'Purple People Eater' Singer Sheb Wooley Dies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) - Sheb Wooley, whose novelty song "Purple People Eater" was a No. 1 hit in 1958, died on Tuesday after a five-year battle with leukemia, his family said on Wednesday. He was 82.



Wooley's widow, Linda Dotson, said he died at a hospital. He was well enough to attend the visitation for long-time friend Johnny Cash (news) on Sunday but suffered a setback and could not attend Cash's funeral on Monday.


In addition to songwriting, Wooley appeared in the TV series "Rawhide" with Clint Eastwood (news) from 1959 to 1967 and had parts in the feature films "High Noon" and "Hoosiers." In 1969 he became an original cast member of television's country variety show "Hee Haw," for which he wrote the theme song.


He was also a mentor to the late singer and songwriter Roger Miller (news) who, like Wooley, was a native of Erick, Oklahoma.


His "Purple People Eater," based on a popular joke of the time, sold 3 million copies in just three weeks and topped the charts for six weeks. Under the pseudonym Ben Colder he developed a drunken comic alter-ego, recording parodies of other songs and scoring six country and five pop hits.

I always thought that song was really funny. RIP Sheb :(

Originally posted by *MacGyver Gurl*
I always thought that song was really funny. RIP Sheb :( I always thought that song was really funny too, RIP Sheb Wooley :(

What is up with all these people dieing? It'S a curse! I never heard of him, but RIP. :(

i am gonna poke a fork in my eye if another celebrity dies tomorrow.

RIP Sheb :(

I loved him in Rawhide. R.I.P. Sheb.

Originally posted by ~°Sarah°~
i am gonna poke a fork in my eye if another celebrity dies tomorrow.

I wouldn't recommend that.

So many celebrities are dying this year. :(

That's so weird - I was just listening to that song last week and I was on his website. :(

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
One-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater
One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me

I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line
He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine
But that's not the reason that I came to land
I wanna get a job in a rock-and-roll band.

;)

Originally posted by ~°Sarah°~
i am gonna poke a fork in my eye if another celebrity dies tomorrow.

I totally know what you mean :(

I had hoped Gregory Hines would be the last big one... wishful thinking I suppose :(

RIP

:( :( :(

I heard the song by Sheb Wooley called the "Purple People Eater" on CBS-FM a long time ago. I know that the show "Rawhide" is still shown on the Hallmark Channel. Sadly he was gone.

"Tequila!"

RIP Sheb :(

Another is added to the list of celebrities that have passed in the past 2 months...If I am missing any please tell me

Bob Hope
Gregory Hinds
Charles Bronsan
Johnny Cash/ John Ritter (Same day same first name)
and now him...

I think its the 9/11 syndrome, its a day of death for 1000's and now you an add 2 famous names to that list for the day that is synonimous with death and tragedy WOW!!!

I almost forgot about Gregory Hinds death with all the other deaths that have surrounded his.

RIP

Sheb was a very talented guy. His Ben Colder character was hilarious. That's cool that he requested to be buried at 'high noon'.

Originally posted by Montanya427
Another is added to the list of celebrities that have passed in the past 2 months...If I am missing any please tell me

Bob Hope
Gregory Hinds
Charles Bronsan
Johnny Cash/ John Ritter (Same day same first name)
and now him...

I think its the 9/11 syndrome, its a day of death for 1000's and now you an add 2 famous names to that list for the day that is synonimous with death and tragedy WOW!!!

I almost forgot about Gregory Hinds death with all the other deaths that have surrounded his.

RIP

What about Buddy Ebsen?

All the losses this year...
http://www.kurts-smilies.de/heul.gif http://smilies.networkessence.net/s/otn/sad/mecry.gif

Oh damn it, this is all I need. Turns out Wendy Hiller went this year too. (the original Eliza Dolittle from "Pygmalion" and Mrs. Harris from "Anne of Avonlea")

OH lets not forget Kate Hepburn

Originally posted by Montanya427
OH lets not forget Kate Hepburn

I was gonna add her name too, but she didn't die within the past two months.