080121_TT_AllPages

THETRUCKER.COM PERSPECTIVE
AUGUST 1-14, 2021 • 13
Sometimes truck drivers just need to know when to get healthy
RHYTHM OF
THE ROAD
KRIS RUTHERFORD
krisr@thetruckermedia.com
If you haven’t turned to this issue’s
contribution from my colleague, Bob “The
Trucker Trainer” Perry, after reading this
edition of “Rhythm of the Road,” please make it
your next stop. Only Bob can offer the advice
you might need to save yourself from filling the
shoes of The Willis Brothers in their 1968 song,
“Quittin’ While I’m Still Alive.”
It’s been a good while since I’ve written
about the Willis Brothers, so let’s review a little
of the trio’s background. The Willis Brothers
— actually one of the original three was a
Caldwell, but who’s counting? — got their start
in the music business during the early years of
the Great Depression in Shawnee, Oklahoma, a
small city east of Oklahoma City.
Interstate 40 didn’t exist, and even Route
66 bypassed Shawnee, but the city had long
been an oasis along cattle drives northward
from Texas, and it goes down in history as a
thoroughfare along the West Shawnee Trail. In
fact, with three major railroads building lines
through the city along with well as depots,
Shawnee was a fast-growing place that put
up a good fight with Oklahoma City when it
came time to choose a state capital. But when
a major meatpacking plant chose Oklahoma
City as its home over Shawnee, the neighbor to
the west won out. Today, Shawnee isn’t a whole
lot larger than it was in 1930, while Oklahoma
City is home to some 650,000 residents. But
Shawnee lives on as a major suburb of the
capital.
The original Willis Brothers trio were known
locally as “The Oklahoma Wranglers,” and for
the better part of the 1930s they appeared live
as a regular feature on Shawnee radio station
KGFF. But at decade’s end, one member left
the group. A roller coaster of Willises started
coming and going, interrupted only by World
War II, when the entire trio served overseas.
When the war ended, The Oklahoma
Wranglers reunited and caught their first big
break — an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry
performing as themselves and as backup to Hank
Williams. Their popularity quickly grew, and the
group became permanent members of the Grand
Ole Opry before the 1940s came to an end.
The next big step for the group was an eightyear
stint touring with Eddy Arnold, who was
among the biggest names in country music at
the time. When they decided to move on, the
Wranglers also changed their name — and The
Willis Brothers was officially born. After all, the
name fit, since Caldwell had left the group and
all three slots were now filled by men from the
same family.
All this is to let you know that The Willis
Brothers probably inhaled a whole lot more
than their share of dust in the 1930s, not to
mention far too many liters of bovine-produced
methane gas. And because they were on the
road so many years (much like truck drivers),
the fellows no doubt the developed a few other
health problems they ignored a little too long.
These experiences might have given birth to
“Quittin’ While I’m still Alive.”
During their career, The Willis Brothers had
one big hit — a trucking song — “Give Me Forty
Acres (and I’ll Turn this Rig Around),” a subject
of one of my first columns for The Trucker. But
this was far from the group’s only song about
truck drivers. In fact, the genre became the
band’s specialty.
Using a Telechord electric guitar, The Willis
Brothers developed a distinctive “highway
beat” to their music, all the while keeping to a
bluegrass style, particularly in their vocals. The
combination made for some masterful trucking
songs. Sticking with two-minute-long songs,
the band recorded more than were found on
other country albums. While few of those songs
charted, The Willis Brothers discography was
impressive
In 1968, recording for Stardust Records,
“from Nashville, Tennessee — the Musical
Heart of America,” the group released “Hey, Mr.
Trucker Driver,” an album bulging with 12 of the
group’s short looks at life through a windshield.
A long overlooked “Quitting While I’m Still
Alive” is one tune every prospective truck
driver needs to give a listen before deciding on
a career in the industry.
In “Quittin’ While I’m Still Alive,” The Willis
Brothers play the role of a still-young 42-yearold
man who has been driving a big rig more
than half his lifetime. But the diesel has taken
its toll. This isn’t a case of being lonesome;
rather, it’s a matter of being “plum beat down,”
as some might say.
The singer realizes, after 22 years behind the
wheel without a scratch or a dent, he’s pushing
his luck. Chances are that time will catch up
with him. After all, he sings, he’s seen too many
rigs on the road go up in flames with the driver
still inside. He’s also run across too many crazy
driving “punks” and more than his share of
drunks that leave him wondering how much
longer he’ll remain unscathed.
Aside from the fear of continuing to drive,
The Willis Brothers tell us of the various maladies
the trucker has come down with over the years.
Thanks to the diesel, he claims he can see, he
can’t smell and he can’t hear. (I guess if enough
diesel residue builds up in one’s system, at least
three of the five senses can be permanently
damaged.) The only sense the driver claims to
have left is being used up trying to keep his rig
on the road. And how about those kidneys? I
suppose 22 years of chain coffee-drinking does a
number on those as well.
With that, two minutes and 19 seconds
later, we are left assume the trucker arrives in
Memphis, where he turns in his papers and
puts his truck up for sale.
Until next time, scoot on over to Bob Perry’s
column on Page 6, and check out the back
issues of The Trucker, too. Bob offers up some
good advice to help you stay healthy out there
on the road. 8
THE FREIGHT RUSH IS HERE:
GET INSTANT FUNDING!
• No Monthly Fees or
Monthly Minimums
• Choose Which Invoices
You Want To Factor
• Instant Broker Checks
• Instant Funding Options
Available
• Fuel Advances 7 Days
a Week
LEARN MORE: (470) 900-3601
WWW.OTRCAPITAL.COM/TRUCKER