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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOPAS, Cowboy(b Lloyd Estel Copas, 15 July '13, Muskogee OK; d 5 March '63, Camden TN) Top country singer of '40s, early '50s. Grew up on ranch, won talent contest at 16, teamed up with Natchee, Native American who played fiddle. They split '40; Copas became regular on Cincinnati radio Boone County Jamboree show; signed to King, had honky-tonk hits through '40s: 'Tragic Romance', 'Filipino Baby', 'Signed, Sealed And Delivered', 'Gone And Left Me Blues'. With Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys '46 as lead singer on hits 'Tennessee Waltz', 'Kentucky Waltz'; regular on Grand Ole Opry. Named Top Western Artist '48, '51; after 'Hangman's Boogie' '49 and 'Strange Little Girl' '51 his career slumped, but he signed to Starday '59 and 'Alabam' was a no. 1 country hit '60. 'Flat Top', 'Sunny Tennessee', remake of 'Signed' hit '61; he was killed in a plane crash with Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins; 'Goodbye Kisses' charted the next month. |