Who was Billy Gashade

Subject: Who was Billy Gashade
From: Dr John
Date: 07 Jan 99 - 04:17 PM

In several recordings of "The Ballad of Jesse James" is gives "This song was made by Billy Gashade as soon as the news did arrive; He said there was no man with the law in his hand who could take J J when alive." Does amyone know who Billy with the conveniently rhyming surname was?

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: rich r
Date: 07 Jan 99 - 11:03 PM

Billy Gashade was an otherwise unknown minstrel (folksinger?) who claimed authorship of the "jesse James' ballad.

rich r

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: Dan Keding
Date: 08 Jan 99 - 11:46 AM

In several texts you'll also find the name Billy LaShade which, as is often the case in traditional folk music, just adds a little spice and confusion to the mix. The name could be the author's, also could have been a minstrel who made it popular in his region. Check out H.M.Belden's "Ballads & Songs" collected by the Missouri Folklore Society. This is a great source for Missouri songs & ballads, also discusses authorship, not in depth but in passing of Jesse James. They don't much credence to old Billy Gashade.

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 06 Aug 18 - 07:25 AM

Ancestry.com turns up no American families with the surname "LaShade."

They find a single family of "Gashades" in the entire United States, dwelling in Kentucky (and a "Goshade" in Oregon).

No Williams or Billies though.

Maybe if you pay them $45 a month, they'll find more.

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 06 Aug 18 - 07:30 AM

And this website

http://named.publicprofiler.org/

can't find any "Gashades," "Goshades," or "La Shades" in the U.K.

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: GUEST,catyronwode
Date: 13 Jan 19 - 09:47 PM

I do find the name William Gaschet in genealogies online -- could that be it?

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jan 19 - 12:08 AM

I think that's the one, catyronwode.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: Lighter
Date: 14 Jan 19 - 06:58 AM

I dunno about that.

The only "William Gaschet" I see at Ancestry,com was from Wayne, Mich., and fought in WW1.

Not likely for somebody who composed a ballad in Missouri around 1883.

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 15 Jan 19 - 02:32 PM

I think Dr. John above is right with his "conveniently rhyming surname" remark.

It has always seemed to me, though with no evidence either way, that the name is too convenient and too unlikely. Along the lines of

"This song it was written
By Smedley K. Smitten" or

"This song was composed
By Tuby T. Rose,
Several weeks after the news did arrive
To give time for reflection
Before the big election,
And then from hist'ry take his dive." etc.

Sorry for the irreverence, but I just never could take Mr. Gashade seriously. On the other hand Dylan brilliantly made a character out of Judas Priest. Perhaps the Great American Novel about Billy Gashade is yet to be written.

Bob

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: meself
Date: 15 Jan 19 - 02:51 PM

Well, that seems very chicken-and-egg: it's just as likely that Billy Gashade came first, and the rhyme 'made' came second ....

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Jan 19 - 03:16 PM

Seems to me it could be a misheard O'Shea as well.

Linn

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: GUEST,Ivan Limon
Date: 30 Jun 19 - 05:39 PM

There is a fine novel by Loren Estleman which puts flesh on the bones of Billy Gashade and his relationship with the James brothers. Complete fiction but entertaining nonetheless. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Billy-Gashade-American-Loren-Estleman-ebook/dp/B003P9XJTC/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=billy+gashade&qid=1561930601&s=books&sr=1-1-catcorr

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 22 - 07:18 PM

Gschade and Gscheid, pronounced shade are fairly common. If a song was transmitted orally ,the pronunciation would come out as Gashade.

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: Lighter
Date: 15 Feb 22 - 12:24 PM

As long as we're floundering, how about a "William K. Shade"?

If there was one.

Subject: RE: Who was Billy Gashade
From: Lighter
Date: 15 Feb 22 - 03:00 PM

Or "William K. Shea."

Two other legit surnames are "Gashee" and "Gushee."

Unfortunately, they were most common in New England.