Blonnie Leatherman Wesbrooks

Blonnie Emma Leatherman Brooks

Hickory, North Carolina

February 12, 1924 - May 8, 2016

Country and Western veteran from the Golden Age of the Grand Ole Opry passes on. 1950's Country singer "Blondie Brooks" passed away peacefully on Mother's Day of natural causes in Roswell, Ga. She had resided with her son Robert and his family in recent years. Born Blonnie Emma Leatherman on February 12, 1924, she grew up in Hickory North Carolina.

Blessed with a golden voice and an adventuresome spirit, Blondie embarked on a dream of a life, on that destined day in 1944 when she met Country music star Bill "Cousin Wilbur" Wesbrooks.

Soon married, (July 5, 1947 before an audience of four thousand people and on a 50, 000 watt station over the air on what is known as the Carolina Hayride), the couple went on to a life long journey together, through some of the most illustrious and momentous eras of country music: traveling, entertaining and rubbing shoulders with numerous Nashville royalty and legends.

Operatically trained, Blondie's natural singing talent honed and blossomed alongside her husband and life partner as the popular act went on to write lyrics, record and entertain, throughout the world all through the1950s, 60's and 70's.

Working as "Cousin Wilbur and Blondie Brooks" in Asheville, N. C on their own live television show on WLOS TV, The WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, The Louisiana Hayride, USO Tours and many other radio and television stations. Blondie shared her musical gifts with a loyal following and still found time to rear two sons, cut a number of records & write cookbooks. She was a wonderful cook-- the biscuit recipe on the back of every bag of White Lily Flour is Blondie's own. Many of her records are now highly prized by collectors.

She is survived by Her son Robert W. Wesbrooks and a number of loving grandchildren. She was 92.

"Always in top form, Blondie sang with conspicuous flair and all her heart. With her goes a lifetime of great memories, amazing stories and magic moments."

The family will receive friends at Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2016. A graveside service will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Leatherman Family Cemetery.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home is serving the family of "Blondie Brooks".

Funeral Home:
Bass-Smith Funeral Home
334 2nd St., NW
Hickory, NC
US 28601

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/2122692/Blonnie-Emma-Leat...

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Some of Blondie's records:

"Please Pardon My Past": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfXbZQYtN7s

"We'll Make Out Together": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aXPeGNR5mY

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Find-A-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19805271

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The following letter was written on the back of a signed photo of "Cousin Wilbur & Blondie Brooks". The photo was taken at CBS radio station KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana.

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Howdy Friends,

  Here are the answers to some of your questions that have been asked since we have been here on KWKH.

On March 5th, 1911 in the hills of Gibson County, Tennessee a baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Westbrooks, and he cried so loud that he alarmed the neighborhood and it seems he still does the same thing. He started radio in 1927. Has been heard on about 300 radio s5tations including WSM's Grand Ole Opry and NBC.
He met Blondie Brooks on one of his personal appearances in North Carolina. It was love at first sight. They were married July 5, 1947 before an audience of four thousand people on a 50,000 watt station over the air on what is known as the Carolina Hayride, WBT Charlotte, North Carolina.
Now they have a baby son, his name is Wilbur, and believe me they are very proud of him.
Blondie is from Hickory, North Carolina, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Leatherman. She is twenty-five years old has blonde hair and blue-green eyes.
Hope you are very happy with this picture. Your pals,
Cousin Wilbur and Blondie Brooks.
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liner notes on record album:

As laughter came from the wings of back stage of the Grand Ole Opry we knew that when we saw Cousin Wilbur in his baggy pants we would have a good show.

He knows what it takes to make a good show. Artists come and they go but he is still around. This is the same Cousin Wilbur Show that has been entertaining since 1934.

He came to the Grand Ole Opry in 1940 as the featured comic for seven years. I was the announcer for his show. In listening to this album you will feel you are in the audience watching the show. He has capped the down to earth country music all these years.

Featured in the album you will hear the golden voice of Blondie Brooks, not only one of the stars on the show, she is Mrs. Cousin Wilbur. They met on one of his personal appearances at Hickory, North Carolina. They have been married happily for 18 years. They have two sons, Wilbur, Jr., and Rickie.

She is very versatile not only as a very fine singer, M. C. and running the show when Cousin Wilbur isn't around.

For shows unchanged for many years Cousin Wilbur's show is truly country entertainment.

I hope that all of our friends will enjoy this album as much as I have enjoyed Cousin Wilbur and Blondie Brooks for many years.

            Your Friend,

Grant Turner -- WSM