Convoy

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic tune Convoy by C.W. McCall, a track that roared to life on the Black Bear Road album in 1975. This song, a cultural juggernaut, hit number one on both country and pop charts, sparking a nationwide craze for citizens band (CB) radio. Its infectious narrative, laced with CB slang like “breaker one-nine” and “Rubber Duck,” captures a rebellious trucker convoy barreling across the U.S. Interestingly, C.W. McCall re-recorded a grittier version with saltier lyrics for the 1978 Sam Peckinpah film Convoy, tailoring it to the movie’s storyline. The song’s running gag, where Rubber Duck gripes about the stench of Pig Pen’s hog-hauling truck, ends with Pig Pen lagging so far behind that he’s stuck in Omaha while the convoy hits New Jersey. Fans on Reddit have called June 6 “unofficial Convoy day,” referencing the song’s opening line, “It was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June.”

Another tidbit comes from Bill Fries, the man behind C.W. McCall, who shared in interviews that MGM Records initially resisted releasing Convoy as a single, doubting the public would grasp the “CB garbage.” Fries pushed back, and when disc jockeys started playing it off the Black Bear Road album, the switchboards lit up with requests, proving its massive appeal. Fries noted, “We hit a national nerve. Truckers have become cowboys to the American public.” The song’s impact extended beyond music, inspiring covers by artists like Paul Brandt, whose 2004 version featured Calgary Flames players in its video, and even a parody called Convoy GB by Laurie Lingo & The Dipsticks, which climbed to number four in the UK. Posts on X from 2022 hailed C.W. McCall as the “troubadour of American truckers,” reflecting its enduring legacy among Zoo Freaks and beyond.

C.W. McCall was the stage name of William Dale Fries Jr., born November 15, 1928, in Audubon, Iowa. Before his music career, Fries was an advertising executive at Bozell and Jacobs in Omaha, Nebraska. His musical journey began unexpectedly when he created the C.W. McCall character for a 1973 ad campaign for Old Home Bread, a real Iowa bread company. These ads, featuring trucker-themed stories set to music, won Fries a Clio Award and caught the attention of Chip Davis, who would co-write many of McCall’s hits. The character’s popularity led to a recording contract, and Fries, under the C.W. McCall persona, began releasing truck-themed outlaw country songs. His first hit, Old Home Filler-Up an’ Keep On-a-Truckin’ Cafe, reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974, paving the way for Convoy’s massive success. Fries’ deep, spoken-word delivery, paired with Davis’ arrangements, gave McCall’s music a distinctive edge.

After Convoy’s peak, Fries released a few more albums but stepped away from music in 1977 to focus on environmental activism, eventually moving to Ouray, Colorado. There, he served as mayor from 1986 to 1992, showcasing his commitment to public service. A 1990 comeback attempt with The Real McCall: An American Storyteller didn’t recapture his earlier success, but his legacy endures. Fries passed away in 2022 at 93, as noted in a New York Times post on X, leaving behind a catalog that still resonates with fans. You can explore more about C.W. McCall on his official website, cw-mccall.com. While C.W. McCall’s official Facebook page remains active, no official Instagram or X accounts are maintained. Fans can connect on the C.W. McCall Fan Club on Facebook, a vibrant group sharing memories and tributes. The fan-run site cw-mccall.com also offers detailed discographies and album insights for dedicated Zoo Freaks.