Lloyd Estel Copas, known by his stage name Cowboy Copas, was born on July 15, 1913, in Blue Creek, Ohio. He emerged as a prominent figure in American country music, particularly noted for his contributions from the 1940s until his untimely death in 1963. Copas began his musical journey at a young age, performing locally by age 14 and gaining early exposure on Cincinnati radio stations WLW-AM and WKRC-AM during the 1930s. His career took a significant turn in 1940 when he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, and performed with his band, the Gold Star Rangers, on WNOX-AM.

In 1943, Copas rose to national prominence by replacing Eddy Arnold as the lead vocalist for the Pee Wee King Band and began performing on the Grand Ole Opry. His first major solo success came with the release of "Filipino Baby" in 1946, which reached number four on the Billboard country chart. This marked the beginning of a successful period during which he recorded several hits, including "Signed, Sealed and Delivered," "The Tennessee Waltz," and "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered."

Despite a decline in popularity during the 1950s, Copas made a remarkable comeback with the 1960 hit "Alabam," which topped the Billboard country chart for 12 weeks. He continued to record and perform, maintaining a presence on the Grand Ole Opry and appearing on television shows like ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee.

Tragically, Cowboy Copas's life was cut short on March 5, 1963, when he died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. The crash also claimed the lives of fellow country music stars Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins. Copas was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. His legacy endures through his contributions to country music and the timeless songs he left behind.