Donnell Cooley

Case record: Donnell Cooley

Identity

Donnell Clyde “Spade” Cooley (December 17, 1910 – November 23, 1969) was an American Western Swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality.

Background

Cooley’s career ended when he was arrested and convicted for the murder of his second wife, Ella Mae Evans.

Cooley’s 18-month engagement at Santa Monica’s Venice Pier Ballroom was record breaking for the early half of the 1940s. His “Shame on You”, released on Columbia’s OKeh label, was recorded in December of 1944, and was No. 1 on the country charts for two months. “Shame on You” was the first in an unbroken string of six Top Ten singles including “Detour” and “You Can’t Break My Heart”. Cooley billed himself as the “king of western swing”.

Cooley appeared in 38 westerns, both in bit parts and as a stand in for cowboy actor Roy Rogers. He hosted a Los Angeles based syndicated television show from 1949 until 1959. The Hoffman Hayride was so popular that an estimated 75 percent of all televisions in the L.A. area were tuned into the show each Saturday night.

In 1950 Cooley had significant roles in several films, and starred in two film shorts: “King of Western Swing” and “Spade Cooley & His Orchestra”.

Cooley’s sound was closer to conventional dance-oriented pop orchestras than that of Bob Wills or others in the genre. This accounted for his work having been more popular with mainstream audiences during his 1940s and 1950s heyday, while not having enjoyed continuing popularity of Wills.

Cooley’s career and public life were later associated in popular culture with his “tragic end.”

The offence

In 1961, Cooley’s wife expressed her wish to be divorced from him. Cooley responded by beating her and stomping on her body until she died.

After the divorce, Cooley and Ella Mae Evans married shortly after the divorce came final, and they had children together.

The record describes the attack sequence as: Cooley beat Ella Mae Evans unconscious; their 14-year-old daughter came home; Cooley made the daughter watch as he killed her mother; Cooley told the daughter he would kill her if she didn’t; the daughter watched in terror as Cooley stomped her mother “guts out” and burned her with cigarettes; then Cooley shot her. The record also states that while the phone rang and Cooley went to get it, the girl ran for her life.

Investigation

During the trial, Cooley suffered a heart attack.

Trial

Cooley was convicted of the murder of his wife, Ella Mae Evans.

Sentencing

Cooley was sentenced to life in prison. The record states that during the trial Cooley suffered a heart attack while he was delivered his prison sentence.

After serving his time for a while, the state of California gave him a temporary release in order to play a benefit concert for the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County at the Paramount Theater in Oakland.

After the performance, he suffered another heart attack in the backstage area. This time it was fatal.

Outcome

Cooley died on November 23, 1969 after the fatal heart attack in the backstage area following the benefit concert for the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County at the Paramount Theater in Oakland.

Aftermath

Popular culture later included John Gilmore’s “Shame on You”, a segment of Gilmore’s nonfiction work “L.A. Despair,” as well as references in James Ellroy’s fiction.

It was also reported that Dennis Quaid planned to make a bio-pic about Cooley.

Spade Cooley was the grandfather of Mike Cooley, singer, guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the psychobilly band Drive-By Truckers.

Other details

Cooley was described as having significant history of alcohol use in connection with his behavior. The record states that increased liking for alcohol showed a darker side and that he was “mean and, sometimes vicious” when drinking; it also describes fights with friends and band members and that the following day he would beg them to come back.

The record further describes that Cooley had been married at the time of his early life in the period described as lasting about 11 years before the relationship with Ella Mae Evans.

The record also describes that Cooley imagined that Ella Mae Evans was having affairs, including with two business associates who were described as gay, and that he shoved her from a moving car they were in at one point.