Carolina Cotton (nee Helen Hagstrom; October 20, 1925 in Cash, Arkansas – June 10, 1997, in Bakersfield, California) was an American singer and actress known as the "Yodeling Blonde Bombshell", the "Girl of the Golden West" and the "Queen of the Range".
Born to an Arkansas farming family who moved to San
Francisco during the Great Depression, Hagstrom took dancing classes, became a
child singer and gradually accompanied travelling shows. At the age of 16, she
was a high school student who would visit a radio station to watch the Dude
Martin’s Roundup Gang. When the band's yodeler left to get married, Martin asked
her whether she could yodel she replied "Sure I can! Why not?" —
though she had never before yodeled Dude gave her her nickname “Carolina”
because he reckoned that Arkansas was not so well recognized in California The
surname “Cotton” came later thanks to fans and a radio disc jockey named
Cottonseed Clark.
A chance meeting with Johnny Marvin in Los Angeles led to
Carolina relocating to Hollywood in 1944, and joining the Spade Cooley
Orchestra, where she was the featured female vocalist/yodeler. She was only
known as "Carolina" at the time, and still needed a last name.
Cooley's manager, Bobbie Bennett (who also later became Cotton's manager) held
a contest to pick a last name for the Yodeling Blonde Bombshell, and Cotton
was the winner.
The band played regularly at LA's Riverside Rancho club,
and appeared on the popular radio show "Hollywood Barn Dance", on
local station KNX. That same year she appeared in a few B Western films, In 1945 she signed with
Columbia Pictures, filming "Outlaws of the Rockies, and "Texas
Panhandle" At that time Carolina also made several film shorts and
soundies with Cooley and Merle Travis.After filming "Outlaws",
Carolina realized she should learn to ride horses. Like anything else she did,
she gave it her all, and soon became an Outstanding Horsewoman, and appeared in
several equestrian events...rodeos, horse shows and parades. She often rode as
Grand Marshalette.
Carolina briefly performed with Hank Penny in '46 back at
the Riverside Rancho, and soon signed with King Records. The session produced 2
of her self-penned signature songs, "Three Miles South of Cash in
Arkansas", and "I Love to Yodel".
Carolina eventually guest starred on several radio and early television programs (some were her own shows).In 1947, she toured with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and made another film, "Smoky River Serenade" (with The Hoosier Hot Shots). Often performed her self-penned song "Three Miles South of Cash in Arkansas" at concerts, and coaxed other performers to join her in the yodeling part of the song. Some of the surprise yodelers included Walter Pidgeon, and Bob Hope!
Carolina eventually guest starred on several radio and early television programs (some were her own shows).In 1947, she toured with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and made another film, "Smoky River Serenade" (with The Hoosier Hot Shots). Often performed her self-penned song "Three Miles South of Cash in Arkansas" at concerts, and coaxed other performers to join her in the yodeling part of the song. Some of the surprise yodelers included Walter Pidgeon, and Bob Hope!
Carolina hosted a program called Carolina Calls twice a
week on the Armed Forces Radio Services in the late 1940s and early 1950s and
made tours of Germany and Korea. In Germany, Carolina received the title
"Deputy Provost Marshal"...the only citizen to receive such an award.
By 1950 a new recording contract with MGM Records produced several memorable
songs, including "I Betcha I Getcha", "You're Gettin' a Good
Girl" and the spectacular yodeling tune, "Nola"
Sadly, in 1994, Carolina was diagnosed with Ovarian
Cancer. In spite of enduring treatments, she carried on with a smile, and the
same enthusiasm she was known for. She continued teaching and working at the
department store, attended a Film Festival or two, and managed to enjoy summer
visits to Europe.
She retired from teaching in March 1997, and entered the hospital in April, where she passed away the morning of June 10th, 1997. . (Edited from Wikipedia & IMDB)
She retired from teaching in March 1997, and entered the hospital in April, where she passed away the morning of June 10th, 1997. . (Edited from Wikipedia & IMDB)
16 comments:
For “Carolina Cotton - Yodeling Blonde Bombshell Volume 1” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/10620308/Carolina_Cotton_Volume_1.rar.html
01 - Three Miles South Of Cash (In Arkansas)
02 - I Love To Yodel
03 - What's The Matter With You (w Deuce Spriggens)
04 - Singing On The Trail
05 - You And My Old Guitar
06 - Mockingbird Yodel
07 - Mama Yo Quiero
08 - I Betcha I Getcha
09 - Tennessee Saturday Night
10 - Cattle Call
11 - You Always Keep Me In Hot Water
12 - You're Gettin’ A Good Girl
13 - Rancho Grande
14 - Cause I'm In Love
15 - Yodel Yodel Yodel
16 - I'm Gonna Round Up My Blues
17 - Tater Pie
18 - Nola
19 - Carolina Cotton Calls #88 (Armed Forces Radio Service)
For “Carolina Cotton - Yodeling Blonde Bombshell Volume 2” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/10620338/Carolina_Cotton_Volume_2.rar.html
01 - Three Miles South Of Cash In Arkansas (w Bob Wills)
02 - Put Your Shoes On Lucy
03 - Boo Hoo Blues
04 - Lovin' Ducky Daddy
05 - Hoosegow Serenade (w Scotty Harrell)
06 - I'd Love To Be A Cowgirl But I'm A-Scared Of Cows
07 - Ragtime Cowboy Joe
08 - Be Honest With Me
09 - You Belong To My Heart
10 - I Been Down In Texas
11 - Yodel Mountain
12 - The Old Square Dance Is Back Again
13 - Chime Bells
14 - You've Got Me Wrapped Around Your Finger
15 - Glad Rags
16 - I'm All Alone (w Bob Wills)
17 - He's A Tough Hombre (w Saddle Kings)
18 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)
19 - Oh Dem Golden Slippers
20 - Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone
21 - Weary Lonesome Blues
22 - Carolina Cotton Calls #89 (Armed Forces Radio Service) (1953)
A very big thank you to Elaine4 @ TJ's Country for original posts.
Hi Bob-
I'd love a re-up of Carolina Cotton if possible. Just watched her on youtube in the movie I'm From Arkansas and now I need more.
Thanks as always,
-Rick
Hello Rick, Here's Caroline
https://www.imagenetz.de/f8RPw
Howdy Bob,
Can you please re-up these two Carolina Cotton files? I loved her with Bob Wills, Spade Cooley and Deuce Spriggins and others - a lot of the tunes I never heard of. She was a friend of one of my aunts in Bakersfield and both worked at Brock's in the mall part time. I spoke to her once on the phone and she was very sweet. Thanks!
Howdy Diogenes, Here's Carolina
https://www.imagenetz.de/fQWuK
Hi Bob! Thanks for Carolina Vol I & II - Can't wait to check the tunes out! I was really fortunate in meeting Patsy Montana who lived in the next town over from me out by the college several months before she died. I was good friends with Bonnie Owens who I knew for years from her latter-day road tours with her 2nd ex-husband Merle Haggard as a member of his Strangers band in the late 80's and the 90's. The two of them had never met and at Bonnie's request I was able to help them get together and they did just that on TNN's Nashville Now show not long before Patsy passed on. They sang 'Cowboys Sweetheart' together. They both had a lot of mutual respect for all the yodeling cowgirls out there, greats like Carolina Cotton, Laura Lee Owens (McBride), The McKinney Sisters (Evelyn & Dean), Ramona Reed, Louise Rowe and Darla Daret (all of whom I knew) and many others of that Bob Wills/Spade Cooley western swing ilk. There's just something about those yodeling cowgirls music that I love. Thanks again!!
By the way I just noticed searching around that there is a Yodeling Blonde Bombshell, Vol. 3 - I wonder if anyone on the blog or block have that collection to share?
Hello Diogenes….Seek and ye shall find.
For “Carolina Cotton - Yodeling Blonde Bombshell, Vol. 3 (2019 Kit Fox MP3 album)” go here:
https://krakenfiles.com/view/g2mSSs6bpa/file.html
1. When Pay Day Rolls Around 02:19
2. Cachita 01:41
3. Grandma's Old Arm Chair 02:18
4. I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes 01:38
5. The Cowboy's Life 01:25
6. Yodel Your Troubles Away 01:27
7. Oh Romeo 01:14
8. Happy on the Prairie 01:22
9. Foggy Mountain Top 01:13
10. Farolito 01:52
11. Naughty Yodel 01:38
12. Cimarron 01:43
13. Sugar Hill 00:47
14. All I Do Is Dream of You 01:42
15. After You've Gone 01:24
16. Popcorn Polka 01:24
17. Walking My Baby Back Home 01:34
18. Bless Your Heart 04:10
19. Sally Get Your Hocake Done 01:22
20. Alpine Milkman Yodel 01:42
21. Three Miles South of Cash (In Arkansas) 02:12
22. Carolina Cotton Calls #90 15:32
Thanks Bob! Great stuff!! Do you have any access to that Jimmie Windener LP 'I'll Be Satisfied'? Wish they had released it as a CD. If you can upload it I bet a lot of folks would really dig it. Thanks again in any event! :)
Hello Diogenes, As you may have realized I like to remember musicians and singers etc., on their birthdays and also some who unfortunately do not have a birthday on record. I must admit I have never heard of Jimmie Widener, but as you have suggested him I will (hopefully) do a bio about him next February 15th as it was his birthday in 1924. And yes it will contain his LP. If you cannot wait that long, I'll put a link here, on these comments until you have the album in question. Regards, Bob
Thanks Bob - I'd appreciate that I'd love to get the link and, in the meantime, I do look forward to his birthday bio next year on From The Vaults. I'd forgotten Jimmie Widener until I saw his name in some credits for some of Carolina Cotton's sidemen and label mates (King Records) i have some of the King sides he made and a few stray cuts. Of course there were his vocal outings with Bob Wills and Spade Cooley. I actually met him back in 1984 in Tulsa at a Wills Texas Playboys band reunion. He was TALL and a nice fellow. Thanks again Boppin' Bob - you rock!! :)
Here's Jimmie...
https://www.imagenetz.de/mephQ
Thanks again Bob! Awesome stuff!
Howdy - Since October 20th is just around the corner, how about a repost of Carolina Cotton and a repost of these three albums. Thanks.
No problemo WC Here's all three...
https://www.imagenetz.de/iG6Jc
Thank you, Bob!!
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