Bill Fries, better known as recording artist C.W. McCall, died Friday at age 93, according to a social media post by collaborator Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller.
McCall, who had been in hospice care due to cancer, was 93. He had been retired from the music business for more than 40 years.
McCall’s lasting fame was due to his vocals on one big hit novelty single in 1975 — “Convoy,” a truck-driving tale that roughly parallels the Route 66 corridor, starting in Flagstaff, Arizona, to Tulsa to Chicago.
And, yes, Davis was a collaborator on that song, too. It pretty much launched his lucrative music career.
If you’re new to the trucker lingo in the song, this chapter on its Wikipedia page will be helpful in deciphering it.
“Convoy” went to No. 1 not only on the country-music chart but also on the pop chart.
The song also ignited sales of CB radios for several years; not just truckers were buying them.
It also inspired a movie by the same name, starring Kris Kristofferson.
UPDATE 4/3/2022: Here’s an obituary by the New York Times.
(Screen-capture image from video of the cover of C.W. McCall’s greatest-hits album)
Sorry to hear this. This song was a big parts of our lives as kids growing up in the ’70s. As were C.B. radios. Our favorite young parish priest even had one! Who else still remembers their C.B. license #?
Oh that’s a bummer. I hope some CB industry trade group builds him a GIGANTIC shrine.