Spade Cooley

Spade Cooley was an American actor and musician, best known for his contributions to western swing music and his notable hits like “Shame, Shame on You.” He was also a performer in numerous films and television shows during his career.

Personal and Family Life

Born Donnell Clyde Cooley on December 17, 1910, in Grand, Oklahoma, Spade moved to Oregon at a young age. He showed an early aptitude for music, studying the violin and cello, and began performing with his father at community events. He was married to Ella Mae Evans until her tragic death in 1961, after which he was convicted of her murder during a heated argument.

Career Achievements

Cooley’s career began as a stand-in for Roy Rogers in films, leading to his own success as a musician and bandleader. He created the Spade Cooley Orchestra and gained fame through his television broadcasts starting in 1948, where he captured a large audience. Despite facing health and financial struggles later in life, he remained a significant figure in the music industry, particularly in the western swing genre.

Death and Legacy

Spade Cooley died of a heart attack on November 23, 1969, after a performance at a benefit concert in Oakland, California. His passing marked the end of a tumultuous life filled with both artistic achievement and personal tragedy. He left behind a legacy in western swing music and is remembered for his influential role in the genre.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Bad Man of Deadwood 1941-09-05 Musician
Bullet Code 1940-04-12 Fiddler (uncredited)
The Kid from Gower Gulch 1950-01-15 Spade Cooley
Southward Ho! 1939-03-19 Fiddler
Frontier Pony Express 1939-04-11 Charley Weston
The Arizona Kid 1939-09-28 Union Soldier
Destry Rides Again 1939-11-30 Fiddle Player (uncredited)
The Marshal Of Mesa City 1939-11-03 Fiddler (uncredited)
You’re Not So Tough 1940-07-26 Fiddle Player
Thundering Hoofs 1942-07-24 Fiddler (uncredited)
Rockin’ in the Rockies 1945-04-17 Spade Cooley
Colorado 1940-09-15 Henchman
Young Bill Hickok 1940-10-21 Musician
The Border Legion 1940-12-05 Musician
The Ranger and the Lady 1940-07-30 Bent’s Banjoist
Texas Panhandle 1945-12-20 Band Leader Spade
Melody Ranch 1940-09-15 Melody Ranch Band Musician
Outlaws of the Rockies 1945-09-18 Singer Spade
Border Outlaws 1950-11-01 Spade Cooley
Home in Wyomin’ 1942-04-29 1st Fiddler (uncredited)
Senorita from the West 1945-10-12 Bandleader
In Old Cheyenne 1941-04-04 Cowhand / Musician
Robin Hood of the Pecos 1941-01-14 Soldier (uncredited)
Sheriff of Tombstone 1941-05-07 Fiddle Player
Nevada City 1941-06-19 Musician
Man from Cheyenne 1942-01-16 Cowhand
South of Santa Fe 1942-02-17 Jim Clancy
Heart of the Golden West 1942-11-16 Rustler
Sunset on the Desert 1942-04-01 Musician
Romance on the Range 1942-05-18 Townsman
Dawn on the Great Divide 1942-12-18 Fiddler
Square Dance Jubilee 1949-11-11 Spade Cooley
Lost Canyon 1942-12-18 Fiddle Player
The Silver Bandit 1950-02-20 Spade Cooley
Take Me Back to Tulsa 1944-08-08
Everybody’s Dancin’ 1950-03-31 Spade
Vacation Days 1947-01-25 Spade Cooley
My Chickashay Gal 1945-10-29 Band Leader
Red Skins and Red Heads 1941-04-15 Fiddle Player (uncredited)
The Big Tip Off