HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
January 31, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt
Sax : Harold Hugh Ehrmann, Wallace Aaron Ruth, Robert D. Riedel Trumpet : Joseph V. Cifelli, Arthur Albert Attwell
Trombone : Elbert S. Amsler Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs
Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : John Melvin Mountjoy
Vocalist : Ardith Wm. 'Red' Egner *

D7-VB-451 It's Dark Outside (Spade Cooley-Rudy Sooter)* 20-2181
D7-VB-452 Who Dug This Hole I'm In (Spade Cooley-Rudy Sooter)* 20-2384
D7-VB-453 Minuet In Swing (Spade Cooley) 20-2181
D7-VB-454 Texas Playboy Rag (Bob Wills) 21-0027/48-0043

One of Spade Cooley's most loyal musicians was Harold Hugh Ehrmann.
I would like to thank Mrs. Diana Morris, who supplied the two pics opposite as well as the following piece of info :
'My grandfather was affectionately known as 'Gus' (he nicknamed himself after his uncle Gustav). Born in 1911, he started playing the sax when he was very young. He grew up in Wisconsin, an only child. His mother died when he was quite young. He met my grandmother in the '30s and had their only child, Mary Lynne, in 1938. Not only did grandpa play with Spade, but also with the Freddy Martin Orchestra and the Russ Morgan Orchestra, Jack Morgan being the leader. Aside form the sax, he also played flute, piccolo and clarinet. I had many opportunities to hear him play and, as an adult, I was honored to sing with him at Myron's Ballroom in Hollywood in the early '80s.
He died in March 2002 at the age of 90, a few weeks before his 91st birthday'.

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
April 25, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt Sax : Harold Hugh Ehrmann, Wallace Aaron Ruth, Robert D. Riedel Trumpet : Joseph V. Cifelli, Arthur Albert Attwell Trombone : Elbert S. Amsler Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble, Luther Roundtree Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : John M. Mountjoy
Vocalist : Ardith Wm. 'Red' Egner *

D7-VB-524 Boggs Boogie (Spade Cooley-Noel Boggs-Jimmy Wyble) 20-2295
D7-VB-525 Red Hair And Green Eyes (Spade Cooley-Jay Milton)* 20-2295
D7-VB-526 All Aboard For Oklahoma (Spade Cooley-Ike Cargill)* 20-2552
D7-VB-527 Texas Steel Guitar (Paul Westmoreland) 20-3137

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
May 9, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt Sax : Harold Hugh Ehrmann, Wallace Aaron Ruth, Robert D. Riedel Trumpet : Joseph V. Cifelli, Arthur Albert Attwell Trombone : Elbert S. Amsler Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : John Melvin Mountjoy
Vocalist : Ardith Wm. 'Red' Egner *, 'Red' Egner & Ensemble **

D7-VB-539 I've Got A Heart Filled With Love (Al Jacobs-Joseph Meyer)* 20-3547/47-3040
D7-VB-540 Tailor Made Baby (Spade Cooley-Don Whiston)* 20-2552
D7-VB-541 Red Hot Polka (Chick Grean-Cy Coben-Irving Melsher)** 20-2384
D7-VB-542 You Can't Take Texas Out Of Me (Jay Milton)* 20-3547/47-3040

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, May 18, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt
Other personnel unknown.

D7-VB-548 Three Fiddle Rag (Traditional) 21-0467/48-0467

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
October 20, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley
Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt, Mort Herbert Piano : John F. Haynes Accordion : Joe Strand Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble
Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Chester Ricord
Vocalist : Ardith Wm. 'Red' Egner *, Terry Shand **

D7-VB-1822 Fickle Woman (Spade Cooley-Terry Shand)** 20-3137
D7-VB-1398 Call Me Darlin', Do (Spade Cooley-Terry Shand)** 20-3258/48-0032
D7-VB-1399 That's The Last Straw (Jenny Lou Carson)* 20-2866
D7-VB-1800 Tuesday Two-Step (Spade Cooley-Billy Hill)* 21-0467/48-0467

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
October 27, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt, Mort Herbert Piano : John F. Haynes Accordion : Milton DeLugg Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Chester Ricord
Vocalist : Ardith Wm. 'Red' Egner *, The Spadettes **

D7-VB-1823 Oklahoma Waltz (Spade Cooley-Cindy Walker)** 20-2866
D7-VB-1824 Down At The Cuckoo House (Spade Cooley-Rudy Sooter)* 21-0027/48-0043

Note : 'Down At The Cuckoo House' was renamed 'Lord Nottingham's War Dance'.

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 10, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt, Mort Herbert Piano : John F. Haynes Accordion : Milton DeLugg Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Chester Ricord
Vocalist : Ardith Wm. 'Red' Egner *

D7-VB-1869 Big Chief Boogie (Billy Hughes)* 20-3020
D7-VB-1870 Whistle Bait (Spade Cooley-Tex Ann Nation-Lee Martin)* 20-2742
D7-VB-1871 The Best Deal In Town (Cy Coben-Irving Melsher)* 20-2668/48-0027

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 17, 1947
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : Wm. Henry Hill, Carl Henry Hunt, Mort Herbert Piano : John F. Haynes Accordion : Milton DeLugg Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Chester Ricord
Vocalist : Ardith Wm. 'Red' Egner *

D7-VB-1821 Fickle Woman (Spade Cooley-Terry Shand)* See note below
D7-VB-2102 Spanish Fandango (Smokey Rogers-Bob Wills)* 20-2668/48-0027
D7-VB-2103 Blonde Fiddle Blues (Spade Cooley) 20-2742
D7-VB-2104 Four Fiddle Polka (Spade Cooley) 20-3258/48-0032
D7-VB-2105 Topeka Polka (Spade Cooley-Del Porter-Carl Hoefle) 20-3020

Note : This version of 'Fickle Woman' features an uncredited vocal by Red Egner and was only released as part of a special DJ 'Double Header' disc (RCA Victor 20-3137/20-3138 ; white label) with 'I'd Rather Be A Cowgirl' by Rosalie Allen on the other side.
Many thanks to Donald T. Martin, Dave Sax & Big Al Turner for this piece of info.

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
March 30, 1949 Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Sax & Violin : L. Doty Trombone & Violin : W. Wright Sax : Harold Hugh Ehrmann, Wallace Aaron Ruth, Robert D. Riedel, W. Brady Trumpet : Joseph V. Cifelli, Arthur Albert Attwell, E. Komer Trombone : C. Elmer Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Electric guitar : C. Anderson Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Muddy C. Berry Vocalist : Jed Dees *, Jed Dees & The Band **, Becky Barfield ***

D9-VB-562 Don't Take My Word, Take My Heart (Buddy Kaye-Carl Lampl)** 20-3437
D7-VB-563 I Had My Heart Set On You (Oakley Haldeman-Clem Watts-Sam Martin-Rosalie Allen)** 20-3437
D7-VB-564 Arizona Waltz (Rex Allen)*** 20-3496/47-2962
D7-VB-565 Don't Call Me Sweetheart Anymore (Teddy Phillips-Lew Douglas-King Laney)* 20-3496/47-2962

The above session was the first to feature Billy Wright .
Mrs. Linda Piro is Billy Wright's daughter and kindly supplied several photos plus this superb biography of her father :

'William W. Wright, or Billy Wright, as he was known joined Spade's band in approx. 1949 as a fiddle player and trombonist. Daddy was a fantastic fiddle player/violinist who learned to play trombone so he would be more versatile and work more.

One of Spade's specialties was the "3 fiddles" playing in three-part harmony, at the mike. "Swinging The Devil's Dream" was a fiddle trio tune that was also a Spade Cooley theme song after "Shame on You." Daddy was always the middle of the three. Daddy had a fantastic smile, in fact, he became known as Smilin' Billy Wright. Lon Doty was the third fiddler and also played sax.

Daddy would take my brother and me to work with him, on Saturday mornings, to the Santa Monica Ballroom. The band would rehearse all day, break for dinner around 5 p.m., be ready to play the TV show at around 8 p.m. which was an hour show (live !) and then, the couches would be pulled back from in front of the stage in that old big ballroom, to make room for the dancers - mostly servicemen and lots of beautiful girls.

The band would play for dancing until 1:30 a.m. Talk about a grueling gig! My brother and I would get bored to tears so we would play on the beach all day, getting back in time for dinner. Then we would go backstage or upstairs to Spade's office and wait around until the show. Many of the guest artists would hang out up there before the show and we got to meet them including Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. I thought I was in "hog heaven." After the show, we would run all over the ballroom freely, and sometimes fall asleep on one of the couches against the wall.

It was a magical time to be allowed to hang with the players and be part of all that. Daddy eventually left Spade and went with Lawrence Welk. He was with Welk for quite a few years when he became very ill with diabetes and had to leave the band. He continued to play with many fine musicians in L.A. and did many recording dates. Daddy was a consumate musician who was born and raised in Oklahoma. He attended Oklahoma University and became concert master of the symphony. He could fiddle with the best of them and originally went out to California to join the Bob Wills Band. He also played with Hank Penny, Tex Williams, and many, many others. And he did the Gene Autry TV show for years.

My mother, Joella Wright, also was a great musician who played piano with Hank Penny, Tex Williams and many others. She was still playing right before she fell ill and passed on in May of 2002 at the age of 85. My brother and I also became professional performers. My brother is a drummer and arranger in OKC, and I became a bass player and singer and eventually put the bass down and fronted my own groups. I was fortunate to be the opening act for several name artists who came through OKC including Kenny Rogers, George Gobel, Foster Brooks and more. I am still singing private parties and club dates and I am in my late 60's now.
Daddy would be so proud!'

Musicians include Becky Barfield, Les 'Carrott Top' Anderson on steel, Muddy Berry on drums & Billy Wright on trombone.
Becky was married to the talented Maurice Cameron Hill. She passed away in 1958.

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
April 5, 1949
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : W. Wright Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : J. Pruett Banjo : R. Lewis Bass : Stanley P. Puls

D9-VB-572 Wagonner (Arranged By Spade Cooley) 21-0080/48-0077
D9-VB-573 Flop Eared Mule (Arranged By Spade Cooley) 21-0080/48-0077
D9-VB-574 The Eighth Of January (Arr. By Spade Cooley) 21-0081/48-0078
D9-VB-575 Ida Red (Arranged By Spade Cooley) 21-0082/48-0079
D9-VB-576 Wake Up, Susan (Arranged By Spade Cooley) 21-0081/48-0078
D9-VB-577 6/8 To the Barn (Arranged By Spade Cooley) 21-0082/48-0079
D9-VB-578 Arkansas Traveler (Arranged By Spade Cooley) 21-0068/48-0063
D9-VB-579 The Gal I Left Behind (Arranged By Spade Cooley) 21-0068/48-0063
D9-VB-580 Hora Staccato (Dinicu-Heifetz) Unissued

Note : In fact, 21-0080, 21-0081 and 21-0082 were part of a three-disc box set, titled 'Square Dances' (RCA P-249) ; same with 48-0077, 48-0078 and 48-0079 (RCA WP-249).

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 17, 1949
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Sax & Violin : L. Doty Trombone & Violin : W. Wright Sax : Harold Hugh Ehrmann, Wallace Aaron Ruth, Robert D. Riedel Trumpet : Joseph V. Cifelli, Arthur Albert Attwell, F. T. Thompson Trombone : E. Schneider Sax & Clarinet : R. E. Johnson Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Electric guitar : C. Anderson Bass : Stanley P. Puls
Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Drums : Muddy C. Berry
Vocalist : Les Anderson *, Ginny Jackson **, Bob 'Tex' Cromer ***

D9-VB-782 Foolish Tears (Jenny Lou Carson)** 21-0150/48-0157
D9-VB-783 Send Ten Pretty Flowers To My Girl In Tennessee (Steve Nelson-Ed Nelson, Jr.)*** 21-0150/48-0157
D9-VB-784 Texas Star (Cindy Walker)*** 21-0309/48-0309 [square dance calling by Les Anderson]
D9-VB-785 Pretty Please Love Me (Glen Spencer-Sam Houston Allen)** 21-0309/48-0309
D9-VB-797 Little Cowboy (Bob Riedel)* Unissued
D9-VB-798 And I Shook (Les Anderson)* Unissued

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
January 3, 1950
Leader-Sax : Harold Hugh Ehrmann Sax : Wallace Aaron Ruth, Robert D. Riedel Sax & Violin : L. H. Doty Sax & Clarinet : R. E. Johnson Trombone & Violin : W. W. Wright Trumpet : Joseph V. Cifelli, Arthur Albert Attwell, F. T. Thompson Trombone : F. L. Howard
Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Electric guitar : C. I. Anderson Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs
Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Muddy C. Berry Violin : J. Heiderich, D. Terwilliger, W. H. Hill
Vocalist : The Sons Of The Pioneers *, Mary Virginia 'Ginny' Jackson **, Chad Douglas ***

EO-VB-3500 The Old Spining Wheel (Billy Hill) 20-3674/47-3197
EO-VB-3501 Empty Saddles (Billy Hill)*** 20-3674/47-3197
EO-VB-3502 Lights Out (Billy Hill)** 20-3673/47-3196
EO-VB-3503 Wagon Wheels (Billy Hill)* 20-3672/47-3195
EO-VB-3504 The Last Round Up (Billy Hill)* 20-3672/47-3195
EO-VB-3505 In The Chapel In The Moonlight (Billy Hill)** 20-3673/47-3196

Note : Seems like Spade wasn't even present that day.
All six titles were also issued as a three 45 rpm box set 'Spade Cooley Plays Billy Hill For Dancing' (RCA WP 275).

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
April 11, 1950


Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : L. Doty, W. Wright, D. Terwilliger
Sax : W. A. Ruth, R. D. Riedel, J. A. Schmidt, J. R. Briggs Trombone : K. R. Jackson, A. Lincoln
Trumpet : J. Cifelli, L. A. Jolley, O. E. Mitchell Piano : John F. Haynes Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble
Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Muddy C. Berry
Vocalist : Ginny Jackson *, Ginny Jackson & Les Anderson **

EO-VB-3605 Hillbilly Fever (George Vaughn)** 21-0330/48-0330
EO-VB-3606 Honky Tonkin' (Hank Williams)* 21-0330/48-0330

Note : Only two titles cut at what probably accounts for one of Spade's very best sessions.
The vocals and the horns/fiddles combination are stunning !



HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
May 19, 1950
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : W. W. Wright, D. Terwilliger Sax & Clarinet : J. A. Schmidt, W. A. Ruth, R. D. Riedel, H. Erhmann,
L. Doty Trumpet : J. V. Cifelli, F. T. Thompson, L. A. Jolley Trombone : K. R. Jackson, A. Lincoln Piano : John F. Haynes
Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Muddy C. Berry
Vocalist : Ginny Jackson *, Ginny Jackson & Quartet **, Hal Derwin & Quartet ***

EO-VB-3647 Nine-Tenths Of The Tennessee River (Are The Tears That I Shed Over You) (Irving Gordon)* 20-3894/47-3894
EO-VB-3648 Longing (Jimmy Shirl-Ervin Drake)** 21-0348/48-0348
EO-VB-3649 Little Liza Lou (Sonny Skylar)*** 21-0348/48-0348

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 14, 1950
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : W. H. Hill, other unknown Sax : H. G. Erhmann, R. D. Riedel, W. A. Ruth, L. Doty, J. A. Schmidt
Trumpet : J. V. Cifelli, P. Savitt, F. T. Thompson Piano : John F. Haynes Trombone : J. A. Barrow, E. L. Howard Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble
Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Muddy C. Berry
Vocalist : Ginny Jackson *, Ginny Jackson & Hal Derwin**, Hal Derwin ***

EO-VB-3716 Paper Roses (Irving Melsher-Jack Wolk)* Unissued
EO-VB-3717 Mountain Boys Have Fun With Mountain Girls ** 20-3894/47-3894
EO-VB-3718 Someone Left The Golden Gate Open (Stuart-Stallings-Manning) *** 20-3969/47-3969

HOLLYWOOD _________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 20, 1950
Leader-Violin : Spade Cooley Violin : W. H. Hill, K. P. Nero Sax : H. G. Erhmann, R. D. Riedel, W. A. Ruth, L. Doty, J. A. Schmidt
Trumpet : J. V. Cifelli, P. Savitt, F. T. Thompson Piano : John F. Haynes Trombone : J. A. Barrow, A. Lincoln Guitar : Jimmy O. Wyble
Steel guitar : Noel Edwin Boggs Bass : Stanley P. Puls Drums : Muddy C. Berry
Vocalist : Ginny Jackson *, Hal Derwin **

EO-VB-3724 Stingy (Ralph Yaw)* Unissued
EO-VB-3725 You're Somebody Else's Sweetheart (George Motola-Charles Cleek)** Unissued
EO-VB-3726 I Miss You Already (Hal Blair-Doye O'Dell)* 20-3969/47-3969
EO-VB-3727 Don't Stay Away Too Long (Sam H. Stopt-Carman Lombardo)* Unissued

Note : Missing from the discography are details for the six titles which appeared as part of another three-disc box set, titled 'Skip To My Lou & Other Square Dances', with calls by Spade's close and longtime friend, Roy Rogers (RCA P-259 for the '78s and RCA WP-259 for the singles) :

21-0127/48-0130  Skip To My Lou / Rickett's Reel
21-0128/48-0131  Old Joe Clark / Sycamore Red
21-0129/48-0132  Oh Dem Golden Slippers / Lucky Leather Britches