Sheb Wooley
b. Shelby F. Wooley, 10 April 1921, near Erick, Oklahoma, USA. Wooley, who is part Cherokee Indian, grew up on the family farm, learned to ride as a child and rode in rodeos as a teenager. His father swopped a shotgun to get him his first guitar and while still at high school, he formed a country band that played at dances and on local radio. After leaving school, he found work in an oil-field as a welder, but soon tired of this work and moved to Nashville. He appeared on the WLAC and WSM radio stations and recorded for the Bullet label. In 1946, he relocated to Fort Worth, where until 1949, he became the front man for a major show on WBAP, sponsored by Calumet Baking Powder. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he signed with MGM Records and with thoughts of a film career as well, he also attended the Jack Koslyn School of Acting. In 1949, he got his first screen role (as a heavy) in the Errol Flynn film ROCKY MOUNTAIN. In 1952, he made a memorable appearance as Ben Miller, the killer plotting to gun down Gary Cooper in the classic western HIGH NOON. During the '50s, he appeared in several other films including LITTLE BIG HORN (1951), DISTANT DRUMS (1951), MAN WITHOUT A STAR (1955), GIANT (1956) and RIO BRAVO (1959). He is also well remembered for his performances as Pete Nolan in the television series RAWHIDE, which ran from 1958-65. (He also wrote some scripts for the series.) During his career, he has appeared in over 40 films. 
Other artists began to record songs he had written and in 1953, Hank Snow had a big hit with When Mexican Joe Met Jole Blon—a parody of two hit songs. In 1958, his novelty number, Purple People Eater, became a million-seller and even reached number 12 in the UK pop charts. He based the song on a schoolboy joke that he had heard from Don Robertson's son and initially, MGM did not consider it to be worth releasing. Further US pop successes included Sweet Chile. He first appeared in the US country charts in 1962, when another novelty number, That's My Pa, became a number 1. It was intended that Wooley should record Don't Go Near The Indians but due to film commitments Rex Allen's version was released before he could record it. Wooley jokingly told MGM that he would write a sequel and came up with the comedy parody Don't Go Near The Eskimos. He developed an alter-ego drunken character, whom he called Ben Colder and in this guise, he recorded and charted it and other humorous parodies of pop/country hits including Almost Persuaded No. 2, Harper Valley PTA (Later That Same Day) and Fifteen Beers (Years) Ago. (The name Ben Colder was the selection made by MGM from the three alternatives that Wooley offered. The other two were Ben Freezin and Klon Dyke.) He had some further minor hits with serious recordings, including Blue Guitar and Tie A Tiger Down. In 1969, he joined the CBS network HEE HAW country show, remained with it for several years and also wrote the theme music. Throughout the '60s and '70s, he maintained a busy touring schedule appearing all over the States and overseas. In 1968, Ben Colder was voted Comedian of the Year by the Country Music Association. He cut back during the '80s and although he has remained a popular entertainer, he has had no chart entries since 1971. Over the years, the parodies by the drunken Ben Colder have proved more popular than his serious recordings and have certainly accounted for the majority of his record sales.