioneers, with whom Wesley had
sometimes performed, sang at her funeral. Family, friends and church
people provided strength for them to endure this tragic event.
Tuttle's daughter, Harva, died of cancer early in 1997.
Ironically, in the year of one of their greatest sorrows they also had
one of their greatest moments of joy. It was in November of 1997 that
Wesley Tuttle was inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of
Fame during the annual festival at Tucson, Arizona.
Rusty Richards said of him, "God and his family made Wesley Tuttle a
good guy. Talent, dedication and his clear beautiful voice made him a
star. The friendliness and warmth he shares with his fans, friends and
fellow performers makes him a true gentleman."
Jerry West, a Western music authority and friend of the Tuttles, wrote
an introduction to a CD collection titled "The Essential Wesley
Tuttle". In it West said:
"Retiring from the entertainment business in the late 1950's, Wesley
went into church ministry. Failing eyesight ended his ministry,
although Wesley and Marilyn continued to record both religious and
secular songs in addition to owning a Christian bookstore."
In his later years, Wesley Tuttle was legally blind. But he still
enjoyed traveling to Western music events, with Marilyn at his side.
And he was always a charming ambassador for Western music.
My wife
and I
first met Wesley and Marilyn Tuttle quite by accident in November of
1999. Peggy and I were headed Tucson, Arizona for our first exposure to
the Western Music Association's annual festival. I was standing in line
at Los Angeles International Airport to get our boarding passes to
Tucson when the lady behind me, noticing my cowboy duds, tapped me on
the shoulder and asked, "Are you going to the Western Music Association
festival?" That was Marilyn Tuttle.
We got to visit
with she and Wesley for about an hour or so before our plane departed
for Tucson. I told them that Wesley's song, "Detour," was one of
earliest musical memories as a child. It was instant friendship. And,
as it turned out, our respective rooms at the hotel were very near to
each other. So, several times over the next three days, we got to eat
with them and their friends and to attend various performances with
them. It was quite an introduction to the festival for us, as they knew
everyone and were loved by all. It didn't take us long to figure out
that we were with some very special folks
Stan Paregien, Marilyn & Wesley
Tuttle, and
Mrs. Stuart (Suzi) Hamblen
at the 1999 WMA Festival in Tucson
Peggy Paregien, Wesley & Marilyn Tuttle, and Debra C. Hill
at the WMA Festival in Tucson, AZ in 1999
Wesley Tuttle and Stan
Paregien relaxing in the hotel
lobby in Tucson in 1999
We and the
Tuttles and old friends Jim Bob Tinsley and wife Doty attended cowboy
church together on the last day of the festival. And Wesley even got up
and led a song during the service.
The Tuttles then
invited us to come visit them in their home in San Fernando,
California. A few months later we did so, and I thought I had died and
gone to heaven.
There I was
sitting with Wesley and Marilyn and looking at their photo scrapbooks
of themselves and their former neighbors -- and my heroes from the
Western movies -- Roy and Dale Evans, Tex Ritter, Eddie Dean, Gene
Autry and Jimmy Wakely. Plus their friends like Stuart Hamblen, Freddie
Hart, Les "Carrot Top" Anderson, Cliffie Stone, Doye O'Dell and Merle
Travis. Wow. I was amazed.
Wesley Tuttle, Peggy & Stan Paregien and Marilyn Tuttle
on the "Gunsmoke" set at Gene Autry's old Melody Ranch
at Santa Clarita (formerly called Newhall), Calif.,
during the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival in April of 2000.
In 2001, we again visited Wesley &
Marilyn
and took them to
their favorite restaurant overlooking the San Fernando Valley.
Jamming at the home of the Tuttles in
2001. That
is Marilyn harmonizing
at left, Belinda Gail in the center, and Wesley on the right.
Wesley Tuttle on May 7, 2001 playing the Gibson L-5 guitar
that he bought way back in 1939. It is now owned
and used on stage by Doug Green of the
Riders in the Sky.
Wesley & Marilyn Tuttle in 2002
We
were
blessed to be able to spend a few more days with them over the next two
years. During this time, though, Wesley was having increasing problems
with his memory. That escalated into dementia, and finally resulted in
his having to be in a nursing home in nearby Sylmar.
One
of Wesley Tuttle's final honors happened in 2002 when Bear Family
Records (based in Germany) released a four-CD box set of most of his
recordings. It also included an extensive printed biography (86 poages
worth) and a DVD with the entire Jimmy Wakely movie, "Song of the
Sierras," in which Wesley and His Texas Stars provided the music.
Two
other projects are worthy of special note. "The Essential Wesley
Tuttle" CD contains 29 songs performed by Wesley. And another, "A
Tribute to Wesley Tuttle," was done a few years ago by his friends The
Old Cowhands, Buffalo Rick, Rusty Richards, Rags Allen, Al Casey, and
The Reinsmen. Both CD's are available from Fred Goodwin at Concept
Productions, P.O. Box 3151, Murfreesboro, TN 37133-3151.
Wesley
Tuttle died in that nursing home on Monday, September 29, 2003, at
Sylmar California. He was 85. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn, and
sons Wesley Tuttle Jr and Matthew Tuttle, as well as by numerous family
and friends. His memorial service was held at the family's home
congregation, the First Church of Christ, 606 Chatsworth Drive, in San
Fernando. Long-time friends and best-selling Western entertainers
Belinda Gail and Curly Musgrave provided the music
NOTE: Be sure to read the separate file on Marilyn Tuttle as well.
Wesley Tuttle
(Part 2 of 2)
[NOTE: Please be patient as all of the photos take a minute to load]
In 1957, after spending all of his adult life in the secular ( i.e., country and Western) music business and achieving remarkable success and popularity, Wesley Tuttle asked for a release from his recording contract and stopped performing in clubs and on TV.
That was when Wesley Tuttle had become a Christian, a real born-again Believer. And, much as his mentor Stuart Hamblen had done many years before, Tuttle gave up his recording contract and left the glamour of the country music world for what he considered to be a much higher calling.
Tuttle enrolled in a Christian college to study for the ministry. He became an evalgelist who could not only preach a revival but could do the special music as well. And in that capacity he crisscrossed the country, often traveling by himself, rather than with a band as he had for so many years. It was a dramatically different life for both he and wife Marilyn. And they loved it.
Wesley Tuttle also worked part-time as a producer for the Sacred Records label, a side line that lasted until 1970. He helped numerous ministers and other relatively unknown groups to record their gospel music. And along the way, he and Marilyn recorded nine gospel music albums of their own.
(Part 2 of 2)
[NOTE: Please be patient as all of the photos take a minute to load]
In 1957, after spending all of his adult life in the secular ( i.e., country and Western) music business and achieving remarkable success and popularity, Wesley Tuttle asked for a release from his recording contract and stopped performing in clubs and on TV.
That was when Wesley Tuttle had become a Christian, a real born-again Believer. And, much as his mentor Stuart Hamblen had done many years before, Tuttle gave up his recording contract and left the glamour of the country music world for what he considered to be a much higher calling.
Tuttle enrolled in a Christian college to study for the ministry. He became an evalgelist who could not only preach a revival but could do the special music as well. And in that capacity he crisscrossed the country, often traveling by himself, rather than with a band as he had for so many years. It was a dramatically different life for both he and wife Marilyn. And they loved it.
Wesley Tuttle also worked part-time as a producer for the Sacred Records label, a side line that lasted until 1970. He helped numerous ministers and other relatively unknown groups to record their gospel music. And along the way, he and Marilyn recorded nine gospel music albums of their own.
Wesley Tuttle and wife Marilyn produced several gospel
albums together.
Wesley Tuttle had a
daughter, Harva (whom they called "CheChe"), from his first marriage.
Then he and Marilyn had three children: twins Wesley and Leslie, and
then Matt.
Leslie Tuttle drowned in the family swimming pool just short of her fourth birthday. The Sons of the Pioneers, with whom Wesley had sometimes performed, sang at her funeral. Family, friends and church people provided strength for them to endure this tragic event.
Tuttle's daughter, Harva, died of cancer early in 1997.
Ironically, in the year of one of their greatest sorrows they also had one of their greatest moments of joy. It was in November of 1997 that Wesley Tuttle was inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame during the annual festival at Tucson, Arizona.
Rusty Richards said of him, "God and his family made Wesley Tuttle a good guy. Talent, dedication and his clear beautiful voice made him a star. The friendliness and warmth he shares with his fans, friends and fellow performers makes him a true gentleman."
Jerry West, a Western music authority and friend of the Tuttles, wrote an introduction to a CD collection titled "The Essential Wesley Tuttle". In it West said:
"Retiring from the entertainment business in the late 1950's, Wesley went into church ministry. Failing eyesight ended his ministry, although Wesley and Marilyn continued to record both religious and secular songs in addition to owning a Christian bookstore."
In his later years, Wesley Tuttle was legally blind. But he still enjoyed traveling to Western music events, with Marilyn at his side. And he was always a charming ambassador for Western music.
My wife
and I
first met Wesley and Marilyn Tuttle quite by accident in November of
1999. Peggy and I were headed Tucson, Arizona for our first exposure to
the Western Music Association's annual festival. I was standing in line
at Los Angeles International Airport to get our boarding passes to
Tucson when the lady behind me, noticing my cowboy duds, tapped me on
the shoulder and asked, "Are you going to the Western Music Association
festival?" That was Marilyn Tuttle.
Leslie Tuttle drowned in the family swimming pool just short of her fourth birthday. The Sons of the Pioneers, with whom Wesley had sometimes performed, sang at her funeral. Family, friends and church people provided strength for them to endure this tragic event.
Tuttle's daughter, Harva, died of cancer early in 1997.
Ironically, in the year of one of their greatest sorrows they also had one of their greatest moments of joy. It was in November of 1997 that Wesley Tuttle was inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame during the annual festival at Tucson, Arizona.
Rusty Richards said of him, "God and his family made Wesley Tuttle a good guy. Talent, dedication and his clear beautiful voice made him a star. The friendliness and warmth he shares with his fans, friends and fellow performers makes him a true gentleman."
Jerry West, a Western music authority and friend of the Tuttles, wrote an introduction to a CD collection titled "The Essential Wesley Tuttle". In it West said:
"Retiring from the entertainment business in the late 1950's, Wesley went into church ministry. Failing eyesight ended his ministry, although Wesley and Marilyn continued to record both religious and secular songs in addition to owning a Christian bookstore."
In his later years, Wesley Tuttle was legally blind. But he still enjoyed traveling to Western music events, with Marilyn at his side. And he was always a charming ambassador for Western music.
My wife
and I
first met Wesley and Marilyn Tuttle quite by accident in November of
1999. Peggy and I were headed Tucson, Arizona for our first exposure to
the Western Music Association's annual festival. I was standing in line
at Los Angeles International Airport to get our boarding passes to
Tucson when the lady behind me, noticing my cowboy duds, tapped me on
the shoulder and asked, "Are you going to the Western Music Association
festival?" That was Marilyn Tuttle.
We got to visit
with she and Wesley for about an hour or so before our plane departed
for Tucson. I told them that Wesley's song, "Detour," was one of
earliest musical memories as a child. It was instant friendship. And,
as it turned out, our respective rooms at the hotel were very near to
each other. So, several times over the next three days, we got to eat
with them and their friends and to attend various performances with
them. It was quite an introduction to the festival for us, as they knew
everyone and were loved by all. It didn't take us long to figure out
that we were with some very special folks
Stan Paregien, Marilyn & Wesley Tuttle, and Mrs. Stuart (Suzi) Hamblen
at the 1999 WMA Festival in Tucson
Peggy Paregien, Wesley & Marilyn Tuttle, and Debra C. Hill
at the WMA Festival in Tucson, AZ in 1999
Wesley Tuttle and Stan
Paregien relaxing in the hotel
lobby in Tucson in 1999
lobby in Tucson in 1999
We and the Tuttles and old friends Jim Bob Tinsley and wife Doty attended cowboy church together on the last day of the festival. And Wesley even got up and led a song during the service.
The Tuttles then invited us to come visit them in their home in San Fernando, California. A few months later we did so, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
There I was sitting with Wesley and Marilyn and looking at their photo scrapbooks of themselves and their former neighbors -- and my heroes from the Western movies -- Roy and Dale Evans, Tex Ritter, Eddie Dean, Gene Autry and Jimmy Wakely. Plus their friends like Stuart Hamblen, Freddie Hart, Les "Carrot Top" Anderson, Cliffie Stone, Doye O'Dell and Merle Travis. Wow. I was amazed.
Wesley Tuttle, Peggy & Stan Paregien and Marilyn Tuttle
on the "Gunsmoke" set at Gene Autry's old Melody Ranch
at Santa Clarita (formerly called Newhall), Calif.,
during the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival in April of 2000.
In 2001, we again visited Wesley & Marilyn and took them to
their favorite restaurant overlooking the San Fernando Valley.
Jamming at the home of the Tuttles in 2001. That is Marilyn harmonizing
at left, Belinda Gail in the center, and Wesley on the right.
Wesley Tuttle on May 7, 2001 playing the Gibson L-5 guitar
that he bought way back in 1939. It is now owned
and used on stage by Doug Green of the
Riders in the Sky.
Wesley & Marilyn Tuttle in 2002
We
were
blessed to be able to spend a few more days with them over the next two
years. During this time, though, Wesley was having increasing problems
with his memory. That escalated into dementia, and finally resulted in
his having to be in a nursing home in nearby Sylmar.
One of Wesley Tuttle's final honors happened in 2002 when Bear Family Records (based in Germany) released a four-CD box set of most of his recordings. It also included an extensive printed biography (86 poages worth) and a DVD with the entire Jimmy Wakely movie, "Song of the Sierras," in which Wesley and His Texas Stars provided the music.
Two other projects are worthy of special note. "The Essential Wesley Tuttle" CD contains 29 songs performed by Wesley. And another, "A Tribute to Wesley Tuttle," was done a few years ago by his friends The Old Cowhands, Buffalo Rick, Rusty Richards, Rags Allen, Al Casey, and The Reinsmen. Both CD's are available from Fred Goodwin at Concept Productions, P.O. Box 3151, Murfreesboro, TN 37133-3151.
Wesley Tuttle died in that nursing home on Monday, September 29, 2003, at Sylmar California. He was 85. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn, and sons Wesley Tuttle Jr and Matthew Tuttle, as well as by numerous family and friends. His memorial service was held at the family's home congregation, the First Church of Christ, 606 Chatsworth Drive, in San Fernando. Long-time friends and best-selling Western entertainers Belinda Gail and Curly Musgrave provided the music
NOTE: Be sure to read the separate file on Marilyn Tuttle as well.
One of Wesley Tuttle's final honors happened in 2002 when Bear Family Records (based in Germany) released a four-CD box set of most of his recordings. It also included an extensive printed biography (86 poages worth) and a DVD with the entire Jimmy Wakely movie, "Song of the Sierras," in which Wesley and His Texas Stars provided the music.
Two other projects are worthy of special note. "The Essential Wesley Tuttle" CD contains 29 songs performed by Wesley. And another, "A Tribute to Wesley Tuttle," was done a few years ago by his friends The Old Cowhands, Buffalo Rick, Rusty Richards, Rags Allen, Al Casey, and The Reinsmen. Both CD's are available from Fred Goodwin at Concept Productions, P.O. Box 3151, Murfreesboro, TN 37133-3151.
Wesley Tuttle died in that nursing home on Monday, September 29, 2003, at Sylmar California. He was 85. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn, and sons Wesley Tuttle Jr and Matthew Tuttle, as well as by numerous family and friends. His memorial service was held at the family's home congregation, the First Church of Christ, 606 Chatsworth Drive, in San Fernando. Long-time friends and best-selling Western entertainers Belinda Gail and Curly Musgrave provided the music
NOTE: Be sure to read the separate file on Marilyn Tuttle as well.
© 2008 by Stan Paregien, Sr.