Spade Cooley

Spade Cooley

Donnell Clyde "Spade" Cooley (December 17, 1910 – November 23, 1969) was an American convicted murderer and former Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality. In 1961 he was arrested and convicted for the April 1961 murder of his second wife, Ella Mae Evans.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 17, 1910 (Oklahoma), Died November 23, 1969 (Vacaville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: violin, leader, songwriter, composer, vocalist, arranger, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	E0VB-3605	10-in.	4/11/1950	Hillbilly fever	Les Anderson ; Spade Cooley ; Ginny Jackson ; Spade Cooley Orchestra	Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	E0VB-3606	10-in.	4/11/1950	Honky-tonkin'	Spade Cooley ; Ginny Jackson ; Spade Cooley Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	E0VB-3648	10-in.	5/19/1950	Longing	Spade Cooley ; Ginny Jackson ; Spade Cooley Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	E0VB-3649	10-in.	5/19/1950	Little Liza Lou	Spade Cooley ; Hal Derwin ; Spade Cooley Orchestra	Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D5AB-0424	10-in.	6/19/1945	Shame on you	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	composer
Victor	D5AB-1115	10-in.	8/10/1945	You can't break my heart (it's been broken before)	Roy Rogers	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	songwriter
Victor	D6VB-2138	10-in.	9/4/1946	My Chickashay gal	Country Washburne Orchestra ; Roy Rogers	Male vocal solo, with string band	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-0451	10-in.	1/31/1947	It's dark outside	Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-0452	10-in.	1/31/1947	Who dug this hole I'm in	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-0453	10-in.	1/31/1947	Minuet in swing	Spade Cooley Band	Instrumental ensemble, with soloists	leader, composer, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-0454	10-in.	1/31/1947	Texas playboy rag	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Instrumental ensemble, with soloists	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-0475	10-in.	2/24/1947	Do ya or don'tcha	Country Washburne Orchestra ; Roy Rogers ; Country Washburne	Male vocal solo, with string band	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-0524	10-in.	4/25/1947	Boggs boogie	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	D7VB-0525	10-in.	4/25/1947	Red hair and green eyes	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-0526	10-in.	4/25/1947	All aboard for Oklahoma	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-0527	10-in.	4/25/1947	Texas steel guitar	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-0540	10-in.	5/9/1947	Tailor made baby	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-0541	10-in.	5/9/1947	Red hot polka	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with vocal group and instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-0547	10-in.	5/18/1947	On the old Spanish trail	Spade Cooley ; Roy Rogers ; Spade Cooley Western Swing Band	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin, leader
Victor	D7VB-0548	10-in.	5/18/1947	Three fiddle rag	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Western Swing Band	String band	instrumentalist, violin, leader
Victor	D7VB-1398	10-in.	10/20/1947	Call me darlin', do	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin, leader, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1399	10-in.	10/20/1947	That's the last straw	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin, leader
Victor	D7VB-1800	10-in.	10/20/1947	Tuesday two-step	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	instrumentalist, violin, leader, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1822	10-in.	10/20/1947	Fickle woman	Spade Cooley	Male vocal solo, with string band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1823	10-in.	10/27/1947	Oklahoma waltz	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band ; Spadettes	String band, with female vocal group	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1824	10-in.	10/27/1947	Lord Nottingham's war dance	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1869	10-in.	11/10/1947	Big chief boogie	Spade Cooley	Male vocal solo, with string band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-1870	10-in.	11/10/1947	Whistle bait	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with string band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1871	10-in.	11/10/1947	The best deal in town	Spade Cooley	Male vocal solo, with string band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-2102	10-in.	11/17/1947	Spanish fandango	Spade Cooley	Male vocal solo, with string band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D7VB-2103	10-in.	11/17/1947	Blonde fiddle blues	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	D7VB-2104	10-in.	11/17/1947	Four fiddle polka	Spade Cooley	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	D7VB-2105	10-in.	11/17/1947	Topeka polka	Spade Cooley	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	D9VB-0562	10-in.	3/30/1949	Don't take my word, take my heart	Jed Dees ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with vocal group and instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0563	10-in.	3/30/1949	I had my heart set on you	Jed Dees ; Spade Cooley Band	Male vocal solo, with vocal group and instrumental ensemble	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0572	10-in.	4/5/1949	Wagonner	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, arranger, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0573	10-in.	4/5/1949	Flop-eared mule	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, arranger, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0574	10-in.	4/5/1949	The eighth of January	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, arranger, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0575	10-in.	4/5/1949	Ida Red	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, arranger
Victor	D9VB-0576	10-in.	4/5/1949	Wake up, Susan!	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, arranger, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0577	10-in.	4/5/1949	6/8 to the barn	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, arranger
Victor	D9VB-0578	10-in.	4/5/1949	Arkansas traveler	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, arranger, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0579	10-in.	4/5/1949	The gal I left behind me	Spade Cooley ; Spade Cooley Band	String band	leader, arranger, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0699	10-in.	8/9/1949	Skip to my Lou	Spade Cooley ; Roy Rogers ; Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with dance calls	leader
Victor	D9VB-0700	10-in.	8/9/1949	Old Joe Clark	Spade Cooley ; Roy Rogers ; Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with dance calls	leader
Victor	D9VB-0701	10-in.	8/9/1949	Rickett's reel	Spade Cooley ; Roy Rogers ; Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with dance calls	leader
Victor	D9VB-0702	10-in.	8/9/1949	Sycamore reel	Spade Cooley ; Roy Rogers ; Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with dance calls	leader
Victor	D9VB-0703	10-in.	8/9/1949	Oh dem golden slippers	Spade Cooley ; Roy Rogers ; Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with dance calls	leader
Victor	D9VB-0704	10-in.	8/9/1949	Lucky leather breeches	Spade Cooley ; Roy Rogers ; Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with dance calls	leader
Victor	D9VB-0782	10-in.	11/17/1949	Foolish tears	Spade Cooley ; Ginny Jackson ; Spade Cooley Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0783	10-in.	11/17/1949	Send ten pretty flowers to my girl in Tennessee	Spade Cooley ; Bob "Tex" Cromer ; Spade Cooley Orchestra	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	D9VB-0784	10-in.	11/17/1949	Texas star	Les Anderson ; Spade Cooley ; Bob "Tex" Cromer	Male vocal solo, with dance calls and instrumental ensemble	leader
Victor	D9VB-0785	10-in.	11/17/1949	Pretty please love me	Spade Cooley ; Ginny Jackson	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Victor	D9VB-2241	10-in.	9/14/1949	Mama and daddy broke my heart	Eddy Arnold	Male vocal solo, with string band	composer
Columbia	H486	10-in.	8/27/1941	If you only believed in me	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H487	10-in.	8/27/1941	Keep rollin' lazy longhorns	Gene Autry	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H488	10-in.	8/27/1941	Blue-eyed Elaine	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H585	10-in.	12/2/1941	You brought sorrow to my heart	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H586	10-in.	12/2/1941	You don't care	Johnny Bond	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H906	10-in.	7/31/1942	I'm a pris'ner of war (on a foreign shore)	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H908	10-in.	7/31/1942	Der fuehrer's face	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H909	10-in.	7/31/1942	Love gone cold	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1157	10-in.	12/4/1944	Forgive me one more time	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1158	10-in.	12/4/1944	Shame on you	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1159	10-in.	12/4/1944	I guess I've been dreaming again	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1160	10-in.	12/4/1944	I've taken all I'm gonna take from you	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1161	10-in.	12/4/1944	A pair of broken hearts	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1488	10-in.	7/24/1945	You can't break my heart	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Columbia	HCO1638	10-in.	1/3/1946	Detour	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1639	10-in.	1/3/1946	Crazy 'cause I love you	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer, lyricist
Columbia	HCO1640	10-in.	1/3/1946	Hide your face	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1817	10-in.	5/3/1946	Three way boogie	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer, leader
Columbia	HCO1818	10-in.	5/3/1946	Oklahoma stomp	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Columbia	HCO1819	10-in.	5/3/1946	Cow bell polka	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Columbia	HCO1820	10-in.	5/3/1946	Steel guitar rag	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1870	10-in.	6/6/1946	You better do it now	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	Male vocal solo, with string band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1871	10-in.	6/6/1946	You never miss the water (till the well runs dry)	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Columbia	HCO1872	10-in.	6/6/1946	Spadella	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Columbia	HCO1873	10-in.	6/6/1946	Devil's dream	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	instrumentalist, violin, composer, leader
Columbia	HCO1874	10-in.	6/6/1946	Yodeling polka	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, composer, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	LA2336	10-in.	8/27/1940	Good old fashioned hoedown	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2175	10-in.	3/12/1940	Goodbye little darlin' goodbye	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2179	10-in.	3/12/1940	When I'm gone you'll soon forget	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2311	10-in.	8/20/1940	Blueberry Hill	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2312	10-in.	8/20/1940	A face I see at evening	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2313	10-in.	8/20/1940	Be honest with me	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2314	10-in.	8/20/1940	The call of the canyon	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2315	10-in.	8/21/1940	There'll never be another pal like you	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2316	10-in.	8/21/1940	Broomstick buckaroo	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2317	10-in.	8/21/1940	Sycamore Lane	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2318	10-in.	8/21/1940	There ain't no use in crying now	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2319	10-in.	8/22/1940	You waited too long	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2320	10-in.	8/22/1940	That little kid sister of mine	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2321	10-in.	8/22/1940	What's gonna happen to me	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2322	10-in.	8/22/1940	Tears on my pillow	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2339	10-in.	8/27/1940	The cowboy's trademarks	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Brunswick	LA2340	10-in.	8/27/1940	The last letter	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2114	10-in.	9/4/1940	No.1: Round the couple and swing when you meet	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2115	10-in.	9/4/1940	No. 2: Round that couple—Go through and swing	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2116	10-in.	9/4/1940	No. 3: Bird in a cage and three rail pen	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2117	10-in.	9/4/1940	No. 4: Chase that rabbit, chase that squirrel	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2118	10-in.	9/4/1940	No. 5: Boy around a boy - Girl around a girl	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2119	10-in.	9/4/1940	No. 6 : Lady 'round the lady and the gent solo	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2247	10-in.	11/29/1940	New worried mind	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2248	10-in.	11/29/1940	Time changes everything	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2249	10-in.	11/29/1940	Yesterday	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2250	10-in.	11/29/1940	Melody of the plains	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2685	10-in.	8/25/1941	Don't be blue, little pal, don't be blue	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2686	10-in.	8/25/1941	You were right and I was wrong	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2687	10-in.	8/25/1941	I'm trusting in you	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2688	10-in.	8/25/1941	I'll be honest with you	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2726	10-in.	9/4/1941	Down by the old Alamo	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2727	10-in.	9/4/1941	I know I shouldn't worry	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2728	10-in.	9/4/1941	A gay ranchero	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2729	10-in.	9/4/1941	Blue bonnet lane	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2755	10-in.	9/12/1941	Don't waste your love on me	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2756	10-in.	9/12/1941	It's just the same	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2757	10-in.	9/12/1941	A man and his song	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2758	10-in.	9/12/1941	I've sold my saddle for an old guitar	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2955	10-in.	3/20/1942	You're the answer to my prayer	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2956	10-in.	3/20/1942	Little old church on the hilltop	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2957	10-in.	3/20/1942	She gave her heart to a soldier boy	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	DLA 2958	10-in.	3/20/1942	Think of me	Roy Rogers		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 3118	10-in.	7/23/1942	You gotta go	Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 3119	10-in.	7/23/1942	Tweedle O'Twill	Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 3120	10-in.	7/23/1942	Dusty skies	Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 3121	10-in.	7/23/1942	Just wait and see	Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 3122	10-in.	7/23/1942	My little prairie flower	Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 6138		3/19/1951	Chew tobacco rag	Spade Cooley and his Fiddlin' Friends		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 6139		3/9/1951	The rhumba boogie	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		instrumentalist, violin
Decca	L 6778		5/21/1952	Crazy 'cause I love you	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist
Decca	L 6779		5/21/1952	Swingin' the devil's dream	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist
Decca	L 6780		5/21/1952	Carmen's boogie	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist
Decca	L 6781		5/21/1952	One sweet letter from you	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist
Decca	L 7906		9/20/1954	Charmaine	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist
Decca	L 7907		9/20/1954	You clobbered me	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist
Decca	L 7908		9/20/1954	Break up down	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist
Decca	L 7909		9/20/1954	Sparking silver bells	Clyde "Spade" Cooley		vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cooley, Spade," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/202076.

Cooley, Spade. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/202076.

"Cooley, Spade." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.