Month: April 2023

April 12, 1954 – Bill Haley

April 12, 1954 – Bill Haley recorded “Rock Around the Clock” at Pythian Temple studios in New York City. Considered by many to be the song that put rock and roll on the map around the world. The song was used over the opening titles for the film “Blackboard Jungle,” and went on to be a worldwide #1 and the biggest-selling pop single with sales of over 25 million. Written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, “Rock Around The Clock” was first recorded by the Italian-American band Sonny Dae and His Knights. #ROCkabillyHop @billhaleymusic #BillHaley #RockAroundTheClock #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 10, 1959 – Brian Setzer

April 10, 1959 – Brian Setzer was born in Massapequa, New York. Guitarist and singer for The Stray Cats, known for songs like “Runaway Boys,” and “Stray Cat Strut.” He went on to explore big band-style arrangements with the Brian Setzer Orchestra. #HappyBirthday #ROCkabillyHop #RocHop #BrianSetzer @briansetzer59 #StrayCatStrut #RunawayBoys #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 10th, 1921 – Actor and Singer Sheb Wooley

April 10th, 1921 – Sheb Wooley was born “Shelby Fredrick Wooley” in Erick, Oklahoma. He is best known for his 1958 US #1 & UK #12 single, “The Purple People Eater,” a novelty song about a creature from outer space that plays a one-string guitar. The song features a catchy tune and a playful chorus that goes, “It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater.”

A friend’s child told Sheb Wooley a joke that inspired him to knock out the song in just an hour. The Purple People Eater’s voice and the toy saxophone solo were recorded at a slower speed and then sped up to create the effect heard on the record.

Apart from his music career, Sheb Wooley was a prolific actor who appeared in over 60 movies and TV shows. He played supporting roles in several Western movies and TV series, including “High Noon” (1952) and “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976). However, he is perhaps best known for playing Pete Nolan in the TV series “Rawhide” (1959-1966), which starred Clint Eastwood in the lead role.

In addition to “The Purple People Eater,” Sheb Wooley had a successful music career, releasing several albums and singles over the years. He also wrote songs for other artists, including the hit song “That’s My Pa” for Conway Twitty.

But Sheb Wooley had another side to him, an alter ego named Ben Colder. “Ben Colder” was actually a stage name that Sheb Wooley used for his comedy and novelty recordings. He adopted the name in the 1960s and continued to use it for the rest of his career. Some of his most popular comedy recordings under the name Ben Colder include “Don’t Go Near The Eskimos” and “Hello Walls No.2.”

“The Purple People Eater” became an international hit and was translated into many languages. For example, in German, the song was translated as “Der lila Eierkopf” and was recorded by German singer Gus Backus in 1958. In French, the song was translated as “Le Monstre en Viole” and was recorded by French singer Henri Salvador in 1959. And in Portuguese, the song was translated as “O Monstro Púrpura” and was recorded by Brazilian singer Reginaldo Rossi in 1996.

The success of the song led to a movie adaptation called “The Purple People Eater,” which was released in 1988. The song has been covered by several artists, including Alvin and the Chipmunks and Judy Garland, as well as a few sequels such as “The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor” by The Big Bopper, which was released the same year as Sheb Wooley’s original recording and “The Purple People Eater #2” by Ben Colder in 1967. “The Purple People Eater #2” was essentially the same song, performed as an on-the-scene investigative reporter interview.  “The Purple People Eater” has also been featured in numerous movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Sheb Wooley was a multi-talented artist who made a significant impact in both the music and film industries. His iconic song “The Purple People Eater,” his memorable performances in Western movies and TV series, and his comedic alter ego, Ben Colder, continue to entertain audiences to this day. Unfortunately, Sheb Wooley passed away on September 16, 2003, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 82. However, his legacy lives on through his music, movies, and TV shows, and he will always be remembered as a true American icon.


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April 10, 1963 – Elvis Presley

April 10, 1963 – The Elvis Presley movie “It Happened at the World’s Fair” opens nationally and does relatively well at the box office, though its plot is the most frivolous of any Elvis film so far. The soundtrack album hits #4. #ROCkabillyHop @ElvisPresley #Elvis #theKing #TCB #ItHappenedAtTheWorldsFair #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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April 9, 1932 -Carl Perkins

April 9, 1932 – Singer-songwriter Carl Perkins was born on this day in Tiptonville, Tennessee. He had the 1956 US #2 and UK #10 single “Blue Suede Shoes.” Perkins’ songs were recorded by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Johnny Cash. Paul McCartney claimed that “if there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles.” #ROCkabillyHop #BlueSuedeShoes @SunRecords #CarlPerkins #RocHop #HappyBirthday #RocHop #OTD #RockNRoll
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