The Troubadour Of Truck-Driving Songs, C.W. McCall, Died At 93 After Battle With Cancer

William Dale Fries Jr., the baritone country singer more popular by his stage name C.W McCall, has passed away at age 93 in Colorado. His son, Bill Fries III, confirmed the performer’s death and has revealed that his father had been in hospice care when he breathed one’s last on Friday, April 1. 

It was just two months ago when the singer announced some unfortunate news about his health – revealing that he had been battling with cancer.

C.W. McCall’s Journey From An Adman To Country Music Star

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Born in Audubon, Iowa, C.W. McCall‘s road to fame started as a creative director for an Omaha, Nebraska advertising agency. There, he created a series of television campaigns for Metz Baking Company that tells the story of a trucker named C.W. McCall who hauls bread in his eighteen-wheeler and speaks in a daunting twang voiced by Mr. Fries. 

The ads became wildly popular, with many fans falling in love with McCall’s romance with a gum-snapping waitress named Mavis. Not only did it pump up bread sales, but it also earned recognition from Clio Awards as it took home the best national TV Ad Award.

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Mr. Fries then took the persona of C.W. McCall, which helped him score a record deal that made him a cultural phenomenon. From 1974 to 1978, McCall dominated the country charts. His song “Convoy,” which pays tribute to renegade truckers driving all over the country, became a No. 1 pop and country hit in 1976. It was later made into a movie of the same name, which starred Kris Kristofferson, among others.

Pretty sure a lot would miss McCall’s performances. He is survived by his wife of seven decades, along with their three children. Sending healing prayers to everyone Mr. Fries left behind.