Spade Cooley

Spade Cooley

Donnell Clyde "Spade" Cooley (December 17, 1910 – November 23, 1969) was an American convicted murderer and former Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality. In 1961 he was arrested and convicted for the April 1961 murder of his second wife, Ella Mae Evans.

Birth and Death Data: Born Oklahoma, Died November 23, 1969 (Vacaville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: violin, leader, songwriter, composer, vocalist, arranger, other, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 170 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	H488	10-in.	8/27/1941	Blue-eyed Elaine	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H585	10-in.	12/2/1941	You brought sorrow to my heart	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H586	10-in.	12/2/1941	You don't care	Johnny Bond	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H906	10-in.	7/31/1942	I'm a pris'ner of war (on a foreign shore)	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H908	10-in.	7/31/1942	Der fuehrer's face	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H909	10-in.	7/31/1942	Love gone cold	Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1157	10-in.	12/4/1944	Forgive me one more time	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1158	10-in.	12/4/1944	Shame on you	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1159	10-in.	12/4/1944	I guess I've been dreaming again	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1160	10-in.	12/4/1944	I've taken all I'm gonna take from you	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	H1161	10-in.	12/4/1944	A pair of broken hearts	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1488	10-in.	7/24/1945	You can't break my heart	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Columbia	HCO1638	10-in.	1/3/1946	Detour	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1639	10-in.	1/3/1946	Crazy 'cause I love you	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer, lyricist
Columbia	HCO1640	10-in.	1/3/1946	Hide your face	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1817	10-in.	5/3/1946	Three way boogie	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer, leader
Columbia	HCO1818	10-in.	5/3/1946	Oklahoma stomp	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Columbia	HCO1819	10-in.	5/3/1946	Cow bell polka	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Columbia	HCO1820	10-in.	5/3/1946	Steel guitar rag	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1870	10-in.	6/6/1946	You better do it now	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	Male vocal solo, with string band	leader, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	HCO1871	10-in.	6/6/1946	You never miss the water (till the well runs dry)	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, violin, songwriter
Columbia	HCO1872	10-in.	6/6/1946	Spadella	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Columbia	HCO1873	10-in.	6/6/1946	Devil's dream	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	instrumentalist, violin, composer, leader
Columbia	HCO1874	10-in.	6/6/1946	Yodeling polka	Spade Cooley and his Orchestra	String band	leader, composer, instrumentalist, violin
Columbia	LA2174	10-in.	3/12/1940	The singing hills	Gene Autry	Male vocal solo, with string band	instrumentalist, violin

(Results 76-100 of 170 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cooley, Spade," accessed December 11, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/202076.

Cooley, Spade. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/202076.

"Cooley, Spade." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 11 December 2025.