Spade Cooley
Source: Planet Barberella
Swing fiddler Donnell Clyde Cooley was born on 17 December 1910 in Grand, Oklahoma. He composed titles like 'Crazy 'Cause I Love You' 1946 and 'Spadella' in 1947. Donnel is said to have become "Spade" upon winning a few hands of poker with spade flushes sometime as a young man. He married a girl named Ann at age seventeen and had a son about the time that he left for Venice, California, to become a ready to Roy Rogers.
IMDb has Spade uncredited in the first of above fifty parts in films in 1938: "Land of Fighting Men'. Russell's 'Country Music Records' (CMR) has him holding his first recording session in Los Angeles on March 12, 1940, as second fiddle to Carl Cotner for Gene Autry. Titles gone down on that date were such as 'The Singing Hills' (Vocalion / Okeh 05513) and 'Goodbye Little Darling Goodbye' (Vocalion / Okeh 05463) issued that year per Discogs and 45Worlds. CMR has Cooley as possible second fiddle to possible Cotner again for Roy Rogers on August 29 of 1940 with Johnny Bond on string bass and Dick Reinhart at guitar for such as 'Chapel in the Valley'/'No Matter What Happens, My Darling' (Decca 5895). He may have joined Rogers with the Jimmy Wakely Trio on September 3, 1940 for such as 'Silent Night, Holy Night' / 'O Come All Ye Faithful' (Decca 5883).
'Goodbye Little Darlin' Goodbye' Spade Cooley w Gene Autry (vocal)
Cooley's second-known recording
12 March 1940 in Hollywood Matrix LA 2175-A Conqueror 9389 / Vocalion 05463
Guitar: Oliver Tudor Fiddle: Carl Cotner / Cooley
Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Walter Jecker
Composition: Gene Autry / Johnny Marvin
'A Chapel In the Valley' Spade Cooley w Roy Rogers (vocal)
29 Aug 1940 in Los Angeles Matrix DLA 2102-A Decca 5895 / MCAD 10548
Guitar: Dick Reinhart Fiddle: Carl Cotner / Cooley
Steel guitar: ? Bass: Johnny Bond
Composition: Johnny Lange / Lew Porter
'O Come All Ye Faithful' Spade Cooley w Roy Rogers (vocal) and Jimmy Wakely‘s Rough Riders
3 Sep 1940 in Los Angeles Matrix DLA 2102-A Decca 5895 / MCAD 10548
Guitar: Jimmy Wakely / Dick Reinhart Fiddle: Carl Cotner / Cooley
Steel guitar: ? Bass: Johnny Bond
Composition: Wikipedia
CMR has the first of numerous certain sessions for Rogers on September 4, 1940, with Cooley's Buckle Busters for 'Round the Couple and Swing When You Meet' / 'Chase That Rabbit - Chase That Squirrel', et al. Cooley hung with Rogers into 1942, recording with him again in 1947 and 1949.
On November 8 of 1940 Cooley was fiddler in Texas Jim Lewis' (string bass) Lone Star Cowboys for such as 'New San Antonio Rose' / 'Worried Mind' (Decca 5901).
'Mary the Prairie and I' Spade Cooley w Texas Jim Lewis
8 Nov 1940 in Hollywood Matrix DLA 2237-A Decca 5912
Guitar: Jack Rivers / Pete Wray (vocal) Fiddle: Cooley Bass: Lewis
Composition: Allen Erwin / Billy Hays / Frank Capano / Jack Ziehler
On August 19 of 1941 Cooley was with Ray Whitley's Six Bar Cowboys for 'When You Took Your Love Away' / 'How Was I Supposed to Know' (Okeh 06454; Conqueror 9853) and 'Please Don't Forget Me, Dear' / 'Darlin Don't Cry Over Me' (Conqueror 9864).
Cooley backed vocalist, Ella Sutton, on six tracks on August 22, 1941 with two issued: 'Blue Bonnets' / 'On the Banks of the Sunny San Juan' (Okeh 06481). Seven days later on the 29th he was second fiddle to Cotner for Autry again on 'If You Only Believed in Me' (Okeh 6725), et al.
'If You Only Believed In Me' Spade Cooley w Gene Autry (vocal)
27 Aug 1941 in Hollywood Matrix H 486-1 Conqueror 9807 / OKeh 6725
Guitar: Oliver Tudor Fiddle: Carl Cotner / Cooley
Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Bass: Fred Whitling
Composition: Gene Autry
Cooley joined Johnny Bond's Red River Valley Boys in 1941-42, their first session on December 2 for the likes of 'You Brought Sorrow to My Heart' / 'How Low Do the Blues Want to Go' (Okeh 06577), et al. CMR has Bond (guitar) with Cooley as lead fiddle for Judy Canova on December 15, 1941 for two of four tracks issued: 'Is It True' / 'Some One' (Okeh 6683).
'You Brought Sorrow to My Heart' Spade Cooley w Johnny Bond and His Red River Valley Boys
2 December 1941 Hollywood Matrix H 585-1 Columbia 37255
Guitar: Bond (vocal) / Jimmy Wakely / Doyle Salathiel Fiddle: Cooley
Piano: Paul Sells Harmonica: Jerry Adler Bass: Dick Reinhart
Composition: Bond / Harriett Melka
'Is It True?' Spade Cooley w Judy Canova (vocal)
15 December 1941 Hollywood Matrix H 603-1 OKeh 6683
Guitar: Johnny Bond Fiddle: Cooley / Mischa Russell Steel guitar: Frank Marvin
Accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Dick Reinhart
Composition: B. Brown
'Some One' Spade Cooley w Judy Canova (vocal)
15 December 1941 Hollywood Matrix H 604-1 OKeh 6683
Guitar: Johnny Bond Fiddle: Cooley Steel guitar: Frank Marvin
Accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Dick Reinhart
Composition: Marvin
CMR has Spade with Jimmy Wakely's Rough Riders on June 23 of 1942 for such as 'There's a Star Spangeled Banner Waving Somewhere' / 'Standing Outside of Heaven' (Decca 6059) and 'Alone and Lonely' / 'It's Too Late to Say You're Sorry' (Decca 6072). It was Texas Jim Lewis again on July 23, 1942 for 'Tweedle O'Twill' (Decca 6064), et al. Sometime in 1942 Cooley hire Ella Mae Evans to sing in his band.
'Tweedle O'Twill' Spade Cooley w Texas Jim Lewis and His Lone Star Cowboys
23 July 1942 in Hollywood Matrix L 3119-A Decca 6064
Guitar: Jack Rivers (vocal) / Dan Walsh Fiddle: Cooley
Accordion: Larry DePaul Bass: Lewis
Composition: Gene Autry / Fred Rose
Praguefrank's places Cooley's first name session on December 4 of 1944 at radio KNX in Hollywood to result in 'Shame on You' / 'A Pair of Broken Hearts' (Okeh 6731) and 'I've Taken All I'm Gonna Take From You' / 'Forgive Me One More Time' (Okeh 6746). Tex Williams sang lead.
It was 1945 that Cooley divorced Ann to marry Ella Mae in November, the same year that his initial name recordings began to play winning hands on Billboard's Country charts with 'A Pair of Broken Hearts' reaching #8, 'I've Taken All I'm Gonna Take from You' rising to #4 and 'Shame on You' topping #1. Later best-selling titles were 'Detour' at #2 in 1946, 'You Can't Break My Heart' at #3 in 1946 and 'Crazy 'Cause I Love You' at #4 1947.
'Forgive Me One More Time' Spade Cooley Orchestra
First track of Cooley's first name session
4 Dec 1944 in Hollywood Matrix H 1157 OKeh 6746
Guitar: Smokey Rogers / Dan Walsh Fiddle: Cooley / Rex Call
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Eddie Bennett Accordion: Pedro DePaul
Bass: Deuce Spriggins Drums: Warren Penniman Vocal: Tex Williams
Composition: Smokey Rogers
'Shame On You' Spade Cooley Orchestra
Second track of Cooley's first name session
4 Dec 1944 in Hollywood Matrix H 1158 Okeh 6731
Guitar: Smokey Rogers / Dan Walsh Fiddle: Cooley / Rex Call
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Eddie Bennett Accordion: Pedro DePaul
Bass: Deuce Spriggins Drums: Warren Penniman Vocal: Tex Williams
Composition: Cooley
'I Guess I've Been Dreaming Again' Spade Cooley Orchestra
Third track of Cooley's first name session
4 Dec 1944 in Hollywood Matrix H 1159 Columbia 38054
Guitar: Smokey Rogers / Dan Walsh Fiddle: Cooley / Rex Call
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Eddie Bennett Accordion: Pedro DePaul
Bass: Deuce Spriggins Drums: Warren Penniman Vocal: Tex Williams
Composition: Floyd Jenkins
'I've Taken All I'm Gonna Take From You' Spade Cooley Orchestra
Fourth track of Cooley's first name session
4 Dec 1944 in Hollywood Matrix H 1160 Okeh 6746
Guitar: Smokey Rogers / Dan Walsh Fiddle: Cooley / Rex Call
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Eddie Bennett Accordion: Pedro DePaul
Bass: Deuce Spriggins Drums: Warren Penniman Vocal: Tex Williams
Composition: Fred Rose / Jenny Lou Carson
'A Pair of Broken Hearts' Spade Cooley Orchestra
Fifth track of Cooley's first name session
4 Dec 1944 in Hollywood Matrix H 1161 Okeh 6731
Guitar: Smokey Rogers / Dan Walsh Fiddle: Cooley / Rex Call
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Eddie Bennett Accordion: Pedro DePaul
Bass: Deuce Spriggins Drums: Warren Penniman Vocal: Tex Williams
Composition: Cooley
'Shame on You Spade Cooley and His Western Dance Gang w Patsy McMahon
Soundie film released 15 Oct 1945
Composition: Cooley
'Detour' Spade Cooley
3 Jan 1946 in Hollywood Matrix HCO 1638 Columbia 36935
Guitar: Smokey Rogers / John Weis Fiddle: Cooley / Rex Call
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Eddie Bennett Accordion: Pedro DePaul
Bass: Deuce Spriggins Drums: ? Vocal: Tex Williams
Composition: Paul Westmoreland
'Crazy 'Cause I Love You' Spade Cooley
3 Jan 1946 in Hollywood Matrix HCO 1639 Columbia 37052
Guitar: Smokey Rogers / John Weis Fiddle: Cooley / Rex Call
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Eddie Bennett Accordion: Pedro DePaul
Bass: Deuce Spriggins Drums: ? Vocal: Tex Williams
Composition: Cooley
In 1949 Cooley issued an album of three 45 RPMs called 'Square Dances' (RCA Victor WP 249). It was an album of three 78 RPMs in 1950 called 'Spade Cooley Plays Billy Hill For Dancing' (RCA Victor P 275).
'Wagonner' Spade Cooley
5 April 1949 in Hollywood Matrix D9-VB-572
See the album 'Square Dances' on RCA Victor WP 249 / 1949
Guitar: J. Pruett Banjo: R. Lewis Fiddle: Cooley / W. Wright
Piano: John Haynes Bass: Stanley Puls
'Ida Red' Spade Cooley
5 April 1949 in Hollywood Matrix D9-VB-575
See the album 'Square Dances' on RCA Victor WP 249 / 1949
Guitar: J. Pruett Banjo: R. Lewis Fiddle: Cooley / W. Wright
Piano: John Haynes Bass: Stanley Puls
Composition: Traditional Wikipedia
'Wake Up Susan' Spade Cooley
5 April 1949 in Hollywood Matrix D9-VB-576
See the album 'Square Dances' on RCA Victor WP 249 / 1949
Guitar: J. Pruett Banjo: R. Lewis Fiddle: Cooley / W. Wright
Piano: John Haynes Bass: Stanley Puls
Composition: Traditional
'6/8 to the Barn' Spade Cooley
5 April 1949 in Hollywood Matrix D9-VB-577
See the album 'Square Dances' on RCA Victor WP 249 / 1949
Guitar: J. Pruett Banjo: R. Lewis Fiddle: Cooley / W. Wright
Piano: John Haynes Bass: Stanley Puls
Cooley had his own television program in 1957-58. In 1958 a few of his titles were included in the LP 'Western Swing in Hi-Fi' on Decca DL 8730, that shared with tracks by Bob Wills, Tex Williams and Billy Gray.
Praguefrank's traces Cooley to as late as an unidentified date in 1959 in Hollywood for tracks that saw issue on his LP, 'Fidoodlin' in 1959 on Ray Note (RN 5007) [Discogs]. A Hollywood Star appeared on the Boulevard in 1960.
'Fidoodlin' Spade Cooley Album
Sometime 1959 in Hollywood Ray Note RN-5007
Album personnel:
Guitar: Jimmy Luttrell Rhythm guitar: Diane Jewett / Roy Lanham
Fiddle: Judy Poblano / Kay Hickman / Cooley Harp: Lloyd Lindroth
Steel guitar: Joaquin Murphey
Piano: Bill Stafford Accordion: Suzi Chandler
Bass: Dick Fritz Drums: Fred Taggart
On April 3, 1961, when one might have thought Cooley had the moon on a string, he murdered his wife, Ella Mae, in an especially brutal manner, his 14 year-old daughter, Melody, witnessing part of it. He died eight years later of heart attack on November 23, 1969, after giving a concert on prison furlough with one year left of prison time.
Sources & References for Spade Cooley:
Larry Birnbaum (Before Elvis / Bloomsbury Academic / 2013)
Encyclopedia of Country Music (Oxford University Press / 1998)
Bruce Walker (Musician Guide)
Audio of Cooley: Internet Archive
Billboard Popularity Charts: Music VF
Collections: University of California Los Angeles
Compositions: Music Brainz SHS
Documentaries:
The Darkest Story in Country History (Snail Rock Fm / 2025 [AI])
The Fall of Spade Cooley (Well, I Never / 2026)
The Murderous Fall of Spade Cooley (Hollywood Icons / 2025 [AI])
The Tragic Fall of the King of Western Swing (Fame's Price / 2025 [AI])
Cooley in Film / Television: IMDb TV Guide
Recordings by Cooley: Catalogs: Discogs Rocky 52 RYM
Recordings by Cooley: Compilations:
Shame On You (Jasmine Records JASMCD 3704 / 2019)
Recordings by Cooley: Select:
Square Dances (RCA Victor WP 249 / 1949)
Recordings by Cooley: Sessions:
DAHR (1944-1951)
Praguefrank's (1944-1959)
Praguefrank's (Gene Autry / 1940-1941)
Praguefrank's (Johnny Bond / 1941-1942)
Praguefrank's (Judy Canova / 1941)
Praguefrank's (Texas Jim Lewis / 1940)
Praguefrank's (Roy Rogers / 1940-1942/47/49)
Praguefrank's (Ray Whitley / 1941)
Further Reading:
Fred Bals (“Murder!” He Says / 2020)
Easy Ed (Spade Cooley: Western Swing’s Killer Cowboy)
Burt Kearns (The Wife & Death of Spade Cooley / 2018)
Graham Reid (We Need to Talk About . . . Spade Cooley / 2022)
Other Profiles:
Kit and Morgan Benson (Find a Grave)
Mike Markwardt (Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival)
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