Draft:Roy Shaffer

Jesse Lee "Roy" Shaffer (December 6, 1906 - March 29, 1974) was an American country music singer and radio personality. Shaffer performed extensively on a variety of radio stations over a span of three decades and recorded for two prominent record labels, Decca and Bluebird.

Early Life

Jesse Lee "Roy" Shaffer was born on December 6, 1906 in Mathiston, Mississippi. His parents were Luther Albert Shaffer and Annie Elizabeth (Oswalt) Shaffer. Shaffer grew up on a farm in rural Mississippi. After seeing Jimmie Rodgers perform at a theatre in nearby Eupora, Mississippi, Shaffer was inspired to learn guitar and become a singer. According to the biographical information included in his songbook, Roy Shaffer "The Lone Star Cowboy", his mother died when he was twelve years old, and he soon after left home to work on a farm near Drew, Mississippi. As a young man he worked in a sawmill, steel mill, a coal mine, in the wheat fields, on a surveying boat, and served in the United States Army. He also worked in a rodeo, riding bucking broncos throughout the American West. During this time he learned many of the songs of cowboy life that would later contribute to his popularity.

Career

By 1930, Shaffer had begun his career in music by performing regularly on the radio. In the mid 1930s he lived in New Orleans, Louisiana where he performed on WWL as the "Lone Star Cowboy". In 1935 M.M. Cole Publishing Company of Chicago, Illinois published a songbook of Shaffer's most popular songs. Most of which had become standards of his radio repertoire. the songbook was titled Roy Shaffer "The Lone Star Cowboy", Greatest Collection Of Cowboy, Home & Mountain Ballads.

On March 19, 1936 while in New Orleans, Shaffer recorded four songs for Decca Records; "Mother Dear Old Mother", "Don't Forget Me Lil' Darling", "Three Thousand Miles From Home", and "The Girl I Left In Kentucky".

On June 26, 1939 Shaffer would record again, this time for RCA Victor's Bluebird label, in Chicago, Illinois. This session produced twelve songs. Six of these were included in a box set of 4 CDs released by JSP Records entitled Classic Field Recordings: Landmark Country Sessions From A Lost Era. Shaffer's recording of "Matchbox Blues" was included on BMG's Vol. 10 East Virginia Blues (When The Sun Goes Down Series) The Secret History Of Rock & Roll. Shaffer's version of "Matchbox Blues" later influenced Carl Perkins's recording of the song and subsequently the Beatles' version.

By 1940, Shaffer was in St. Louis, Missouri. He would remain in the St. Louis area for the majority of his career. The Carson-Union-May-Stern furniture store hired Shaffer to appear on their radio programs on several local radio stations. Shaffer performed on WEW from 1939 to 1941 with his "Hillbillies", after which he began appearing on KWK with his "Gang". He also appeared on KSD in 1942 with his "Missouri Ramblers".  By the early 1950s, Shaffer was performing on KWRE in Warrenton, Missouri. Shaffer was also very active apart from his radio performances, attending and participating in rodeos and giving live programs for his fans, often at events hosted by Carson's Furniture Store.  In the 1950s, Shaffer owned and operated a "hillbilly park" in Mexico, Missouri.  Shaffer was still active on the radio in the St. Louis area as late as 1956.

Death

Jesse Lee "Roy" Shaffer died of an apparent heart attack on March 29, 1974 at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 67 years old. He was buried in New Cleveland Cemetery in Cleveland, Mississippi.