Zeke Clements
Encyclopedia
Zeke Clements was an American
country musician often dressed in a Western outfit. He was known as "The Dixie Yodeler."
touring show and was signed to the National Barn Dance
at WLS
in Chicago. In 1930, he performed on WSM
Grand Ole Opry for the first time. In 1933, he became a member of the Bronco Busters, led by Texas Ruby
. In the 1930 and 1940s, Clements appeared as a singing cowboy in several of Charles Starrett
's B-Westerns. During this time, he also provided the voice of Bashful, the yodeling dwarf, in Walt Disney
's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
.
Clements formed the Western Swing Gang and returned to the Opry in 1939. He had his first major country hit with Smoke On the Water. The song was recorded by Red Foley
in 1944 and became the No.1 Country Recording of 1945. Also in 1945, he started Liberty Records in Southern California. It was later renamed Blazon Records. After a short stint on the Louisiana Hayride
in the later 1940s, he appeared on several radio stations in the South. In the 1960s, he moved to Florida and joined a Dixieland
band as banjo player. He died in Nashville, Tennessee
in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country musician often dressed in a Western outfit. He was known as "The Dixie Yodeler."
Biography
Clements was born near Empire, Alabama. In 1928, his career began when he joined Otto Gray and his Oklahoma CowboysOtto Gray and his Oklahoma Cowboys
Otto Gray and his Oklahoma Cowboys were the first nationally-famous cowboy band in the United States, and the first cowboy band to appear on the cover of The Billboard ....
touring show and was signed to the National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance, broadcast by WLS-AM in Chicago, Illinois starting in 1924, was one of the first American country music radio programs and a direct precursor of the Grand Ole Opry...
at WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
in Chicago. In 1930, he performed on WSM
WSM (AM)
WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. Operating at 650 kHz, its clear channel signal can reach much of North America and various countries, especially late at night...
Grand Ole Opry for the first time. In 1933, he became a member of the Bronco Busters, led by Texas Ruby
Texas Ruby
Texas Ruby , born Ruby Agnes Owens, was a pioneering country music female vocalist of the 1930s through the early 1960s.-Biography:...
. In the 1930 and 1940s, Clements appeared as a singing cowboy in several of Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett was an American actor best known for his starring role in the Durango Kid Columbia Pictures western series. He was born in Athol, Massachusetts.-Career:...
's B-Westerns. During this time, he also provided the voice of Bashful, the yodeling dwarf, in Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
.
Clements formed the Western Swing Gang and returned to the Opry in 1939. He had his first major country hit with Smoke On the Water. The song was recorded by Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
in 1944 and became the No.1 Country Recording of 1945. Also in 1945, he started Liberty Records in Southern California. It was later renamed Blazon Records. After a short stint on the Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
in the later 1940s, he appeared on several radio stations in the South. In the 1960s, he moved to Florida and joined a Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
band as banjo player. He died in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1994.