Lloyd Estel Copas, better known as “Cowboy,” was an iconic American country singer whose career spanned from the 1940s until his untimely death in 1963. Born into a musically gifted family, Copas showcased his talents from a young age, mastering the guitar and fiddle and beginning his singing career by the age of 10. His journey to fame started on Ohio’s radio waves, but it was his move to Nashville in 1940 that truly set the stage for his future stardom.
In 1943, Cowboy Copas gained national attention by replacing Eddy Arnold as the lead vocalist for the Pee Wee King Band, performing on the Grand Ole Opry. His first major solo hit, “Filipino Baby,” was released in 1946, marking the beginning of a prolific period during which he recorded numerous country ballads and honky-tonk songs. Among his notable hits were “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered” (1947), “Breeze” (1947), “Tennessee Moon” (1948), and “The Tennessee Waltz” (1949). He was the original artist to release “The Tennessee Waltz,” a song that would become a classic, covered by many artists.
Copas’s songwriting prowess was evident in works like “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered,” which has been covered by numerous artists, including Sammy Davis, Jr. His single “‘Tis Sweet to Be Remembered” reached number eight on the Country Billboard chart in 1952. Despite a decline in popularity during the 1950s, Copas made a remarkable comeback with his 1960 hit “Alabam,” which topped the Country Billboard chart for 12 weeks and remained on the chart for 34 weeks, also peaking at 63 on the United States Billboard Hot 100.
Tragically, on March 5, 1963, Cowboy Copas’s life was cut short when the plane piloted by his son-in-law, Randy Hughes, crashed into a mountain near Camden, Tennessee. The crash also claimed the lives of country music stars Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins. The ill-fated flight followed a benefit concert for the family of Cactus Jack Call, a disc jockey who had died in a car accident.
Lloyd “Cowboy” Copas was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. He was the son of Marion Eldon Copas and Lola Mae Ramsey and grew up in Blue Creek, Ohio. Copas married Edna Lucille Markins, with whom he had three children. His legacy endures through his contributions to country music and the timeless songs he left behind.
