The Dallas Morning News
November 8, 1986

RITES TODAY FOR ENTERTAINER ROBERT ATTLESEY

Robert Shelton Attlesey, the former WFAA radio singer and comedian known as the "Hopkins County Firecracker' for his country humor, died Thursday at his home in Dallas after a lengthy illness. He was 77.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Restland Mamorial Chapel.

Attlesey left the family farm in Hopkins County and came to Dallas in the early 1930s. He began his career as a musician and comedian on WFAA radio's Early Birds program, relatives said.

"He looked funny and he acted funny and he said funny things,' said Norvell Slater, the announcer for The Early Birds and Attlesey's later program, Bob Shelton and the Sunshine Boys.

"He was a very humble person--a very kind and gentle person and a great showman. People loved him and responded to him, 'Slater said.

With his brother, Joe, Attlesey also wrote and recorded several songs for Decca Records, including the Deep Ellum Blues, Just Because, Weary and You Can't Put the Monkey on My Back. The pair had often played for their supper in small cafes during the Depression, relatives said.

Attlesey received a simple fee of $25 and no royalties for Just Because--a song later recorded by Elvis Presley and which sold more than 1 million copies.

He just laughed it off,' Said Attlesey's daughter, Bobbie Shelton Attlesey. "I really don't think he had any regrets.'

Attlesey was recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as a "major contributor' to America's musical heritage, relatives said.

He is survived by his wife, Idell Attlesey of Dallas; three daughters, Charlotte Thrasher of Plano, Bobbie Shelton Attlesey of Irving and Tommie Caudell of Dallas; and seven grandchildren.