Colorado –William Dale Fries Jr., an Omaha advertising executive who created the character of long haul trucker C.W. McCall, a regular on citizen’s band (CB for short) radio, died at his home here on April 1. He created a pop culture phenomenon in the 1970s, when, as McCall, he performed 1976 crossover No. 1 hit “Convoy.” The song inspired a 1978 movie of the same name, starring Kris Kristofferson. Fries was 93.
MSTies will recall that he was mentioned in host segments in episodes 421- MONSTER A-GO GO and 610- THE VIOLENT YEARS.
Thanks to Tim for the heads up.
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That’s a shame. Grew up with Convoy, one of my favorite movies.
I can’t think of the seventies and CB radio without thinking of Tom Servo’s trucker butt. Shudder. RIP
While he wasn’t directly mentioned in the episode, Riding With Death does owe something to C.W. McCall as well.
Let us not forget the great song “ Wolf creak pass” I’ll always remember the phrase “ like gas through a funnel and eggs through a hen.”
How ironic, I could not get this song out of my head what with all the “Freedom Convoy” nonsense lately…
RIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OfUxLtI7BI
R.I.P. Good buddy
It’s also worth noting that, Fries being an ad executive, “CW McCall” didn’t exist–
CW was a TV-commercial character, who delivered Old Home Bread to Mavis at the Old Home Fill-‘Er-Up & Keep On Truckin’ Cafe’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAvF6TSXwxg
I lived through the entire 70’s decade and I must say, the CB radio craze was as bad as the disco era. Oh man, I’ve tried so hard to forget. Rest in peace Mr. Fries, but please don’t make me relive that God-awful decade.