William Fries, also known as C.W. McCall, was a key figure in the 1970s truck-driving craze in America. Born in 1928 in Iowa, Fries initially pursued graphic design but found success creating the character C.W. McCall for an advertising campaign. This led to the release of hit singles like "Convoy" in 1975, which reached number one on both pop and country charts. Despite the success, McCall's music career waned, and he later shifted his focus to environmental activism, eventually becoming the mayor of Ouray, Colorado. McCall passed away in 2022 at the age of 93 due to lung cancer.
Through his character C.W. McCall, created as a marketing tool for an Omaha bakery, William Fries found unexpected success in the music industry. The character's radio campaign, which featured a trucker spending time at a diner, garnered widespread popularity and even won Fries a Clio Award. His music career peaked with the release of the album "Black Bear Road" in 1975, featuring the chart-topping single "Convoy." Despite subsequent albums and attempts at a comeback, McCall ultimately stepped away from music to focus on environmental activism and community leadership.
