From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Nov 10, 2002  7:24 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Onie Wheeler

ONIE WHEELER (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born 10 November 1921, Senath, Missouri
Died 26 May 1984, Nashville, Tennessee

Never a major artist, Onie Wheeler was somehow someone in his
own class with distinctive vocal and harmonica styles.

One of thirteen kids, Onie was raised on a farm, first in Senath, MO,
and in Morley, MO. He played guitar and harmonica but never thought
of a career in music until he got in the Army in 1940 where he won a
talent contest. Upon his discharge in 1945, Onie worked the radio
stations, first in Missouri, then Arkansas, Kentucky and Michigan.
In 1948, while in Flint, he cut his first single "Shackles And Chains"
with his wife. Back in Missouri, he met the Nelson brothers and formed
a group that worked radio and honky tonks around Arkansas, Illinois
and Missouri. After a trip to California, Onie got himself a contract with
the Columbia division Okeh Records and, by 1953, his first single "Run
'Em Off" was out. The single didn't make the charts, but sold enough
(reportedly 250,000 copies) to be covered by Lefty Frizzell.
Between 1953 and 1955, Onie (along with Nelsons) recorded fine country
music, from boppin' ditties to honky tonk and even some sacred songs.
During 1955, Onie was part of tours with Elvis Presley, and in 1956 and
1957, he returned to the studio to record some fine country-rockabilly
sides such "Onie's Bop", "A Booger Gonna Getcha Ya" and "Goin' Back
To The City".
More tours with the Memphis rockabillies followed and in late 1957, he
reportedly cut 3 sessions for Sun, and a sole single "Jump Right Out Of
This Jukebox"/"Tell Em Off" was issued in 1959. Excellent as it was, the
release had been postponed too long to have a commercial chance. It
sounded like a classic mid-50s record, which missed the peak market
by nearly three years. Onie didn't enjoy his experience at 706 Union,
finding it too chaotic and disorganized for his taste.
In the 1960s, Onie worked for George Jones and Sho-Bud guitar among
others. He finally managed to get a hit on his own with "John's Been
Shucking My Corn" in 1972. He died on the Grand Ole Opry stage while
performing, aged 62.

Recommended listening:
"Onie's Bop" Bear Family BCD 15542