Onie WHEELER

Chanteur et harmoniciste Country US né le 10 novembre 1921 à Senath (Missouri). Onie Wheeler, ancien fermier, a fait ses débuts en 1950 sur la radio KWOC en tant que leader des "Ozark Cowboys". Il enregistra chez Agena, Okeh (53), Columbia (55-57), Sun (59) et K-Ark Records (61). Il fut chanteur régulier sur KSIM (Sikeston, Missouri). Depuis, il était devenu membre régulier de l'orchestre de Roy Acuff. Onie Wheeler est mort sur la scène du Grand Ole Opry de Nashville le 26 Mai 1984. Il est le père de Karen Wheeler.
Born in Senath, MO, on November 10, 1921, Onie Wheeler recorded traditional country, bluegrass, and rockabilly (for Sun) in a career that stretched from a small radio show in Missouri all the way to the Grand Ole Opry. He played guitar and harmonica as a child, but never performed professionally until after service in World War II. Beginning in 1945, he worked radio broadcasts in Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, and Kentucky. Wheeler formed the Ozark Cowboys five years later with Ernest Thompson and brothers A.J. and Doyal Nelson. The Cowboys played clubs in Texas in 1952, and were encouraged to travel to Nashville by Little Jimmy Dickens.
After reaching Music City, Onie Wheeler and the Cowboys found a deal with Columbia. He recorded in 1953, and though his material wasn't successful, Lefty Frizzell reached the Country Top Ten a year later with Wheeler's "Run 'Em Off." By the mid-'50s, his repertoire began to lean toward rockabilly; he signed to Sun Records in 1957, and toured with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. He spent some of the late '50s in California, but returned to Nashville to record for Epic, Starday, United Artists, and Musicor during the '60s. Wheeler toured with the bands of George Jones and Roy Acuff, and finally hit the charts himself when "John's Been Shucking My Corn" placed modestly in 1973. He even watched his daughter Karen place three singles on the charts during the mid-'70s. Wheeler owned and operated a guitar repair shop during the late '70s and early '80s, working occasionally with Acuff on the Grand Ole Opry. He was playing at the Opry with Rev. Jimmie Snow in May 1984 when he collapsed and died on-stage
Talents : Singer, Harmonica
Style musical : Bluegrass, Traditional Country, Rockabilly

GOIN' BACK TO THE CITY

Wheeler, Onie



Born 1921 in Senath, Mo. A performer on KSIM (Sikeston, Mo.) in 1954. Died in 1984. Father of Karen Wheeler.

References:
Feature article and discography in issue 9 (1984) of Roll Street Journal.

Original Releases



Discography is not intended to be complete

Date & Source	Label & Number	V	Titles {& References to LP/CD List}	As By	Matrix Numbers
1956/June 9 Bb c&w rev.	Columbia 4-21523		I Wanna Hold My Baby {b} Onie's Bop {b,p,q,r}	1 1	JZSP 38259 JZSP 38260
1956/Nov. 24 Bb c&w rev.	Columbia 4-40787		A Booger Gonna Getcha {b,e,f,h} A Beggar For Your Love {b}	1 1	JZSP 39288 JZSP 39289
1957/May 6 Bb c&w rev.	Columbia 4-40911-c		Going Back To The City {a,b,d,i,l,n} Steppin' Out {b}	1 1	JZSP 41251 JZSP 41253
1960/May 16 Bb c&w rev.	K-Ark 606		Too Hot To Handle I Need To Go Home	1 1	CP-3424 CP-3425
	Scottie 1325		Too Hot To Handle I Need To Go Home
1961/Nov. 13 Bb sac. rev.	K-Ark 626		White Lightning Cherokee {g,o,t} My Stubborn Heart	1 1	F-844 F-845
Additional Tracks on Comps
1957 (Sun Rec.)	Sun unissued		Bonaparte's Retreat [instr.] {b,u} Hazel {b} I'll Love You For A Life Time Long Gone {b} That's All {b,c,u} Walkin' Shoes {b,j,k,m,s,u}

References in "As By" Column:

1. as by Onie Wheeler
   

Collector-Oriented Compilation LPs and CDs Containing Tracks



Single-artist compilations included selectively

a.	Ace CDCHD 785 (cd)	Columbia Rockabilly, Vol. 1
b.	Bear Family BCD 15542 (cd)	Onie's Bop / Onie Wheeler
c.	Bear Family BCD 16405 (cd)	That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 17 (Sun)
d.	Bear Family BCD 16722 (cd)	That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 22 (Columbia)
e.	Bear Family BCD 16725 (cd)	That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 25 (Columbia)
f.	Big Tone BT 5710 (cd)	CBS Rockabilly Classics, Vol. 1
g.	Buffalo Bop Bb-CD 55073 (cd)	Rhythm & Booze
h.	CBS 82401 (lp)	CBS Rockabilly Classics
i.	CBS Special Products A 37984 (cd)	Rockabilly Stars, Vol. 3
j.	Castle Pulse PBXCD 344 (cd)	The Legendary Sun Records Story, Vol. 2
k.	Charly CPCD 8181 (cd)	Sun Hillbilly
l.	Columbia/Epic/Legacy CK 62172 (cd)	Ain't I'm A Dog!: 25 More Rockabilly Rave-Ups
m.	Disky Memphis 04 (cd)	The Ultimate Memphis Rockabilly Collection, Vol. 2
n.	Epic EG 37984 (lp)	Rockabilly Stars, Vol. 3
o.	Hop HB-HV 003 (cd)	Hillbilly Hop, Vol. 3
p.	Hop 999 (cd)	Hillbilly Hop
q.	Mustang MUST 6 (cd)	Rockabilly & Hillbilly Bop, Vol. 6
r.	Proper PROPERBOX 122 (cd)	Classic Rockabilly
s.	Select CD 586 (cd)	Red Hot: The Best Of Sun Rockabilly
t.	Stomper Time STCD 12 (cd)	Nashville Rockabilly
u.	Sun (England) SUN 1030 (lp)	Rockin' Rollin' Country Style