Old Shep
Encyclopedia
"Old Shep" is a song by Red Foley
and Arthur Willis about a dog Foley owned as a child (in reality, the dog, poisoned by a neighbor, was a German shepherd named Hoover). Foley and Willis wrote the song in 1933. Foley first recorded the song in 1935, again in 1941 and yet again in 1946.
The song, later recorded
by many artists
including Hank Snow
and Elvis Presley
, became a country
classic.
On October 3, 1945, Presley at age ten sang "Old Shep" for his first public performance, a singing contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. Dressed as a cowboy, he stood on a chair to reach the microphone. He came in fifth place, winning $5 and a free ticket to the fair rides.
The only version
of the song to ever appear in the UK Singles Chart
was by Clinton Ford
in October 1959, which spent one week at number 27.
In the British TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses
, Old Shep is Del Boy
's favourite song. In the 1982 Christmas special "Diamonds Are for Heather
", Del gets a local mariachi
band to sing "Old Shep". At the end of the episode, after being dumped by Heather, he pays some Christmas carol singers to sing the song to cheer himself up. In a later episode, "Modern Men
, Del has "Old Shep" as the "on hold" music on his mobile phone
, plus it plays on the radio in Sid's cafe in "The Long Legs of the Law
". The song was also heard in the third episode of the prequel series Rock & Chips, "The Frog and the Pussycat
".
Colombian performer Marco recorded a Spanish version in 1986.
Led Zeppelin's song Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
, which is about Robert Plant's dog, mentions 'Old Shep' in the line 'When you're old and your eyes are dim ain't no Old Shep gonna happen again'.
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
and Arthur Willis about a dog Foley owned as a child (in reality, the dog, poisoned by a neighbor, was a German shepherd named Hoover). Foley and Willis wrote the song in 1933. Foley first recorded the song in 1935, again in 1941 and yet again in 1946.
The song, later recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
by many artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
including Hank Snow
Hank Snow
Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, became a country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
classic.
On October 3, 1945, Presley at age ten sang "Old Shep" for his first public performance, a singing contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. Dressed as a cowboy, he stood on a chair to reach the microphone. He came in fifth place, winning $5 and a free ticket to the fair rides.
The only version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song to ever appear in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
was by Clinton Ford
Clinton Ford (singer)
Clinton Ford was an English popular singer of the 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:He was born Ian George Stopford Harrison, in Salford, Lancashire....
in October 1959, which spent one week at number 27.
In the British TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
, Old Shep is Del Boy
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
's favourite song. In the 1982 Christmas special "Diamonds Are for Heather
Diamonds Are for Heather
"Diamonds Are for Heather" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second Christmas special, and was first screened on 30 December, 1982.-Synopsis:...
", Del gets a local mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
band to sing "Old Shep". At the end of the episode, after being dumped by Heather, he pays some Christmas carol singers to sing the song to cheer himself up. In a later episode, "Modern Men
Modern Men (Only Fools and Horses)
"Modern Men" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of the 1996 Christmas trilogy, and was first screened on 27 December 1996.-Synopsis:...
, Del has "Old Shep" as the "on hold" music on his mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
, plus it plays on the radio in Sid's cafe in "The Long Legs of the Law
The Long Legs of the Law
"The Long Legs of the Law" is the first episode of series 2 of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was first broadcast on 21 October, 1982. The title of the episode was a pun on the police term "the long arm of the law".-Synopsis:...
". The song was also heard in the third episode of the prequel series Rock & Chips, "The Frog and the Pussycat
The Frog and the Pussycat
The Frog and the Pussycat is the third and final episode of the Rock & Chips trilogy. It was first screened on April 28, 2011, five days after the death of writer John Sullivan.-Plot:...
".
Colombian performer Marco recorded a Spanish version in 1986.
Led Zeppelin's song Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
"Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" is a song on English rock band Led Zeppelin's third album, Led Zeppelin III, released in 1970.-Song history:Jimmy Page and Robert Plant constructed the song in 1970 at Bron-Yr-Aur, a small cottage in Wales where they stayed after completing a gruelling concert tour of the United...
, which is about Robert Plant's dog, mentions 'Old Shep' in the line 'When you're old and your eyes are dim ain't no Old Shep gonna happen again'.