INFLUENCED: George Strait and Bob Wills

Superstar and reigning king of country music George Strait is already a legend in his own right, cranking out hit after hit from the time he kicked off his career in 1981 and that streak continues today.  Over the years, George has accumulated a total of 57 number one tunes and has won countless awards.  But, just who influenced this man who has experienced unprecedented success for an impressive 30 years in the field of country music?  George reveals, “I’ve been influenced by a lot of people in my career – the swing music that Bob Wills was doing… - it’s just great to listen to.  I think it’s an art form that will always be with us.”

George has tipped his hat to the King of Western Swing by putting his stamp on some of the music that Bob Wills made famous.  The most well-known of these tunes is a song that Strait took to the top of the charts in 1984 “Right or Wrong.”  George has also taken part in a tribute album that celebrated the legend.  On Asleep at the Wheel’s 1993 project, fittingly titled  A Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys, George recorded a version of “Big Ball’s In Cowtown.”  When you attend a Strait show, you will often hear him cover songs like Wills’ “Take Me Back To Tulsa” and “Milk Cow Blues.”  And, George doesn’t shy away from recording his very own western swing flavored numbers like “I Can’t See Texas From Here” from 1982’s Strait From The Heart, “Am I Blue” from 1987’s Ocean Front Property and “Ace in the Hole” from 1989’s Beyond the Blue Neon, among others.

Since Strait was born and raised in Texas, it’s no wonder he felt drawn to fellow Texan Bob Wills’ music.  The Wills family was filled with very talented fiddle players, so it seems destined that Bob would become one himself.  At the age of 17, he left home and journeyed throughout the state working odd jobs like selling insurance to being a farmhand all the while playing his fiddle at dances.  Music took on a more serious role in his life in November 1929 when Wills first recorded two tunes for the Brunswick label that were never released.  Soon he, along with some other musicians, made the rounds promoting products like Burrus Mill’s Light Crust Flour on the radio as the Doughboys. 

By 1932, Bob left the Doughboys and formed his very own Playboys band, and when they scored a daily radio program at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s KVOO, the group became the biggest act in the Southwest.  Throughout the 1940s, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys made additions like brass, reeds and drums with the band numbering 16 members.  They found huge success with their recordings, including “San Antonio Rose.”  Things only came to a halt when Bob joined up with the army.

In 1943, Wills reformed his band, forgoing the brass and big band sound he had in favor of more stringed instruments like the mandolin, steel guitar and fiddle.  Even with the changes, Bob was still a winner.  But, in 1948, Wills’ star vocalist Tommy Duncan departed and he took the good times with him.  Although Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys continued on, they never quite experienced the same degree of success as they had with Duncan (who actually returned to the band for a short time in 1960 but left two years later).  Some of their dwindling popularity was due to changing musical tastes as well.

When 1967 rolled around, Bob decided to disband the Texas Playboys.  A year later, he was deservingly inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  In May of 1969, he suffered a stroke in which he never fully recovered ending his performing career.  Bob carried on though, recording his last album titled For The Last Time in December 1973.  On May 13, 1975, Bob Wills passed away at the age of 70, but he continues to live on in the hearts, minds and music of those like George Strait who cherish his contributions to entertainment.

  
Townsend, Charles. "Bob Wills." Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Country Music Foundation, Inc., n.d. Web. 14 Apr 2010. <http://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/full-list-of-inductees/view/bob-wills>.

Photo courtesy of Redferns

Nikita Palmer for Citadel Digital © 2010

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