Onie Wheeler
Encyclopedia
Onie Wheeler was an American country and bluegrass music
ian.
Wheeler was born in Senath, Missouri
, and learned to play guitar and harmonica as a child. After serving in World War II
, he started working in radio, appearing on stations in Missouri
, Arkansas
, Michigan
, and Kentucky
. In 1950, he formed The Ozark Cowboys, along with Ernest Thompson, A.J. Nelson and Doyal Nelson.
The Ozark Cowboys went to Nashville
in 1953 and signed to Columbia Records
. Their initial releases were not hits, though Lefty Frizzell
took the Wheeler-penned "Run 'Em Off" to the Top Ten of the U.S. country chart.
Wheeler signed as a solo artist to Sun Records
in 1957 and went on tour with Jerry Lee Lewis
, Johnny Cash
, Elvis Presley
, and Carl Perkins
. After a short time living in California
, he returned to Nashville and recorded for several more labels in the 1960s. Later, he toured with George Jones
and Roy Acuff
.
His biggest success was 1973 hit "John's Been Shucking My Corn," though the success of his daughter Karen would eclipse his own in the decade. He bought a guitar shop in Nashville in the late 1970s, and played at the Grand Ole Opry
at times with Acuff. Wheeler was onstage playing with Rev. Jimmie Snow in 1984 when he collapsed and died.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
ian.
Wheeler was born in Senath, Missouri
Senath, Missouri
Senath is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Senath is located at ....
, and learned to play guitar and harmonica as a child. After serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he started working in radio, appearing on stations in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. In 1950, he formed The Ozark Cowboys, along with Ernest Thompson, A.J. Nelson and Doyal Nelson.
The Ozark Cowboys went to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1953 and signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. Their initial releases were not hits, though Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
took the Wheeler-penned "Run 'Em Off" to the Top Ten of the U.S. country chart.
Wheeler signed as a solo artist to Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
in 1957 and went on tour with Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, 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"....
, and Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
. After a short time living in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he returned to Nashville and recorded for several more labels in the 1960s. Later, he toured with George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
and Roy Acuff
Roy Acuff
Roy Claxton Acuff was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the King of Country Music, Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful.Acuff...
.
His biggest success was 1973 hit "John's Been Shucking My Corn," though the success of his daughter Karen would eclipse his own in the decade. He bought a guitar shop in Nashville in the late 1970s, and played at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
at times with Acuff. Wheeler was onstage playing with Rev. Jimmie Snow in 1984 when he collapsed and died.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | "Little Mama" / "She Wiggled and Giggled" | Columbia Records |
| 1956 | "I Wanna Hold My Baby" / "Onie's Bop" | Columbia Records |
| 1956 | "A Booger Gonna Catcher" / "A Beggar For Your Love" | Columbia Records |
| 1957 | "'Goin' Back To The City" / "Steppin' Out" | Columbia Records |
| 1959 | "Tell 'Em Off" / "Jump Right Out Of This Jukebox" | Sun Records |
| 1960 | "Too Hot To Handle" / "I Need To Go Home" | K-Ark Records/Scottie Records |
| 1961 | "You're Getting All Over Me" / "All Day, All Night, All Wast" | K-Ark Records |
| 1961 | "White Lightening Cherokee" / "My Stubborn Heart" | K-Ark Records |
| 1973 | "John's Been Shucking My Corn" / ? | Royal American |
|
Sun Records (not released) |