Cledus Maggard & the Citizen's Band

James Wesley "Jay" Huguely (September 21, 1940 – December 13, 2008)[1] was an American stage actor, singer, advertising executive, and television writer and executive. He enjoyed a brief run of popularity as a novelty recording artist in the 1970s,[2] billed as Cledus Maggard & the Citizen's Band. He worked for Leslie Advertising in Greenville, South Carolina[2] and enjoyed his only hit in 1976 with "The White Knight", released during the wave of popularity of the citizens' band radio. The song is about a truck driver victimized by a Georgia highway patrolman's speed trap. He chose the name "Cledus" after his mother's name Cleta.

Cledus Maggard & the Citizen's Band
Birth nameJames Wesley Huguely
Born(1940-09-21)September 21, 1940
OriginRichmond, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 2008(2008-12-13) (aged 68)
Valencia, California, U.S.
GenresCountry, novelty
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
InstrumentVocals
Years active1976
LabelsMercury Records

"The White Knight" reached No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in February 1976, and was his only hit to reach that chart's Top 40.[3] Following the success of this record, Huguely was a producer on the 1980s television series Magnum, P.I.. In the 1990s, he was a writer and producer, known for Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), Street Justice (1991), and Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994).

Huguely died in Valencia, California, on December 13, 2008, at the age of 68.[1]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album Chart Positions Label
US Country US
1976 The White Knight 4 135 Mercury
Two More Sides

Singles

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Year Single Chart Positions[4] Album
US Country US CAN Country CAN
1975 "The White Knight" 1 19 8 50 The White Knight
1976 "Kentucky Moonrunner" 42 85
"Virgil and the $300 Vacation" (as Cledus Maggard) 73 Two More Sides
1977 "Yovnoc" (as Cledus Maggard)
1978 "The Farmer" (as Cledus Maggard) 82

References

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  1. ^ a b "James Wesley Huguely Obituary". Los Angeles Times. April 26, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Roland, Tom, "The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits" (Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 (ISBN 0-82-307553-2)), p. 161
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 253. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
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