Wesley Tuttle

Wesley Tuttle's Western Music career began as a teenager at age 15 when he sang on the Stuart Hamblin radio show in Los Angeles. During his teenage years, Wes sang with the Beverly Hillbillies, Jimmie Lever and his Saddle Pals, and even had a short stint with the Sons of the Pioneers. In 1937 when they were undergoing important changes, Lloyd Perryman had just replaced Roy Rogers who left to become a movie star. Wes was hired to sub for Tim Spencer who had briefly left the Pioneers. Without Roy, the Pioneers needed an exceptionally good yodeler, and Wes was the man for the job! He stayed with the Pioneers until he and his buddy, Hugh Farr, discovered Pat Brady at a club in Huntington Beach. When Pat joined the Pioneers, Wes was recruited by Stuart Hamblen's organization. Wes had worked with Hamblen earlier on a part-time basis and Hamblen's offer was irresistible. Hamblen's radio shows were the most popular ones in Southern California at the time.

Wes performed Western songs on Stuart's Radio Show until June 1939 when he moved to Cincinnati to WLW's "Boone County Jamboree" and "Top of the Morning." During his two years there, he worked with Tex Owens ("Cattle Call" composer), Lulu Belle and Scotty, Hank Penny, Curly Fox and Texas Ruby (who was Tex Owens' sister), and Merle Travis, who became Tuttle's life-long friend.

Returning to California, Wesley rejoined Stuart Hamblen where he continued to perforrn Western songs on the air, make personal appearances, and to perform on recordings for Capital and Coral Records. These included such songs as "Strawberry Roan" and "Texas Yodel." Because of his incredible yodeling, Disney hired him to sing Dopey's part in "The Dwarfs' Yodel Song" on the original sound track of the Wait Disney film classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. (Dopey couldn't talk, but could he ever yodel!)

In 1945, Wes was in the Capital Records studio in Hollywood for a Tex Ritter session to record "You Two-timed Me One Time Too Often." When Tex had trouble with the meter, Wes stationed himself directly in front of Tex to help him keep on the beat. The recording was a smash hit and Lee Gillette signed Wes to Capitol. Merle Travis, who came to California due to Wes's influence, played on Wes' first records at a time when no one on the West Coast knew who Merle was. That year, Wes recorded his first #I hit, "With Tears in My Eyes," followed with an even bigger one in 1946, "Detour." At one time Tex Ritter and Wes Tuttle had the # 1, #2 and #3 songs on the Billboard charts.

Wes married Marilyn in 1947 and they began touring together and recording hits as a duet! Eventually, being the new parents of twins and tired of traveling, they settled into their home in the San Fernando Valley and Wes started his radio show, "Tuttle Time," which broadcast from his home. The show ran until TV took over. Wes then began working on television shows full time. One such show ran live, three hours a day, five days a week Monday through Friday, plus two hours on Sunday. The rule was that no song could be repeated within a 30 day period!

Finally, Wes became the writer/director of the very popular Los Angeles area TV show "Town Hall Party" which broadcast every Saturday night for three hours and featured the most popular musicians of the time including the Sons of the Pioneers.

Eventually, Wes "retired" as a professional musician because he felt a stronger calling to the ministry of God. After graduating from Bible college, he organized evangelist meetings around the country and worked as the fund-raiser for the Atascadero Christian Retirement Home. He and Marilyn were in great demand to perform gospel concerts in many churches and they produced and recorded gospel music on the Sacred Records label. During this period they were owners/operators of the Christian Book & Bible Store until the 1971 San Fernando earthquake flattened the building precipitating another "retirement."

Wes Tuttle's influence on Western and country music is profound. His is very proud that he helped open doors for many performers in the music business. His songs have been recorded by many performers such as Glenn Campbell, Patti Page, and others. During his career he has sung with, influenced, discovered, and had on his various shows virtually every known Western Music star. As one WMA member put it, "Growing up in Southern California during the 30's and 40's, listening to Wesley Tuttle on radio and eventually watching him on television was my whole life. His influence on Western and country music and on his listening audience is profound and more encompassing than you can ever imagine." (By O.J. Sikes with conversations with Marilyn and Wesley Tuttle)