Harry Weger
The Tribune-Star
Harry
Weger, a rural West Terre Haute resident, who was a pioneer in the
world of modern country music, died Monday afternoon, April 23, 2007,
following a brief illness. Mr. Weger, who turned 80 just last month,
performed and promoted the music which became known as 'the Nashville
sound.' Harry Weger was born in Clark County, Ill., in 1927, and spent
his boyhood Saturday nights listening to WSM's Grand Ole Opry and
dreamed of being on the stage with country legends like Roy Acuff and
Bill Monroe.
Today's popular television show, American Idol,
catapults new artists into the spotlight, but in the 1940s, live talent
shows in small communities were even more popular. When Harry Weger
took his guitar and strolled onto the stage by himself, he took home
the grand prize of fifteen dollars every time.
In 1949, Roy
Acuff and the Smokey Mountain Boys brought their Grand Ole Opry show to
the Grand Theater in Terre Haute. Harry auditioned and was invited to
perform on the show that night. Harry performed "Love Sick Blues," and
the crowd went wild. After several minutes of applause stopped the
show, Acuff asked Harry to join his tour and a country music career
began. Harry and his wife, Docie, toured with Acuff’s show, and every
time, Harry's performance would stop the show.
In 1949, Harry
signed on with WBOW radio with a show called "Harry Weger — The Hoosier
Folk Singer." He performed live, singing and playing his guitar and a
following by his fans generated hundreds of letters requesting special
songs and dedications every week. He played live concerts in the area
and his fan base grew. He eventually put together a band and soon
“Harry Weger and the Hoosierland Hoedown” was touring across the
country. He eventually performed on all the local radio stations.
ln
1954, the newest media craze, television, hit the Wabash Valley, and
Harry Weger signed the station on the air with his show, "Harry Weger,
The Bronco Buddy — and the Big Ten Western Feature." The show became a
runaway hit with thousands of children signing up for membership in the
Bronco Buddy Club. Kids were encouraged to — ‘be a good buddy to
everyone you meet.' Weger and his champion trick horse, Cherokee, drew
massive crowds whenever they appeared live.
In 1961, Weger's
original recording of 'The Ballad of Jimmy Bryan* topped the national
charts and moved his popularity into a new generation of fans. Weger*s
love of automobile racing was cultivated at the Indianapolis 500 track
as well as many dirt tracks around the Midwest. He was especially a fan
of Jimmy Bryan who won in Indy in 1958. The Ballad of Jimmy Bryan
became the theme song for the racing movie, "The Challenge." The next
song Weger penned, titled "The Ragged Edge," caught the attention of
producers at Racefilms, Inc., in California, and the movie "The Ragged
Edge" was based on the song.
In 1962, Harry Weger was honored by
the Grand Ole Opry as Mr. DJ USA, and was thrilled as he was recognized
throughout the evening by country music’s greatest stars on the stage
of the Opry.
Weger and his wife, Docie, were among the first
promoters of package shows, which brought together several artists from
the Opry in large stage shows. Teddy and Doyle Wilburn, who were
members of the Grand Ole Opry, worked with Weger to put together talent
for the shows. At a concert set to be held at West Vigo High School,
the Wilburn Brothers themselves, and several other artists including
what was by now known as 'The Harry Weger Show* were set to perform.
Doyle Wilburn called Harry and told him he had a new 'girl singer' and
they*d like to bring her along to perform on the show for only $100 as
they were trying to promote her. Harry said the show was full and
posters were already printed. Wilburn said she could come for only $75.
But Weger said the show was a benefit and the school really couldn't
afford another performer. So Wilburn said they'd just bring her anyway.
That evening when the big Grand Ole Opry bus pulled into the school,
the girl singer climbed down off the bus with pink rollers in her hair,
sewing the fringe on the dress she would wear that night. It was the
first Indiana performance of country legend Loretta Lynn. Ms. Lynn
forged a friendship with the Wegers and she wrote to them as she toured
the country and her career grew.
Harry and Docie Weger operated
a record store in downtown Terre Haute for 16 years. It was not
uncommon to see a big Grand Ole Opry tour bus parked outside the record
shop while inside such artists as Jimmy Dean, Rex Allen, Bill Andersen,
Lester Flatt & Earl Scuggs, and many others tried to convince Harry
to come along on the tour — and if not — to play their records on his
popular radio show.
Weger’s long career spawned numerous awards,
including a Sagamore of the Wabash and a Kentucky Colonel honor. He was
a member of the Wabash Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a
special friend of U.S. Birch Bayh.
He was a member and past
master of West Terre Haute Lodge 687 Free & Accepted Masons, a
member of Order of Eastern Star Chapter 428 at West Terre Haute, was a
former member of Scottish Rite Valley of Terre Haute, a former member
of York Rite, a 35 year member of Millwright Union Local 1003, and the
Masonic Past Masters Association.
He is survived by his wife
of 63 years, Docie; a daughter and son-in-law, Vicki Weger and Ted
Elbert; sons and daughters-in-law, Rex and Rachel Weger, and David and
Donna Weger; a sister, Edith Brown of West Terre Haute; grandchildren,
Benjamin and Christine Weger, Laura and Jesse Tohill, Courtney Weger,
and Natalie and Matt Butler; and four great-grandchildren, Emma, Jesse,
and Grace Tohill, and Nicholas Weger. He was preceded in death by his
parents; and three sisters, Ruth Brown, Ethel Monnett and Rosemary
Beltz.
Services are 1 p.m. Friday in Fitzpatrick- Pearce
Funeral Home, 220 N. Third St., West Terre Haute, with the Rev. Chris
Wilbur officiating. Entombment will be in the Chapel Of Memories at
Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation is after 3 p.m. Thursday with an
Eastern Star service at 7 p.m., followed immediately by a Masonic
memorial service. There will also be visitation from 8 a.m. until
services Friday.
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He
was also a fixture on local radio for a number of years, and also
performed live right here on WTHI TV in the 1950's with his show "Harry
Weger, The Bronco Buddy."
