Reece Shipley

{{expand language|langcode=en|otherarticle=Reece Shipley|date=January 2026}} {{short description|American country musician (1921–1998)}} {{Use American English|date=October 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} '''Reece Dodson Shipley''' (April 19, 1921 – May 8, 1998) was an American country singer and guitarist, noted for his 1952 singles "Hillbilly Jive with a Boogie Beat" and "Milk Bucket Boogie".<ref name=pxrec>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pxrec.com/p2_Patuxent_Swing-shipley-homepage.htm|title=Reece Shipley|work=Patuxent Music|first=Jack|last=Leiderman|accessdate=February 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesnews.net/living/reece-shipley-tribute-show-to-raise-funds-for-music-scholarship/article_2a1858e8-cc3f-5c24-85eb-2c48466c0cbc.html|title=Reece Shipley tribute show to raise funds for music scholarship|date=April 17, 2019|access-date=October 22, 2021|work=Kingsport Times-News|location=Blountville, Tennessee}}</ref>

==Life== ===Childhood and Youth=== Born in Whitesburg, Tennessee, Shipley was the son of string musicians. Reece (also known as "Reese" Shipley) was significantly influenced by the "Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry and Bob Wills. In the mid-1930s, Shipley played guitar in a band called The Carolina Pals. With this group, he performed at local events around Kingsport, Tennessee.

==Career== After the beginning of World War II, he joined the Seabees of the U.S. Navy. While serving in the Navy, he regularly entertained the troops on wartime radio. He was later transferred to California, where he met Gene Autry who would influence his own music.<ref name=pxrec/>

Following the end of the war, Shipley returned to Tennessee and worked at the radio stations WOPI and WKPT of Bristol and Kingsport, respectively. In 1952, he had success with the single "Hillbilly Jive with a Boogie Beat". Another single released that year by Shipley, "Milk Bucket Boogie", was later covered by Red Foley. He later collaborated with The Rainbow Valley Boys and the Burleson Sisters. During the 1980s and 1990s, he often performed at venues in Johnson City, Knoxville and Kingsport. His album ''Tennessee Swing'' was released in 1995, and again in 2006 with two additional tracks by Patuxent Music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocky-52.net/chanteurss/shipley_r.htm|title=Reece Shipley|accessdate=February 26, 2017|work=Rocky-52}}</ref>

Shipley died on May 8, 1998, at the age of 77. He was survived by his wife, Mary, and two daughters, Sandy and Anne.<ref name=pxrec/> Mary died on February 12, 2017, at the age of 91.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesnews.net/Obituary/2017/02/15/Mary-Sergent-Shipley-2|title=Mary Sergent Shipley|work=Kingsport Times-News|date=February 14, 2017|accessdate=February 26, 2017}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shipley, Reece}} Category:1921 births Category:1998 deaths Category:American country bass guitarists Category:American male bass guitarists Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II Category:Country musicians from Tennessee Category:People from Hamblen County, Tennessee Category:United States Navy sailors Category:Guitarists from Tennessee Category:20th-century American bass guitarists Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:Seabees Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee