After working as a cattle farmer and relocating, he acquired the nickname "Arkie" (widely used for people from Arkansas) and, around 1948, began hosting a regular country music show on radio station KBRG in Bremerton, Washington.

Self-taught on guitar, he formed a group, the Mountain Dew Boys, who made their first recordings for a small label in California in the late 1940s.

The record was credited to Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys, who included Leon Kelley on lead guitar, Jackie Hayes on bass and banjo, and Phil Fregon on fiddle.

[1] The record became popular, and McCall decided to reissue it on 4 Star's Gilt Edge imprint.

5, with cover versions on major labels by Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan on Capitol, Red Foley on Decca and Tiny Hill on Mercury.