Hyfler/Rosner
2003-11-29 14:52:55 UTC
SINGING COWBOY WROTE 'SIOUX CITY SUE'
Richard Thomas Goldhahn, a singing cowboy with the stage name "Dick Thomas"
who wrote "Sioux City Sue," a western anthem popularized by Bing Crosby and
by Gene Autry in a movie of the same title, has died. He was 88.
Mr. Goldhahn died last Saturday in his sleep in a hospice in Abington, Pa.,
of heart failure.
A favorite among fans of the singing-cowboy genre, "Sioux City Sue" began
with the lyrics: "Sioux City Sue, Sioux City Sue. Your hair is red, your
eyes are blue, I'd swap my horse and dog for you." Mr. Goldhahn co-wrote the
lyrics with Max C. Freedman and composed the music for the catchy tune in
1945.
His own recording of the song sold more than 150,000 copies. When Crosby
recorded it in 1946, the song made the Lucky Strike Hit Parade for 14
consecutive weeks.
The same year, Autry recorded "Sioux City Sue" as the title song of his
Western film, solidifying the tune's place in western music history. Willie
Nelson later recorded a version.
Born on a pig farm now within Philadelphia city limits, Mr. Goldhahn studied
violin and accordion.
He began playing guitar, yodeling and singing on the radio and in nightclubs
in the 1930s. He moved to Los Angeles in 1941 and adopted cowboy garb to
perform at the Hollywood Tropics nightclub for a record 62 weeks.
Mr. Goldhahn, who served in the Army toward the end of World War II,
composed, recorded and performed his songs at clubs from Los Angeles to Las
Vegas, New York and Philadelphia for about 20 years.
He also worked on Philadelphia television.
Among his songs were "The Beaut From Butte," "Esmereldy," "Weary Nights and
Broken Dreams," "Give Me Back My Heart" and "I've Got a Gal in Laramie."
Richard Thomas Goldhahn, a singing cowboy with the stage name "Dick Thomas"
who wrote "Sioux City Sue," a western anthem popularized by Bing Crosby and
by Gene Autry in a movie of the same title, has died. He was 88.
Mr. Goldhahn died last Saturday in his sleep in a hospice in Abington, Pa.,
of heart failure.
A favorite among fans of the singing-cowboy genre, "Sioux City Sue" began
with the lyrics: "Sioux City Sue, Sioux City Sue. Your hair is red, your
eyes are blue, I'd swap my horse and dog for you." Mr. Goldhahn co-wrote the
lyrics with Max C. Freedman and composed the music for the catchy tune in
1945.
His own recording of the song sold more than 150,000 copies. When Crosby
recorded it in 1946, the song made the Lucky Strike Hit Parade for 14
consecutive weeks.
The same year, Autry recorded "Sioux City Sue" as the title song of his
Western film, solidifying the tune's place in western music history. Willie
Nelson later recorded a version.
Born on a pig farm now within Philadelphia city limits, Mr. Goldhahn studied
violin and accordion.
He began playing guitar, yodeling and singing on the radio and in nightclubs
in the 1930s. He moved to Los Angeles in 1941 and adopted cowboy garb to
perform at the Hollywood Tropics nightclub for a record 62 weeks.
Mr. Goldhahn, who served in the Army toward the end of World War II,
composed, recorded and performed his songs at clubs from Los Angeles to Las
Vegas, New York and Philadelphia for about 20 years.
He also worked on Philadelphia television.
Among his songs were "The Beaut From Butte," "Esmereldy," "Weary Nights and
Broken Dreams," "Give Me Back My Heart" and "I've Got a Gal in Laramie."