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James Robert Wills (March 6, 1905 – May 13, 1975) was an American Western swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader. Considered by music authorities as the founder of Western swing, [1][2][3] he was known widely as the King of Western Swing (although Spade Cooley self-promoted the moniker "King of Western Swing" from 1942 to 1969).
Dec 28, 2023 · In the record books of country music history, Bob Wills holds a revered place as an innovator who fearlessly pushed the boundaries of the genre. His audacious move to introduce drums at the Grand Ole Opry in the 1940s remains a watershed moment in the evolution of country music.
In the 1930s, a handful of songs blending blues, jazz, and big-band swing sprang up like mushrooms – but nothing compared to Bob Wills songs. After all, he’s the most popular and influential among all the Western swing band leaders, hailed as the King of Western Swing.
Oct 23, 2017 · Bob Wills "San Antonio Rose" Live (circa 1940's)Musical Shorts from the 1940'sWarner Brothers.Austin Music Network Collection.793 BobWills SARose Live
Bob Wills often dressed in double-breasted suits and custom-made boots. His Texas Playboys wore western suits or trousers, white shirts and neckties. On their way to becoming America’s famous Western Swing band, the image of ‘western chic’ had dawned.
Nov 8, 2013 · The King of Western Swing. Bob Wills pioneered a new, toe-tapping sound. Born on March 6, 1905, on a ranch near Kosse, Texas, in Limestone County, James Robert Wills was destined for show business from a young age.
A bandleader, fiddler, singer, and songwriter, Bob Wills is the most famous exponent of the popular musical amalgam now known as western swing, which synthesized ragtime, traditional fiddle tunes, New Orleans jazz, blues, Mexican songs, and big band swing.
Bob Wills was an American bandleader, fiddler, singer, and songwriter whose Texas Playboys popularized western swing music in the 1930s and ’40s. Taught to play the mandolin and fiddle by his father and other relatives, Wills began performing in country string bands in Texas in the late 1920s.
Bob Wills. Renegade who popularized Western swing in the '40s, changed its rules, erased genre boundaries, and left a legacy of immeasurable influence. Read Full Biography.
Mar 20, 2015 · Benson and his band Asleep at the Wheel have helped keep that music alive in the four decades since Bob Wills' death — and according to him, they're not alone.
