Wesley Tuttle (Dec. 13, 1917* - Sep. 29, 2003) was
an American Country Musician who played an important role in the development of
country music in California. He was among the first country singers signed to
Capitol Records. (*other sources Dec.30)
Born Wesley
LeRoy Tuttle in Lamar, Colorado, on December 13, 1917, he gained an early
exposure to phonograph records in the cafe where his parents worked. The
Tuttles moved to San Fernando, California, just before Wesley's fifth birthday,
and there he learned to play the ukulele and also began an interest in singing
and performing. By the age of 8 he had lost the middle three fingers of his
left hand in an accident at his father's butcher shop, which forced him to
chord his ukulele and play the guitar with his right hand. He later received a
radio as a gift and took an interest in Jimmie Rodegers who inspired Tuttle to
learn how to yodel while recovering from his accident. At the age of 12 he
could play guitar, sing, and yodel with enough talent to earn a spot on Radio
Station KNX in Los Angeles, California.
In the early 1930s he was heard by country musician
Stuart Hamblen, who invited Tuttle to appear on his radio show, 'The Family
Album,' which was the most popular country music program in Southern California
at the time. The exposure from Hamblen's show, earned Tuttle other radio and
film work, such as performing Dopey's yodel in the Walt Disney film "Snow
White & the Seven Dwarfs." His success prompted him to quit high
school and pursue a more promising music career.
In 1939, Tuttle moved to Dayton, Ohio, and worked at
Radio Station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he married his first wife and
later met Merle Travis. He later returned to California after a dispute with
Radio Station WLW, resuming radio work and meeting country musician Johnny
Bond. Later with Bond's help, he joined the 'Jimmy Wakely Trio' and, in 1944,
backed Tex Ritter on the recording session that produced the hit 'Jealous
Heart.'
The success of 'Jealous Heart' led to a contract
with Capitol Records, where he cut his first sessions in 1944. He later brought
in Merle Travis and recorded several chart-topping hits including, 'With Tears
In My Eyes' in 1945, and 'Detour' in 1946. The demands of Tuttle's career
contributed to the breakup of his marriage, and in 1946 he married Marilyn
Meyers, who became his duet partner. As Wesley & Marilyn Tuttle, the couple
made Tuttle's final chart hit, 'Never,' in 1954. Tuttle's other recordings include, 'I Know
It's Wrong,' 'To Little Too Late,' 'When You Don't Cry (You Cry Alone),' and
'I've Loved You Too Long To Forget.'
He also appeared in a number of western films
starring Jimmy Wakely, Charles Starrett, and Tex Ritter, including, Frontier
Lawn" (1944), "Riders Of The Dawn" (1945), "Song Of The
Sierras" (1946), "Arizona Trail" (1943), "Oklahoma
Raiders" (1944), "Songs Of The Range" (1944), "Terror
Trail" (1946), "Rainbow Over The Rockies" (1947), and
"Night Rider" (1962).
In the 1950s Tuttle worked as a writer and host on
the country music television program 'Town Hall Party,' but he quit television
and canceled his contract with Capitol in 1957 after converting to
Christianity. He enrolled in a Christian college to become a minister, and in
1959 made his first gospel album for the Sacred Record Label. He later served
as Sacred Record's musical director from 1957 to 1970, and recorded a number of
religious albums, with and without his wife, Marilyn
.
.
Eyesight problems forced Tuttle into retirement in
the 1970s. Tuttle died from heart failure on September 29, 2003, Los Angeles,
California, USA at the age of 85. (Info mainly from findagrave.com)
1 comment:
For WesleyTuttle1944-45 go here:
http://uploaded.net/file/xgw5hcye
For Wesley Tuttle 1946 go here;
http://www.uploadable.ch/file/ANUJhYAHHErY/ysmim.Wesley.Tuttle..1946.2012.rar
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