Biography for
Dave Dudley More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

3 May 1928, Spencer, Wisconsin, USA

Date of Death

22 December 2003, Danbury, Wisconsin, USA (heart attack)

Birth Name

David Darwin Pedruska

Mini Biography

Dave Dudley reigns supreme as the one and only king of trucker's country music. The tremendous success of his terrific hit single "Six Days on the Road" in turn beget a whole new genre of country music. Other trucker's country songs Dave did are "Truck Drivin' Son of a Gun," "Trucker's Prayer," "Anything Leaving Town Today," "There Ain't No Easy Road," and "Two Six Packs Away." Moreover, "Six Days on the Road" has been covered by such artists as Steve Earle, Sawyer Brown, Red Sovine, and George Thorogood and the Destroyers. He was born as David Darwin Pedruska on May 3, 1928 in Spencer, Wisconsin and grew up in Stevens Point. Dudley received a guitar as a present from his father at age 11, but originally wanted to be a baseball pitcher. He played for the minor league baseball team the Gainesville Owls. This plan was cut short by an unfortunate arm injury. Dave decided to pursue a career as a country music singer. He worked briefly as a disc jockey at a Texas radio station and first began recording music for the National Recording Corporation. Dudley had a few minor hit singles in the early 60s prior to striking it big with his breakthrough smash "Six Days on the Road," which peaked at #2 on the country charts and cracked the Top 40 pop charts at #32. Dave enjoyed a steady stream of hits throughout the 60s and 70s. He recorded more than 70 albums throughout his career. Although his songs failed to chart in the 80s, he still remained a popular concert performer throughout the 80s and 90s. Dudley received an honorary solid gold membership card from the Nashville Teamsters Truck Drivers Union. His songs are featured on the soundtracks to the films "Four Friends" and "Dominick and Eugene." In addition, Dudley along with fellow country music singer/songwriter Tom T. Hall composed the score for the hilarious tongue-in-cheek road movie comedy "Deadhead Miles." (Dudley and Hall also sung a duet on the song "Day Drinking.") Dave died from a heart attack at age 75 on December 22, 2003. Although he's sadly no longer with us, Dave Dudley's deep, rich, booming baritone voice and excellent and exciting trucker's country songs shall forever live on as long as there are eighteen wheelers hauling freight all over the world.

IMDb Mini Biography By: woodyanders

Spouse

Marie Dudley

(? - 22 December 2003) (his death)

Trade Mark

Deep, rich, booming baritone voice

Trivia

He was best known for his anthem to the men and women who move goods across America with 18 wheels. "Six Days on the Road" became his biggest hit in 1963.

Died at age 75.

He recorded more than 70 albums.

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