Slim Whitman

Ottis Dewey Whitman Jr. (January 20, 1923 – June 19, 2013), known as Slim Whitman, was an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his yodeling abilities and his use of falsetto. He claimed he had sold in excess of 120 million records, although the recorded sales figures give 70 million, during a career that spanned over seven decades, and consisted of a prolific output of over 100 albums and around 500 recorded songs, that not only consisted of country music, but also of contemporary gospel, Broadway show tunes, love songs and standards. In the 1950s, Whitman toured with Elvis Presley as the opening act.

In the 1990s and 2000s, a new generation was exposed to Whitman through his songs featured in the film Mars Attacks!. His "Indian Love Call" (listened to by the elderly character played by veteran actress Sylvia Sidney) would kill the invading Martians by causing their heads to explode every time the record was played. This proves the key to defeating the otherwise seemingly invincible invaders. Whitman's rendition of "I Remember You" was heard in Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 20, 1924 (Tampa), Died June 19, 2013 (Orange Park)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, guitar, songwriter

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E0VB-4032 10-in. 3/28/1950 Let's go to church (next Sunday morning) Dolores Watson ; Slim Whitman Female-male vocal solo, with string band vocalist  
Victor E0VB-4033 10-in. 3/28/1950 There's a rainbow with ev'ry teardrop Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band songwriter, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0864 10-in. 2/3/1949 I'll do as much for you someday Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band and yodeling leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0865 10-in. 2/3/1949 I'll never pass this way again Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0866 10-in. 2/3/1949 Please paint a rose on the garden wall Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0867 10-in. 2/3/1949 Tears can never drown the flame (that's in my heart) Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0868 10-in. 2/3/1949 I'm casting my lasso towards the sky Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band and yodeling leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0869 10-in. 2/3/1949 Wabash waltz Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0870 10-in. 2/3/1949 I'm crying for you Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D9VB-0871 10-in. 2/3/1949 Birmingham jail Slim Whitman Male vocal solo, with string band leader, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Whitman, Slim," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/356339.

Whitman, Slim. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/356339.

"Whitman, Slim." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/356339

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