'Purple People Eater' Singer Sheb Wooley Dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Cactus Jack · 09-17-2003, 05:24 PM

'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.

*InThisMoment* · 09-17-2003, 05:28 PM

I always thought that song was really funny. RIP Sheb

Cactus Jack · 09-17-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

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

HIGH ENOUGH · 09-17-2003, 05:36 PM

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

Hollow · 09-17-2003, 05:36 PM

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

Faith · 09-17-2003, 05:39 PM

RIP Sheb

Mr. Television · 09-17-2003, 06:25 PM

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

Max Whittaker · 09-17-2003, 06:56 PM

Quote:

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

I wouldn't recommend that.

Berlin · 09-17-2003, 06:56 PM

So many celebrities are dying this year.

Liza · 09-17-2003, 07:22 PM

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.

Liza · 09-17-2003, 07:24 PM

Quote:

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

Ian · 09-17-2003, 08:10 PM

RIP

Brian Damage · 09-17-2003, 08:26 PM

musicradio77 · 09-17-2003, 09:37 PM

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!"

Swimfan85 · 09-17-2003, 09:51 PM

RIP Sheb

09-17-2003, 05:24 PM	#1
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	'Purple People Eater' Singer Sheb Wooley Dies '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.
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

09-17-2003, 05:28 PM	#2
InThisMoment a starlit sky and you & me Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 02, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 95,142	Re: Another celebrity death :( I always thought that song was really funny. RIP Sheb
	__________________ an island of green and blueberry ice wish we were there but you make me feel i'm in paradise, anywhere you're velvet on a red cupcake sound a cello & a violin make

09-17-2003, 05:36 PM	#4
HIGH ENOUGH Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 19, 2003 Location: making out with Hilary Duff and Tara Reid at the same time. Posts: 1,283	What is up with all these people dieing? It'S a curse! I never heard of him, but RIP.
	__________________ And I can't get high enough, lighten up, nice enough. Can you hear me now? Cause I'm not doing fine. I'm drowning in my mind again. Oh, why does what I've done take so much to disapper? -Lisa Marie Presley, High Enough. "Now What?" (in stores now) "Damn you all!" -Stewie Family Guy returns Spring '05. Tara Reid is hot!

09-17-2003, 06:25 PM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I loved him in Rawhide. R.I.P. Sheb.
	__________________ Sonny

09-17-2003, 09:37 PM	#14
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	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!"
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

09-17-2003, 05:36 PM	#5
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	i am gonna poke a fork in my eye if another celebrity dies tomorrow.

09-17-2003, 05:39 PM	#6
Faith Internet Junkie Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 07, 2002 Location: HELL Posts: 9,879	RIP Sheb

09-17-2003, 06:56 PM	#9
Berlin Ink and Paint Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 01, 2003 Posts: 48	So many celebrities are dying this year.

09-17-2003, 07:22 PM	#10
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	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.

09-17-2003, 08:10 PM	#12
Ian Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2000 Posts: 1,234	RIP

09-17-2003, 08:26 PM	#13
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108

09-17-2003, 09:51 PM	#15
Swimfan85 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Posts: 7,030	RIP Sheb