Posted on 12/09/2004 9:41:11 AM PST by bd476
LOS ANGELES - "Jerry Scoggins, who sang "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" that introduced the comical Clampett clan on "The Beverly Hillbillies," has died. He was 93.
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Scoggins, the lead singer of the Cass County Boys, died Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Westlake Village.
In 1962, the country and western singer was working as a stockbroker and singing on weekends when he was asked to record a theme song for the pilot of the television series starring Buddy Ebsen (news).
Bluegrass stars Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs played guitar and banjo on "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" while Scoggins sang the lyrics.
The song and series were instant hits, and the ballad made the national hit parade in 1963.
The series, which ran on CBS from 1962 to 1971, was ranked as TV's No. 1 program in its first two seasons and drew up to 60 million viewers at its peak.
Scoggins was retired when he read in 1993 that 20th Century Fox was planning a movie version of the series. He called the studio and was put through to music supervisor Steve Smith, who told him, "Criminy I didn't know you were still around."
The studio had wanted Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson to sing the theme for the movie, but director Penelope Spheeris held out for Scoggins.
"I wanted to keep as much familiarity in the movie as I could find, and that was a key part: people's familiarity with his voice," she told the Los Angeles Times in 1993.
Scoggins estimated that by the movie he had sung "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" more than 1,000 times since first recording it.
Scoggins was born in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and began singing and playing guitar on Dallas radio in the early 1930s. In 1936 he formed the Cass County Kids with John "Bert" Dodson and Fred Martin.
Gene Autry (news) changed the group's name to the Cass County Boys when he hired them in 1946 for his Melody Ranch radio program. They worked with Autry for 12 years on radio and television, and performed in 17 of his movies.
The group also recorded and performed on TV with Bing Crosby (news) in the early 1950s.
The Cass County Boys were inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame in 1996. They also received a Golden Boot Award from the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
Scoggins, a widower, is survived by two daughters, Judy Headley of Santa Barbara and Jane Kelly of Westlake Village; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter."
must have been the real version on SNL, this one was just a spinoff, I guess.
Comen listen to the story bout a man named Bill.
From drugs to cash or food to sex, he couldnt get his fill.
And then one day, his wife who is a les,
Nagged him into running for the office of the prez.
White House that is, Oval Office, Commander-in-Chief.
Well, the first thing you know, the scandals erupt,
After tapes and denials, were sure that hes corrupt.
Inhaling-womanizing or draft-dodging arent enough,
but laundering for a dealer makes election tough.
Gubernatorial gaffs, Executive improprieties. Lordy!
And wouldga believe, Slick Willy gets elected,
56% said, "we'd hoped you'd get rejected!"
"Washington's the place, that you ought not to be,"
but D.C welcomed Bill & Hill, Socks & Chelsea.
High-dollar lobbyists, female interns, movie stars!
Quick as a bolt o' lightning, Billy got in trouble,
Hillary thumped poor Al and took control on the double.
She failed in wrecking healthcare and killed Vince to hide her lies,
she made a ton in futures cause her friends screwed you and I.
Murder at 1600. First favors. Commodity contortions.
Poor ole Willy-Billy, he wound up in a rut,
Couldnt stop the Starr convictions, or keep his zipper shut.
Travelgate, Filegate, He wound up in a mess,
when they found out that his goo was on some dumpy intern's dress.
Biological evidence, presidential DNA. Whew doggies!
Well, the next thing you know, Starr's got himself a case,
The delays and privilege claims just slowing down the pace.
Hillary says it's all 'cuz of their state locality,
But the truth is she's another sucker, just like you and me.
Chumped. Bamboozled. Snake oiled, don't ya' know?
And as the story's told, it turns from sad to simply dire.
Commie nukes point at our kids because he is for hire.
He's cheated on the country and of course, his family,
but he doesn't have a shame, and prays and hopes that so don't we
.
..Well, now it's time to say goodbye to Bill, Hill and their sin.
The Chinese Army thanks you folks for not removing him.
You're all invited back next week to stay in Lincoln's room,
just bring your fifty grand, and hide your daughter from the goon.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - my hat is off to that parody writer!!!!!!
Thank you. Bill Clinton was the best thing for conservatives since Jimmy Carter. Oh, hang on, those are the last two Dem Presidents. My bad. {;^)
I forgot to mention her name: Irene Ryan. Another character on that show who always cracked me up was "Miss Jane" (Nancy Kulp). I guess it would be obvious now, but it wasn't then: she later came out as a lesbian.
RIP. Flatt & Scruggs - and Scoggins. Good stuff you wrought.
They were, indeed. I don't know the title of the episode, but Flatt and Scruggs were named as part of the story.
Earl Scruggs is still very much alive.
Wheee doggies, LOL. That's some tune alright!
Thanks! Irene Ryan was a great actress. She must have had a lot of fun in that role.
I googled "Jed Clampett" and lots of Flatt and Scruggs' album covers come up.
Take the pizza sign off the roof.
Grin.
Okay, I'll bite. How can...?
In the same vein: What is the difference between a banjo and a tenor banjo?
Wow. I must be getting older.
:~0
Yee haw!!!!!! Oh no..... make that "Hee Haw"! :-)
haha! I hear ya! Have a beer on me, old guy! :^D
:~)
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