FACEBOOK PAGE: Carolina on Facebook NOTE: These tribute pages are created and maintained by Carolina's daughter, Sharon Marie.
Want to learn more about Carolina and the Good Ol' Days of Western Entertainment? Be sure to visit her Official web site, CarolinaCotton.Org -- a virtual museum of memorabilia, clips, history and great Western nostalgia.
Here's a soundie of Carolina with Doye O'Dell, performing "Three Miles South of Cash in Arkansas" on the KTLA program Western Varieties, ca. 1955:
From the same Western Varieties show, Carolina performs "Mockingbird Yodel"...at a faster-than-usual tempo:
Another soundie, with Carolina playing bass fiddle with Deuce Spriggens' Orchestra, performing "Missouri's Calling Me", ca. 1946. Spriggens and Hank Penny share lead vocals (few folks knew it, but Carolina and Deuce were married at the time):
Check out this Warner Bros. film short, featuring Carolina with Spade Cooley, ca. 1945. (Her performance is shown later in the film, but the whole clip is worth watching):
This film short is ca. 1944. Carolina dubbed in yodels for one of the singing dogs (Barn Dance scene), in a special version of her song "I Love To Yodel". The series was the brainchild of animator Tex Avery. Carolina's yodeling dog clip was featured in a Radio Shack commercial in the 1990s:Vintage Hillbilly Dogs ..
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Influences
People she worked with: Roy Rogers, Dude Martin's Roundup Gang, Arvada Miller, Spade Cooley and his Western Dance Gang, Joaquin Murphey, George Bamby, Walkin' Charley Aldridge, Tex Atchison, Jimmy Wakely, Joe Maphis, Tex Williams, Smokey Rogers, Deuce Spriggens and his Orchestra, Andy Parker and the Plainsmen, Merle Travis, Hank Penny and his Orchestra, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Sons of the Pioneers, Ramblin' Tommy Scott, Eddie Dean, Hoosier Hot Shots, Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage, Roy Acuff, Cottonseed Clark, Broome Brothers, Scotty Harrell, Jimmy Bryant, Speedy West, Doye O'Dell, Eddie Arnold, Ernest Tubb, Pee Wee King, Les Paul, LeRoy Holmes Orchestra, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ken Curtis, and many others
Sounds Like
B Western Films, Western Swing artists from the 1940s and 1950s, and Western style Yodeling
BELOW: Lobby cards from several B Westerns starring Carolina Cotton:
WATCH ONE OF CAROLINA'S MOVIES! In PRC Pictures' "I'm From Arkansas", Carolina plays Abigail 'Abby' Alden, daughter of a rural farmer, whose prized pig gives birth to a record-breaking litter! (it gets better from there...). It also features Carolina singing "I Love To Yodel". Click on the picture below to watch the entire film:
COMING SOON: Yodeling Blonde Bombshell Volume 2! Check back here for details.
The debut Carolina Cotton CD, Yodeling Blonde Bombshell Volume 1, is a fully restored, high-quality compilation featuring many of her best loved songs, with some of the fanciest yodeling you've ever heard...from the heyday of Western Swing.
Enjoy 19 tracks of vintage performances, as Carolina is joined by the likes of Tex Williams, Hank Penny, Deuce Spriggens, Walkin' Charley Aldridge and Bob Wills. Also included: a full 15 minute episode of the AFRS Radio program, Carolina Cotton Calls.
A must for fans of Western Swing, early Rockabilly and Western yodeling!
Carolina Cotton (aka the Yodeling Blonde Bombshell) was best known for her unique style of Western Swing yodeling, during the Golden Age of Western entertainment in the 1940s and 1950s. She was born Helen Hagstrom on October 20th, 1925 in Cash Arkansas and raised on her family's farm there. By 1937 she relocated to San Francisco, joined the O'Neille Sisters Kiddie Revue and performed shows at the Golden Gate Theatre. She became the singer / yodeler in Dude Martin's Roundup Gang in 1942, appearing on Bay Area radio stations.
In 1944 Carolina relocated to Los Angeles and joined Spade Cooley's Orchestra. She began her movie career with "Sing Neighbor Sing" (1944, Roy Acuff), and "The Singing Sheriff" (1944, Bob Crosby), where she made her yodeling debut with Cooley's Orchestra. She also filmed "I"m From Arkansas" (1944, Slim Summerville), and 2 Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) pictures in 1945: "Outlaws of the Rockies" and "Texas Panhandle". Carolina appeared in several soundies and film shorts as well, and radio shows such as the "Hollywood Barn Dance".
Carolina secretly married Cooley bassist Deuce Spriggens in 1945. They left the group, taking along with a few fellow bandmates, and formed Deuce Spriggins Orchestra (which also included the Plainsmen Trio). They also made soundies, and appeared in 4 films with Ken Curtis, and the Hoosier Hot Shots: "Song of the Prairie", "That Texas Jamboree", "Cowboy Blues" and "Singing on the Trail". They recorded a session for Mercury Records ("What's the Matter With You" / "I Been Down in Texas"). But by 1946, Cotton and Spriggens divorced.
The Yodeling Blonde Bombshell soon signed with King Records, releasing her best-loved songs "Three Miles South of Cash in Arkansas" and "I Love to Yodel". She was a regular on the AFRS radio show "Ranch House Party" (Ken Curtis, Cottonseed Clark and others) and KMPC Westerners (Pappy Cheshire, Plainsmen). She eventually appeared on numerous radio and early TV shows. In 1947 she toured with Bob Wills and filmed "Smoky River Serenade" (Hoosier Hot Shots). She recorded for Crystal Records, producing the popular songs "Chime Bells" and "You've Got Me Wrapped Around Your Finger" (with the Broome Brothers). In 1948 Carolina toured with the Sons of the Pioneers, as the only "daughter" of the group. She appeared in the film "Smoky Mountain Melody" (Roy Acuff) and became one of the first female disc jockeys in the country, spinning records on LA station KGER. On TV she guest starred on KTLA's Sunset Ranch.
In 1949 Miss Cotton starred with Ken Curtis in "Stallion Canyon", and with Eddie Arnold in "Hoedown". She recorded 2 releases for Masterone Records, including "Put Your Shoes On Lucy", "Hoosegow Serenade" and "The Old Square Dance is Back Again". By 1950 she signed with MGM Records, recording such songs as "I Betcha I Getcha". There were plans for Carolina to have her own adventure Western show, "Queen of the Range", but it never materialized. She began touring overseas for the Armed Forces, beginning with a tour of Europe (she made several tours with the USO to Korea and the Far East). In Germany she received the title of "Deputy Provost Marshal", the only citizen to receive this award.
Carolina made numerous personal appearances across the country, from parades to rodeos to countless charity benefits. She toured and performed events with Western entertainers such as Doye O'Dell, Jimmy Wakely, Smiley Burnette, Eddie Dean and many others. Carolina learned to ride horses early in her career, and soon became an Outstanding Horsewoman. She often rode in parades as Grand Marshalette.
In 1951 Carolina recorded with Bob Wills, remaking "Three Miles South of Cash". In 1952 she co-starred as more of a leading role in 3 films: "Apache Country" (Gene Autry, Pat Buttram), "The Rough Tough West" (Jock Mahoney, Smiley Burnette) and her final film, Autry's "Blue Canadian Rockies". Among her last MGM recordings were "Yodel Yodel Yodel", and the yodeling showcase "Nola".
Between 1953-55, Carolina continued her personal appearances, and guesting on radio and TV. "Carolina Cotton Calls" radio show was heard worldwide through the AFRS. In 1956 she made a final overseas trip to South Africa, touring hospitals of children with cerebral palsy. She decided that if she ever left the entertainment business, she would do something to help kids with disabilities.
By August 1956 Carolina married LA area musician Bill Ates (nephew of character Roscoe Ates). At a time when Western Swing and B movies were waning, she began involving herself more in family life and less in Show Biz. The couple had 2 children: son William, and daughter Sharon. Unfortunately the marriage did not endure into the 1960s; Bill and Carolina divorced.
Still wanting to help children with disabilities, she became a teacher, earning her Masters Degree in Special Education, as well as traditional education. She held different teaching positions over the years and settled in Bakersfield CA in the early 1970s. After her kids were grown Carolina attended jam sessions at Bakersfield's Grange Hall, a popular spot for local musicians who helped invent the "Bakersfield Sound" of Country music. Among them was Bill Woods. In the mid 1980s through the mid 1990s, Carolina became a regular guest speaker at Western Film Festivals.
Sadly in 1994, Carolina was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. In spite of enduring treatments, she kept the same enthusiasm she was known for over the years. In March 1997 she retired from her teaching career. She entered the hospital in April, where she passed away the morning of June 10th, 1997.
Carolina Cotton is remembered fondly by her fans, and her films and recordings (which are in the midst of restoration) continue to be enjoyed by all who love the Golden Age of Western Entertainment.
THE STORY BEHIND THOSE SONGS IN THE MP3 PLAYER:
Singing On The Trail: recorded in Hollywood, 1946. The song was originally featured in the B Western movie "Singing On The Trail". Ken Curtis, the Hoosier Hot Shots and the Deuce Spriggens Orchestra starred in the film. Although Carolina performed the tune in the movie with Spriggens' band, this version was recorded with Hank Penny and his group. Carolina had just joined Penny's band at that time.
Mama Yo Quiero: radio transcription from an unknown program, ca. 1945-46. The band is believed to be the Deuce Spriggens Orchestra, with the Plainsmen. Carolina and Spriggens performed regularly at the infamous Santa Monica Ballroom, and live radio broadcasts such as the Hollywood Barn Dance and Melody Roundup captured their performances onto disc. Listen to Cottonseed Clark (the"Brushwood Poet") chime in "I want my mammy", and Carolina sings a duet with Andy Parker.
You Always Keep Me In Hot Water: recorded at Radio Recorders, 1951. Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys accompany Carolina on this tune she co-wrote. It's also featured in the Durango Kid B Western film "The Rough Tough West". Texas Playboys pianist Skeeter Elkin plays the beautiful intro with Carolina. Skeeter still performs on occasion, with the San Antonio Rose Band. He recalls great times working with Carolina in the studio, and the Snader Telescription music videos.
Boogie Woogie Saturday Night (aka Tennessee Saturday Night): radio transcription, from the Carolina Cotton Calls AFRS show 5, ca. 1952. Johnny Paul Girardi (fiddle), Abner Wilder (bass, banjo), Frank Tacach (clarinet), Art Wenzel (accordion), and Walkin' Talkin' Charley Aldridge on guitar. (Charley, now in his 80s, still has fond memories of Carolina and the AFRS radio shows. And he still has his original guitars from those days!).
Nola: recorded in New York, 1952, with the LeRoy Holmes Orchestra (too many members to mention). At the end of the song, Carolina answers her own yodel....a "sound-on-sound" effect that was something brand new, when recorded. She was friends with Les Paul and Mary Ford, and used to visit their little experimental recording studio. Perhaps she used one of his innovative recording techniques? Who knows for sure.
You're Gettin' a Good Girl: recorded in Nashville (studio musicians), 1950. Dude Martin's band recorded the song years before this version came out, so Carolina may very well had performed it when she was a member of his Roundup Gang. Contrary to the lyrics, Carolina really was a good girl. "I don't smoke, I don't drink...I don't do a doggone thing but yodel"!
Carolina Cotton Calls 88 excerpts: radio transcription, ca. 1952-54, from her AFRS radio program. The lineup changed for this episode. The group was known as The Rhythm Riders: Darol Rice (clarinet), George Bamby (accordion), Slim
Duncan (fiddle, vocals), Joe Maphis (guitar), Mike Barton (bass). Carolina worked with Bamby when he was a member of Andy Parker and the Plainsmen. Years later, she reunited with Maphis and Rose Lee, for a benefit concert in Bakersfield.
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