ROOTS of Country Music

Jimmy Wakely

Actor-singer in 1940-50s western movies

(1914–1982)

He was one of filmdom's last dying breed of "B" crooning cowpokes following WWII. Jimmy Wakely had many talents (singing, songwriting, guitar-playing) and performed in many venues (radio, film, TV, rodeos, clubs) over his career. He began life in Mineola, Arkansas in 1914, but was raised in Depression-era Oklahoma.