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Marlin1894 Special user 559 Posts 
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Obviously, James Gandolfini is getting all the press. But largely unnoticed yesterday was the death at age 90 of Country Crooner/Yodeler Slim Whitman. RIP Slim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAbj_E9OUZM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH64weKPF60 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0ON5DRZGQg |
Regan.JPG "View Profile"){kind=avatar} Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts
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Slim had a very unique style and voice. I wasn't a fan or anything, but I remember hearing his records when I was a kid.
R.I.P. :(
Mister Mystery
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts
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Back in the 1970's Whitman was one of the first to exploit late night local television with cheap commercials advertising his "greatest hits," which were mostly blatant imitations of Eddie Arnold hits like "Cattle Call," etc. You know the type of commercial- studio videos of a lip synching performer doing excerpts from different "hits" while the titles scroll up the screen. "Order Now! Only $5.99 with FREE SHIPPING! Not Available in Stores." (Which always made me wonder WHY they weren't available in stores.)
An enterprising fellow for sure. |
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Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts
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Had anyone ever really heard of him before his TV sales? He had that high clear cowboy voice that was distinctive, very easy to listen to. I wonder how long he kept singing. I think he made himself famous just by declaring his presence. The commercials presumed everyone knew who he was, and I think no one did until then. Des anyone know of his career before the comercials?
Nice voice,long life.
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts
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Just found this:
Quote:
...he never achieved the level of stardom in the United States that he did in Britain, where he had a number of other hits during the 1950s.[5] Throughout the early 1970s, he continued to record and was a guest on Wolfman Jack's television show The Midnight Special.[6] At the time, Whitman's recording efforts were yielding only minor hits. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slim_Whitman |
Destiny Inner circle 1429 Posts
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When I was about 12 the whole family packed into the car and we drove about two and a half hours (on a school night) to a nearby regional city to see Slim Whitman in concert (though his son did an awful lot of the singing). The event really stands out in my mind because a two and a half hour trip was quite an event for us back in the early 70's.
He had wonderful stage presence - very charismatic. |
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Marlin1894 Special user 559 Posts
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Quote:
On 2013-06-20 21:36, mastermindreader wrote: Well, there's a respectful sendoff. I wouldn't call recording a song that has been previously recorded by another artist a "blatant imitation". I guess Eddy Arnold was just doing a blatant imitation of Tex Owen. Slim Whitman didn't need to imitate anybody, and the man could sing. Show a little respect or don't post at all on a RIP thread. |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts
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Yes, sir!
Wasn't meant to be disrespectful at all. The fact that he was the early king of late night TV record marketing shows that he was very enterprising indeed. And yes, he could sing. But all I remember was him touting Arnold's "Cattle Call" as one of his "greatest hits." It wasn't. But that said, I enjoyed his singing and apologize for any disrespect that may have been conveyed in my post. May he RIP. |
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Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts
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If we can trust wikipedia, Whitman hit #11 on the US country charts with his version of "The Cattle Call" in 1955. He appears to have hit #1 in the UK once ("Rose Marie" in 1954) and hit #2 in the USA twice ("Indian Love Call" in 1952 and "Secret Love" in 1954.)
I had never heard of him until the K-Tel records of the '70s either. John
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts
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The similarity between the styles of Slim Whitman and Eddie Arnold is probably not entirely coincidental, given that Whitman was discovered by Arnold's then manager, Col. Tom Parker.
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Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts
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Quote:
On 2013-06-21 14:17, mastermindreader wrote: The Dutch have produced a long line of winners in western civilization. Very clever and industrious people, the Dutch. Interesting that the colonel began his career as a carny barker.
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts
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Slim singing "Rose Marie": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZIKbJziq......AE152A06
Even Andy Kaufman was a fan, singing "Rose Marie" on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_47Xl4A98OU |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts
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I too, remember when Slim Whitman first began appearing on late night TV infomercials. There was a certain campiness to them, as they tended to emphasize the yodelling aspects of his singing style. He had to have an incredible voice to do that. What I remember most though, is that he was my step-dad's doppelganger.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » Slim Whitman- RIP (0 Likes) | |
Posted: Jun 20, 2013 04:48 pm 
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