Tunes for Twangers
Music 305 A
A History of Country Music

Module V ~ Hank, Roy & Friends
Hank Williams Sr. ~ Roy Acuff
Gene Autry, Sons of the Pioneers, Tex Ritter & Bob Wills
Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow & Buck Owens

This Module – shall focus upon two true superstars, Mr. Williams and Mr. Acuff – then “friends” which in this case are generally representative of the “cowboy” singers and western influences. As with Module 7 – we shall deal with the “friends” first – then the superstars.

Cowboy Image & Western Music
Before the 1930’s, the term “western” was seldom applied to the commercial, country music that was developing in the United States. The terms usually employed were “folk,” “hillbilly,” “rural,” “old-time,” “mountain,” or “country.” The connotations of the west, and of the cowboy, did not become fastened upon country music until the 1930’s, when the change was wrought by musical currents in the Southwest. The emergence of the western image was perhaps inevitable, because throughout the 20^th century the cowboy has been the object of romantic adulation and interest. For the country singer to don cowboy clothing and inject western themes into his music and capitalize on the western popularity was, therefore, not a difficult transition. [Country Music U.S.A. ~ B. Malone]

- influence of Louisiana, Oklahoma & Texas versus southeastern United States
- Eck Robertson [from Module II] notable exception – fiddler from TX
- Carl T. Sprague – one of first to record “cowboy” songs – promote “cowboy” music
- Vernon Dalhart [also from Module II – Wreck of the Old 97] early pioneer – was also from TX
- southern “traditions” in Oklahoma and Texas – particularly Texas from migration of “southerners”
- “romanticizing” of the West and the Cowboy – literature, movies, radio and later – television
- Otto Gray [Oklahoma] – cowboy string band – Oklahoma Cowboys – commercial success
- Oklahoma Cowboys also performed on the vaudeville circuit
- Jimmie Rodgers also promoted “western” music – spent last years of his life in Texas
- many early “western” singers credit Jimmie Rodgers as a major influence

Gene Autry
The Singing Cowboy
- from Tioga Texas
- moved to Oklahoma
- learned most of the Jimmie Rodgers repertoire
- yodel
- encouraged by the legendary Will Rogers to become a professional
- Autry – lost job [telegraph operator] upon Rogers advice went to NYC
- early recordings with American – then Victor
- performances with WLS Barn Dance in Chicago
- success in Chicago, with recordings – became best-known cowboy in America
- in 1930’s & 1940’s – Hollywood became very interested in “cowboy” image
- Autry, Sons of the Pioneers, Bob Wills – many movies
- Gene Autry achieved legendary fame in Hollywood

Sons of the Pioneers
- first called the Pioneer Trio
- lead singer Roy Rogers [from Ohio, Portsmouth – on the river]
- father played mandolin and guitar; mother was Kentucky born
- Spencer, Nolan and fiddler Hugh Farr join group in 1935
- eventually their popularity rivaled Gene Autry
- Roy Rogers left ensemble for a highly successful movie, recording and television career
- classics – Tumbling, Tumble Weeds and Cool Water

Tex Ritter
Woodward Maurice Ritter
- first to achieve success for country music in NYC
- from East Texas
- attended University of Texas and Northwestern
- started singing career on KPRC in Houston
- joined the Theater Guild in NYC
- appeared in “Green Grow the Lilacs”
- sensation in NYC
- WOR – NYC premier radio station – program “Lone Star Rangers”
- 1936 – received movie contract

Bob Wills
Western Swing
- bandleader, fiddler, singer and songwriter
- from Texas
- blend of ragtime, traditional fiddling, New Orleans jazz, blues, Mexican songs and big band swing
- western swing became extremely popular – particularly southwest and west coast – 1930-1950
- Texas Playboys
- songs became standards ~ Faded Love, Maiden’s Prayer, San Antonio Rose & Take Me Back to Tulsa
- Wills grew up in area famous for African-American Music [Scott Joplin & Blind Lemon Jefferson]
- fiddle playing family [father has beaten Eck Robertson in a few fiddle contests]
- November 1929 – made first recordings [Brunswick] – Gulf Coast Blues and Wills Breakdown
- recordings never issued and presumed lost
- Alladin Laddies – WBAP in Fort Worth [Wills, Herman Arnspiger, Milton & Derwood Brown]
- personnel changes – then became the highly versatile Texas Playboys
- started making musical westerns in Hollywood in the 1940’s
- hugely successful financially and from a popularity standpoint

Others
Ernest Tubb ~ Walkin’ the Floor Over You
Hank Snow [Canadian] ~ I’m Movin On
Buck Owens [Bakersfield, CA] ~ I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail ~ Hee Haw Television

Note
With the exception of a few cowboy songs recorded by country entertainers, and the employment of cowboy titles and dude cowboy clothing, the cowboy has had no appreciable influence on American popular or country music. No particular vocal or instrumental style, or musical form or rhythm, was contributed by the cowboy. The “western music” that became fashionable during the thirties was not produced by the cowboy. [Malone]

Listening
Cool Water: Sons of the Pioneers
Sitting on Top of the World: Bob Wills
Singing in the Saddle: Tex Ritter
Cattle Call: Tex Owens
I'm Walking the Floor Over You: Ernest Tubb

The Superstars
Hank Williams ~ King Hiram “Hank” Williams (1923-1953)
- much can be said – little needs to be said

Williams set the agenda for contemporary songcraft, but his appeal rests as much in the myth that even now surrounds his short life. He is the standard by which success is measured in country music on every level, even self-destruction. [Colin Ascott – Encyclopedia of Country Music]

- successfully spanned the gulf between country and popular music
- one of first elected to Country Music Hall of Fame [with Jimmie Rodgers & Fred Rose]
- interesting fusion of old and new [rural background and urban appeal]
- serious, sensitive, introvert
- early influence of fundamental, Baptist churches – love for hymns and gospel tunes
- taught guitar by African American street-singer – Teetot [Rufus Payne]
- always much of a “country blues” artist
- started early bands and early touring
- age 17 married Audrey [Shepherd] – long story there
- early influence of Jimmie Rodgers and Roy Acuff
- a true singer-songwriter
- relationship with Fred Rose
- Williams became best-known and most-emulated country artist in America
- small, light voice,
- lived the songs he sang
- Louisiana Hayride and Grand Ole Opry
- use of pseudonym – Luke the Drifter
- alcohol and substance abuse
- back problems, mental anguish, emotional distress
- by time of death – the best known and most financially successful country artist in the United States

Classic Songs & Recordings
Your Cheatin' Heart
Kaw-Liga
Moanin' the Blues
Cold, Col Heart
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Roy Acuff (1903-1992)
King of Country Music
- dominated country music in 1930’s and 1940’s – continued being a “presence” until his death
- traditional “mountain” singer with a highly refined sense of showmanship
- born in east Tennessee
- father a lawyer, Baptist preacher and fiddler
- when 16 family moved to Knoxville
- star athlete in high school – invited by NY Yankees to summer training camp
- on fishing trip – suffered severe heat stroke – ended athletic career
- moved to career in music
- always sang in church – early religious background always heavily influenced his music
- first entered show business as a member of the Doc Hower’s Medicine Show
- organized band names the “Crazy Tennesseans” – obtained recording contract with Columbia
- 1938 moved to the Grand Ole Opry [where he remained a member until his death]
- band now called the Smoky Mountain Boys
- during the War Years – Acuff and Grand Ole Opry were nearly synonymous
- repertoire always leaned heavily towards traditional mountain style and sacred
- two early recordings – Great Speckle Bird & Wabash Cannonball remained signature tunes
- use of “dobro” in his band [Cousin Oswald]
- no matter how styles and tastes changed – Acuff remained true to his traditional roots
- extremely successful financially
- co-ownership of Acuff-Rose Music [more about Fred Rose in Module VIII]
- Acuff-Rose organized first exclusively country-music publishing house
- company led Nashville to rise and remain “the nucleus” of the music industry
- 1962 Acuff was elected as the first “living member” of the Country Music Hall of Fame
- appearances until his death in 1992 at the Grand Ole Opry, on Hee-Haw, et al remained very poplar

Classic Songs & Recordings
Great Speckle Bird
Wabash Cannonball
Tennessee Waltz
Black Mountain Rag
Night Train to Memphis