William Dale Fries Jr., better known as C. W. McCall, was born on this day in 1928. He was an advertising executive whose campaign for Old Home Bread, that featured his spoken-word songs, won a Clio Award and led to further recordings. “Convoy” came out in 1975 and reached #1 in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and #2 in the UK. Additionally, it reached #1 on the US Country chart, #4 on the Canadian Country chart, and #13 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart in 1975.
C. W. died earlier this year due to complications from cancer.
The Sound of One Hand Typing 
Hi John – I do have to say … this is one of my favourite songs; at the time I had an interim job working for some people who were doing an advert for a Mercedes truck … so this song was most definitely appropriate at the time. Thanks for posting … cheers Hilary
LikeLike
It was catchy and like you said was perfectly appropriate, and introduced CB and trucker culture here. A lot of us got a peek into how the other half livse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had the single as an 8 year old.
LikeLike
A lot of people liked it. It wasn’t a conventional song, but it was a good story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it was and it helped spark the CB craze.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! Yes indeed 😊😊😊
LikeLike
When Smokey and The Bandit came out, this song was just a natural to become famous. Funny, I remember our bus drivers got these radios since the buses broke down or the drivers ended up in the ditch (at least once a year in Winter) and they just kept using them to talk to each other. They were so bad, truckers complained and our principal had to tell each bus driver to smarten up. I was witness to our driver getting a talking to and I was tickled.
LikeLike
Great song. I remember it well.
LikeLike
So do all of us who were around in that era. It is a great song…
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always enjoyed this song. I had a CB radio when I traveled between Indiana and Chicago (Chi town). Saved many a ticket I’m sure.
LikeLike
On I-65?
LikeLike
Toll road. Don’t remember the number.
LikeLike
The Indiana Toll Road is I-90/I-80, if that’s the toll road you’re thinking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that’s it. I lived in Middlebury IN at the time
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almost in Amish country, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right in the middle. The Amish craftsmen built my barn and fences. They also would show up in buggy’s in the morning to see my one cow milker that I became well known for putting together. Lived on 10 acres and did farming in minature. Was a great time.
LikeLike
Missed his death notice. C W McCall was a collaboration of Fries and Chip Davis who went on to found Manheim Steamroller.
A couple of talented musicians.
LikeLike
I think I had heard about his death in passing, but forgot all about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember this song.
LikeLike
Kind of hard to forget. I think it was part of the zeitgeist of that time.
LikeLike
I remember this song. I used to have a CB in my car. It came in handy during my weekend travels from Orlando to Miami.
LikeLike
You weren’t using it to exceed the speed limit, were you? (nudge nudge, wink wink)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, speeding! 😬I had a 1974 260Z Datsun 2+2 4-speed. My handle was 14 Karat. Those were the days…
LikeLike
That was the ’70’s for you…
LikeLike
My dad had a CB in his car. We had some fun conversations.
LikeLike
They were fun. A friend of mine had one…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember this well 💜
LikeLike
If you were around back then, you remember it.
LikeLike