Carlisle was born in Wakefield, Kentucky southeast of Louisville. He performed in the 1920s with his older brother, Cliff Carlisle, on radio stations WLAP-AM in Lexington, Kentucky and WNOX-AM in Knoxville, Tennessee. His first solo single and hit was the 1933 recording of "Rattlesnake Daddy," released on ARC Records. That year he formed the Carlisle Brothers with Cliff, and in 1938 they signed with Decca Records and continued performing on Kentucky country radio programs. He created an alter ego for the WNOX's Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round and Tennessee Barn Dance shows called Hot Shot Elmer, a bumbling buffoon in costume who would "interrupt" Carlisle's own performances. His leaps on stage won him the moniker "Jumpin' Bill."
Carlisle's guitar style was noted for its precision and speed, and he employed yodeling as a vocalist. Like his brother, he released many songs which included humorous, veiled references to sexuality. The duo signed with King Records after World War II, and hit big with the Ernest Tubb cover, "A Rainbow at Midnight", in 1946. Carlisle had a solo hit in 1948 with "Tramp on the Street". Cliff retired from the business about 1950, and Bill put together a backing ensemble, The Carlisles, though none of them was related to him. Among its members were singer Martha Carson and songwriter Betty Amos.
Carlisle signed with Mercury Records and continued to release novelty song hits in the 1950s, such as "Too Old to Cut the Mustard", a top ten country hit in 1951 later covered by artists including Rosemary Clooney. Other hits included the number one smash "No Help Wanted" (their biggest) and the top ten "Taint Nice (To Talk Like That)", both 1953. That year the Carlisles were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. In the mid-1950s, Carlisle was a regular performer on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee
The Carlisles - No Help Wanted lyrics
Well I got a gal from New Orleans
Prettiest little thing that you ever seen
Got a cute little walk with a hippitty hop
Big at the little and bottom at the top
(Do you need any help) No help wanted
(You could use a little help) I said no help wanted
(If you need any help, just call on me)
(Do you need any help, do you need any help)
I'll handle this job all by myself
Well I love my baby, she's a little bitty booger
Cute as a buttom and sweet as sugar
Gonna buy her a diamond ring
We'll get married in the spring
(Do you need any help) No help wanted
(You could use a little help) No help wanted
(If you need any help, just call on me)
(Do you need any help, do you need any help)
I'll handle this job all by myself
(Instrumental Break)
Well she calls me her little piggy-wiggy
And I call her my little thing-a-ma-jiggy
Everytime I ask her for a kiss
I hear a voice sound somethin' like this
(Do you need any help) No help wanted
(You could use a little help) No help wanted
(If you need any help, just call on me)
(Do you need any help, do you need any help)
I'll handle this job all by myself
Well I'm gonna take her honky tonkin' tonight
We're gonna do everything up right
When the music starts to swing and sway
We're gonna dance till the break of day
(Do you need any help) No help wanted
(You could use a little help) I said no help wanted
(If you need any help, just call on me)
(Do you need any help, do you need any help)
I'll handle this job all by myself
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