Dave Dudley, born David Darwin Pudrowski (also known as David Darwin Pedruska), was an influential American country music singer born on May 3, 1928, in Spencer, Wisconsin. He passed away on December 22, 2003, in Danbury, Wisconsin, at the age of 75 due to a heart attack. Dudley is best remembered for pioneering the truck-driving country music genre, with his most iconic song being "Six Days on the Road," released in 1963. This track became a massive hit, selling over one million copies and earning a gold disc. It also helped establish a new subgenre of country music centered around the lives of truckers.

Dudley's early life saw him as a promising baseball player, but an arm injury ended his sports career, prompting him to pursue music. He started performing in northeastern Wisconsin taverns and eventually formed The Dave Dudley Trio. His first single, "Nashville Blues," was released in 1962. Dudley signed with several record labels throughout his career, including King Records and Golden Wing Records, and was among the first to record with the National Recording Corporation.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Dudley enjoyed a series of hits, including "Vietnam Blues," "Truck Drivin' Son-of-a-Gun," and "Me and Ol' C.B." He also collaborated with Tom T. Hall on the duet "Day Drinking" and recorded "Fireball Rolled a Seven," a tribute to race car driver Edward Glenn "Fireball" Roberts. Despite a decline in chart success during the 1980s, Dudley remained a popular live performer and recorded over 70 albums in his lifetime. His deep, booming baritone voice and contributions to truck-driving country music have left a lasting legacy.