Arkie Shibley born 21 September 1915

Arkie Shibley (September 21, 1915 – September 7, 1975), was an American country singer who recorded the original version of "Hot Rod Race" in 1950. The song is included in the book What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record? as one of fifty recordings that were influential in the origination of rock and roll. According to authors Jim Dawson and Steve Propes, its importance lies in the fact that “it introduced automobile racing into popular music and underscored the car’s relevance to American culture, particularly youth culture.” 

Jesse Lee “Arkie” Shibley was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, United States to David M. and Prudie Shibley, both farmers. Shibley was a cattle farmer himself and, in November 22, 1935, married Evelyn Marie Breeden; they eventually had four children. The following year, he relocated to Bremerton, Washington, where he helped build the Illahee State Park by day and played swing country by night. Self-taught on guitar, Shibley assembled a group of musicians in the mid-1940s who would stay with him for almost a full decade: Leon Kelly (lead guitar), Phil Fregon (fiddle), Jackie Hayes (bass and banjo), and Dean Manuel (piano). Calling themselves the Mountain Dew Boys, they made their first recordings for the obscure MaeMae label on the West Coast in the late 1940s. By that time, Shibley had moved to California, where “Arkie” was a common nickname for immigrants from Arkansas.

                                    

 In 1950, Shibley was offered a song called “Hot Rod Race,” credited as written by George Wilson who was credited but according to some sources was the father of the actual songwriter, 17-year-old Ron Wilson. Sibley took it to Bill McCall, owner of 4 Star Records in Pasadena, California, who turned him down. Shibley then decided to form his own label, Mountain Dew Records, and released “Hot Rod Race” in November 1950. Sensing a potential hit, McCall had second thoughts about the song. 

He purchased the master and reissued “Hot Rod Race” on his own Gilt-Edge label. With McCall’s promotional machine behind the record, it sold spectacularly, peaking at number five on Billboard’s country charts in February 1951. However, there was strong competition from several cover versions on major labels by Ramblin’ Jimmie Dolan (Capitol), Red Foley (Decca), and Tiny Hill (Mercury). These were more polished than the original, with its occasional odd tempos and awkward verses. All three cover versions peaked at number seven on the country charts, with the Tiny Hill version also crossing over to the pop charts at number twenty-nine. 

Arkie & Evelyn Shibley

Shibley recorded four sequels to his hit, all in 1951 and all performed in a Woody Guthrie–like talking blues style. "Hot Rod Race # 2", "Arkie Meets the Judge (Hot Rod Race # 3)", "The Guy in the Mercury (Hot Rod Race # 4)" and "The Kid in the Model A (Hot Rod Race # 5)". He subsequently left the recording business and opened a nightclub before running a restaurant, returning to live in Arkansas. 

Though Shibley has been ignored by most country music encyclopedias, his place in country and early rock and roll history is assured on the strength of “Hot Rod Race.” Its influence was immense, not only on rock and roll car songs like “Maybellene” by Chuck Berry and “Race With the Devil” by Gene Vincent, but also on the hot rod music from the early 1960s (the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, the Hondells, etc.). 

Shibley died on September 7, 1975, in Van Buren,Arkansas, aged 59.

(Edited from Encyclopedia Of Arkansas)