Stan Paregien, Editor
Slim Whitaker
Slim Whitaker, cowboy movie actor, was born as Charles Orbie Whitaker on July 29, 1893 in Kansas City, MO.
He appeared in--sit down for this--an amazing 266 movies, mostly Westerns, starting with silent films in 1914 and ending thirty-four years later in 1948. He was usually one of the guys in the black hats during the early Western movies.
Bad dudes: Slim Whitaker and Hal TaliaferroSlim Whitaker died on June 27, 1960 in Los Angeles, CA.
CLICK HERE to see a complete list of the 266 films made by Slim Whitaker.
Benton R. White
Benton R. White is the author of The Forgotten Cattle King (Texas A&M Press, 1986).
Charlotte White
Charlotte White is the author of A Hard Act to Follow (Ace Books, 1984), Change of Heart (1984), Impossible Love (Walker & Co., 1984), A Dream Come True (1985).
Lee White
(Deceased)
Lee White was known as "Molasses" in his sidekick role with Tim Holt during the 1940's.
Ray Whitely and Lee White as pals of Tim Holt.
Stuart Edward White
(Deceased)
Stewart Edward White was born in 1873 in Michigan. He was reared on a ranch in California. He received a degree from the University of Michigan in 1895. And his first two novels, WESTERNERS and THE CLAIM JUMPERS, were both published in 1901. He went on to have a total of 53 books published, some of which were in the juvenile field. He was inducted into the Western Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1993.Stewart Edward White died in 1946.
Ray Whitley
(Deceased)Ray Whitley was born on Dec. 5, 1901 in Atlanta, Georgia.
By his late 20's, he was doing construction work and doing a little entertaining on the side with his guitar. And so it was that, while helping to build the landmark Empire State Building in New York City in 1930, he put together a Western music group called "The Range Ramblers". They got their own live show on WMCA radio.
A couple of years later, Ray Whitley changed the name of his small band to "The Six Bar Cowboys". And they continued to play in the region. That exposure got him a contract with RKO Pictures to do Western movies and to use his musical abilities.
In 1938 he was working on a movie called "Border G-Man". Early one morning, nearly the end of filming, he was awakened by a call from the director of the movie. He informed Whitley that they needed one more song to stretch out the movie to the time frame they wanted, and Whitley said he would come up one by the time the day's filming started in just a few hours.
Well, as he hung up the phone Ray's wife asked what was going on. He turned to her and said, "Oh, I'm back in the saddle, again. Got to come up with another song. And quick." She immediately suggested that his own words, "I'm back in the saddle, again," would make a good beginning. So he got up and scribbled out a song and recorded it that same day. It was what would become the cowboy classic, "Back in the Saddle, Again".
In 1937 the Gibson guitar company manufactured a Ray Whitley guitar, the SJ-200, custom-designed for him. That guitar became very popular with many country singers and other entertainers.
Ray Whitley recorded "Back in the Saddle, Again" for Decca Records on October 26, 1938. One of Ray's movie friends, Gene Autry, heard the song and took a liking to it. But he recommended some changes to it, so he and Ray sat down together and revised it. Gene then recorded the revised version in his movie, "Rollin' Tumbleweeds" in 1939. And Gene later adopted it as his theme song for his highly popular radio show, "Melody Ranch," heard nation-wide on CBS. Always the sharp businessman, Gene later bought the rights to the song from Whitley. It has become the most recorded Western song in history.
Besides his movie work and recording sessions, Ray Whitley was in heavy demand for personal appearances across the United States. He also traveled overseas with the USO during World War II. It is said that only Tex Ritter logged more miles in entertaining than Whitley. His bands included the "Oklahoma Wranglers" and the "Rhythm Wranglers," and they regularly drew more people in the Los Angeles area than did the concerts of Bob Wills -- the recognized "King of Western Swing".
Ray Whitely and Lee White as pals of Tim Holt.Ray Whitley appeared in over fifty movies between 1936 and 1954. He often appeared as a side-kick to such box office stars as George O'Brien, Tex Ritter and Tim Holt. In one of his last on-screen roles, he would play in "Giant" (1956) as the manager of James Dean.
He recorded for Decca, OKeh Records, Apollo and several others.
And Ray Whitley continued to write songs. He and the legendary Fred Rose co-wrote several songs. Whitley never had any others become as well-known as "Back in the Saddle, Again," but fans of Western music will remember such Whitley songs as "Lonely River," "Hang My Head and Cry," "Down the Cherokee Trail," "Tumbleweed Cowboy," "Plains of Oklahoma," and "Rocky Canyon."
Later in his life, he turned his attention toward managing the careers of other entertainers such as fellow Western movie crooner Jimmy Wakely and the fabulous Sons Of The Pioneers.
Late in his life he enjoyed the recognition he got at the large number of Western festivals cropping up across the country. He would often get out his guitar and sing a few songs for the crowds or display his ability with a long bullwhip.
Through a decade of cowboy musicals, Ray Whitley and his Gibson Custom SJ-200 were a regular in RKO Pictures and he became known as "The Singing Sidekick."
This limited recreation of the original 1937 Ray Whitley sunburst rosewood SJ-200 (pictured at left) has a pearl inlay on the peghead which proclaims "Custom Made For Ray Whitley," while his engraved initials highlights the truss rod cover. The large pearl rectangles inlaid in the fingerboard feature engraved western scenes. The huge pickguard of mottled and multiple-bound celluloid is fashioned after the Gibson Super 400.
The remarkable, one-of-a-kind bridge, known as the "moustache" design, has four ribbons of pearl inlaid behind the bone saddle kept in the straight-through (exposed at both ends) slot. It is also bound with nine layers of alternating white/black celluloid on the body, both front and back; likewise, the peghead and finderboard are fancily bound.
In honor of Ray Whitley, 37 of these extraordinary instruments were built. One was donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and one is maintained by the Gibson Guitar Company. This guitar sells for over $12,000.
In 1981, Ray Whitley was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. CLICK HERE to go to that web site.
Ray Whitley died on Feb. 21, 1979 while on a fishing trip to Mexico.
CLICK HERE to see the complete list of his movie credits.
Sid Whitman
(Deceased)
Sid Whitman's father was a West Point graduate who spent his life commanding U.S. Cavalry troops in many parts of the world. So Sid spent his youth growing up in such places as Ft. Sheridan, Ft. Riley, Boise Barracks, Walla Walla Barracks, Presidio of Monterey and Ft. Huachuca in the U.S., then there were duties in the Philippines, China and Japan. And, it being the custom then for sons of officers to accompany the troops on extended field maneuvers, he got a first hand look at live in the Cavalry.
Sid Whitman attended Sanford School in Connecticut, and attended M.I.T. until his low math scores caught up with him. He served in the Army during World War I, but saw no action. But when World War II came along, Whitman--then 44--joined the army. He served with the Coast Artillery, 12th Armored Division, and the with the infantry (70th "Trailblazer" Division). He fought in the last stages of the Battle of the Bulge and was in Frankfort, Germany on VE Day. His first novel was Scout Commanders,followed by three others, including Black Rock Valley. All of them deal with the U.S. Cavalry. (See his photo & bio in the Feb., 1960 issue of The Roundup.)
Slim Whitman
Slim Whitman's was born Ottis Dewey Whitman, Jr., on Jan. 20, 1924 in Oak Park, FL.
As a kid, he spent most of his time playing baseball, fishing and attending services of the Church of the Brethren. And when he could, he liked listening to Montana Slim (Wilf Carter) and yodeler Jimmie Rodgers on the old family radio.
Whitman married Geraldine ("Jerry") Crist, a preacher's daughter, on June 24, 1941. They moved onto a 40-acre tract of woods south of Jacksonville that belonged to his new father-in-law. They still live there, and the original house is still on the property. They called the place, "Woodpecker's Paradise".
Whitman worked in the nearby Tampa shipyards as a boilermaker and ship fitter until 1943. Then, in the middle of World War II, he saw military action in the South Pacific. He was assigned to a troop transport ship. And to pass the hours, he found a guitar and taught himself to play it (left-handed, of course). He was soon entertaining the troops, as they were also starved for entertainment.
In 1946, following the end of the war, Slim Whitman went back to his regular job at the Tampa shipyard. But he also played baseball on the company team during his off-hours. It wasn't long until scouts for a class "C" team in the Orange Belt League called the Plant City Berries discovered him. Standing 6'2" made him an awesome and powerful batter -- averaging .360. He excelled on the pitcher's mound and pitched the team to a pennant in 1947 with a record of eleven wins and one loss. He left basebal in 1948.
It was in 1948 that Slim Whitman began singing on various radio stations including WDAE, WHBO, and WFLA in Florida. He formed his own band and sang to anyone who would listen. The band soon gained the attention of the owner of a Tampa supermarket, who agreed to sponsor "Slim Whitman and his Variety Rhythm Boys."
It was during this period that Colonel Tom Parker, then Eddy Arnold's manager and later Elvis Presley’s, saw Slim at WFLA radio. He liked what he heard, and sent an acetate recording demo to RCA records. This led to Slim's first recording contract in 1948. RCA didn't think the name Ottis was quite right, so they changed it to Slim one day while he was off fishing.
At one time early in his career he was called "The Smilin' Starduster," the man whose soaring falsetto could surely dust the stars. This is where the name of Slim's band, the Stardusters, originated.
Slim recorded 10 songs for RCA. The young back-up musicians used during this particular session would become stars in their own right. Anita Kerr of the famous Anita Kerr Singers performed on the piano and organ. Chester (Chet) Atkins and Jerry Byrd were on violin and guitar. Henry D. Haynes and Kenneth C. Burns (Homer and Jethro) were the musicians who played the guitar and mandolin. The RCA release was distributed on a 10" album entitled "Slim Whitman Sings and Yodels." It would be released later as a full-sized album, "Birmingham Jail." The ten songs recorded for RCA have been released numerous times on 45's, 78's, tapes, and in album and CD form around the world.
The first single from this session, "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky," was suggested by his wife, Jerry, and became Slim's theme song featuring his yodeling. He has the remarkable gift of being able to slide into a falsetto break in the middle of phrases, words, and even syllables.
Slim Whitman's first major hit was another song selected by Jerry. It was "Love Song of the Waterfall," an operetta number written by Bob Nolan, leader of the Sons of the Pioneers.
He decided early in his career not to sing the truck driving, drinking, cheating red-neck songs. Instead, he chose romantic ballads, love songs, and western songs. He has often said that he strongly believes in doing recordings that he wouldn't be ashamed to sing in church.
On August 20, 1949 Slim made his premiere national radio appearance on the Mutual Network's, "Smokey Mountain Hayride." He was hailed as "the new sensation of the folk music world." Within two weeks, he was the star attraction in a new show called "Slim Whitman and the Lightcrust Doughboys.
In May 1950 Slim Whitman became a member of the Louisiana Hayride. Hank Williams, who was leaving the Hayride at the time, advised Slim, "Just go out there and give 'em some yodelin'." The pay was eighteen dollars a week and left a lot to be desired, so Slim took a job as a postman in Shreveport, Louisiana, to feed his family.
It was during this time that Slim and his steel guitar player, Hoot Rains, created what would become a major part of the Slim Whitman sound, the "singing guitar." The soaring notes of the steel guitar can be heard in many of Slim's early songs. It all started by accident in the classic, "Love Song of the Waterfall." One night while performing the song, Hoot overshot a note sending it soaring skyward. Slim asked Hoot after the show, "what happened out there"? Hoot said, "I missed it." Slim liked what he heard and said, with a wry grin, "Well, miss it again!" They soon worked this unusual new sound into his songs. They called this new technique "shooting arrows," and steel guitarists around the world would use this new term. They perfected the new sound and introduced the "singing guitar" on the Hayride to thunderous approval.
In 1951 he had his first million seller, "Indian Love Call." He still wasn't too sure this show business thing would last, so rather than quitting his job at the post office he just took a leave of absence. But then came more hits: "Keep It a Secret" and "China Doll," and others. The U.S. postal service lost a postman and the world gained a major entertainer.
In 1954 Slim recorded his second American million seller, "Rose Marie." With the singing steel guitar and smooth falsetto breaks, it quickly climbed to the top of the charts. A promoter managed to have it played to the English people via a radio station in Luxembourg. It sold an additional million copies there in record time and topped the charts in the number one position for 11 consecutive weeks from July 29 through October 7, 1955. This record-breaking feat was held by Slim for an incredible 36 years!
On July 23, 1955 Slim Whitman joined the Grand Ole Opry, but the massive excitement generated by "Rose Marie" demanded road work. So he was off on what was to be the first of many tours of the United Kingdom. Slim was the first American country artist to play the prestigious London Palladium in 1956.
Slim's popularity in England earned him number one albums and singles time and time again. His "Red River Valley" album established Slim as Britain's number 1 country singer. This was just one of many releases that would cross over to the pop charts. Slim was voted international male vocalist of the year in England in 1978, 1979, and 1980.
During the 1960's and 1970's Slim concentrated on recording. He did Irish songs, love songs, yodeling songs, gospel, Christmas, and country songs. Slim continued to make the charts with gems like "Cattle Call," "Serenade," "Tumbling Tumble Weeds," "More Than Yesterday," "Twelfth of Never" "Tomorrow Never Comes," "Rainbows Are Back in Style" and "Happy Street" just to mention a few. During the 60's and 70's, thirty-six of Slim's albums were released. In all he would record 42 albums while with Imperial/United Artists.
In 1979, Suffolk Marketing decided to do a TV album featuring 20 of Slim's songs. "All My Best" sold 1,200,000 albums in the first few weeks, an achievement never done before by any recording artist or group. It eventually sold 4,000,000 copies making Slim Whitman the biggest selling recording artist in TV music history.
In 1980 Slim signed with Cleveland International (Epic) Records. It was during this period that he hit the charts again with a song that suited his style perfectly. The song "When" climbed the charts to the number 14 position. He also did "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine", "I Remember You," and "Four Walls." During his four years with Epic he would do five albums.
Slim Whitman's music has been an influence on three of the biggest rock 'n' roll artists of this century. Elvis Presley made his stage debut on the Slim Whitman Show in Memphis, Tennessee, and they toured together. At the time Slim was making $500 a show and Elvis $50.
Slim's music has touched many people’s lives deeply. Audie Murphy , the late movie actor who was the most decorated soldier of World War II, was tormented with horrific memories of the war and sleeping didn't come easily. The only thing that would totally relax him and help him to sleep was listening to albums from his Slim Whitman collection.
Slim Whitman has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has sold over 70,000,000 records around the world. His fan club, "The Slim Whitman International Appreciation Society" began in 1970 and was one of the largest and oldest in the world incorporating England, Holland, Australia, and the United States.
The Slim and Byron Whitman Show (Byron is his son) travels with the Stardusters all across the country and throughout the world. Slim Whitman always has something going on somewhere in the world. His latest release is a titled "The Legendary Slim Whitman - Traditional Country" and features duets with his son Byron. During the last few years this talented duo also have released gospel music on the Christian radio stations.
Heck, Slim Whitman's music even saved the world from Martian invaders in the Tim Burden sci-fi spoof "Mars Attacks"! This was the fourth movie that spotlighted Slim's music. The first being the 1957 Rock 'n Roll classic "Jamboree," where Slim sings "Unchain My Heart". Next came the movie "Who'll Stop the Rain" featuring the song "I'll Step Down." Then "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," where "Indian Love Call" can be heard.
CLICK HERE to go to the web page of the Slim Whitman Appreciation Society, featuring photos and links.
Stuart Whitman
Stuart Maxwell Whitman was born on Feb. 1, 1928 in San Francisco, CA. He finished his education at Hollywood High School. Upon graduating, Whitman enlisted in the military and served three years (1945-1948) with the Army Corp of Engineers.
After finishing his military duty, Stuart decided to utilize the G.I. Bill and enroll in Hollywood's famous Ben Bard Drama School. His initial dramatic role came in the stage production of Heaven Can Wait. Whitman also became a member of Michael Chekhov's Stage Society and the distinguished Arthur Kennedy Group.
In 1957, he earned his first leading role in John Auger's "Johnny Trouble". Since then, Stuart Whitman has appeared in over 103 motion pictures. "Guy Green's The Mark" earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1961.
Whitman's Western movie credits include Silver Lode (1954), War Drums (1957), These Thousand Hills (1959), The Comancheros (1961), Rio Conchos (1964), Captain Apache (1971) and The White Buffalo (1977).
Stuart Whitman has also left his signature on TV. He appeared in four different television series, with his biggest accomplishment coming from his lead role as U.S. Marshal Jim Crown in the sprawling epic Western series: "Cimarron Strip". The other television programs that Mr. Whitman appeared on were Highway Patrol (1956), where he portrayed Broderick Crawford's deputy; Union Pacific (1958), as a scout for the railroad; and The Adventures of Superboy (1988-92), where he portrayed Superboy's father; Jonathan Kent.
He also appeared in such TV Westerns as The Roy Rogers Show, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, and Walker Texas Ranger. In his most recent documentary work, which is called "Portrait of A Cowboy Artist," Whitman narrates the story of cowboy/sculptor Mehl Lawson.
CLICK HERE to go to the official Stuart Whitman / Cimarron Strip web site.
CLICK HERE to go to a web site tribute to the TV show, "Cimarron Strip"
This listing is far from complete and may contain errors.
Therefore, all Western entertainers and/or their agents
are requested to submit recommended changes by
contacting Stan Paregien through his e-mail address.
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
--- Bible: Hebrews 12:14
© 2003 by Stan Paregien, Sr.
