Posted on 04/01/2022 5:00:28 PM PDT by hoagy62
From the FB page of Mannheim Steamroller:
Chip’s good friend Bill Fries passed away today. Bill and Chip teamed up to create the fictional CW McCall — voiced by Fries — for a series of award-winning commercials, including the #1 classic hit, “Convoy”.
Chip just spoke about his friend, “Bill Fries, ‘Breaker Breaker 19’ is how that big song started— selling millions of copies worldwide. It made an impressive impact on millions of people. I had a great time writing with ‘Willy’. I’d go over to his house and we’d talk about the topic of a song while having a ‘silver bullet’— Bill’s name for a martini. I wrote the music separately and I never heard his words until we got into the studio. What a wordsmith and what a voice. You won’t have to keep the pedal to the metal anymore. Rest up Willy, you deserve it.”
Man, I loved that song when I was 7. And, with all the cool overdubbing effects of the truckers talking on their radios probably set me up to be a big fan of techno and industrial.
I remember being kind of shocked when I saw him on either Donny and Marie or some other variety show and thinking, “Dang... he’s kind of odd...”
Another world, I guess, when stuff like that could actually beccome radio hits. So much better than the manufactured crap we have now.
That was a fun time in America. RIP, good buddy.
One of the spookiest audio “coincidences” I ever experienced was having just crested “Wolf Creek Pass” and heading down when the iPod rotation brought up “Wolf Creek Pass.” We stayed that night in Pagosa Springs, Co.
I love “Wolf Creek Pass.”
What an interesting story, thanks for sharing it.
I know of at least 3 feed stores in Pagosa. Springs. Not one down town now, but in the 70’s probably so.
You have been off the pass quite a ways before entering Pagosa Springs.
Funny song anyway.
RIP Mr Fries
I enjoyed the Black Bear Road album.
Green River
https://youtu.be/BbjDnpV8RRU
The Silverton
https://youtu.be/2mHKEcsEKvI
“Wolf Creek Pass” mentioned in one of the “MASH goes to...” Books.
I read those as a teenager.
Doesn’t bite me remind you of Don Rhotten.🤔
Well, he’s shot the line and gone for broke
With a thousand screamin’ trucks
An’ eleven long-haired Friends of Jesus
In a chartreuse micro-bus.
Godspeed, Mr. Fries.
“Stormed the beach about dawn” (when they reach the other side)...could you imagine them playing that on the radio today with the Asian accents when they reach there?
RIP good buddy.
Convoy always made me smile and that is about all you can ask from any entertainment.
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