|
|
Bio of a Project and Tribute to the Legend.
Paying tribute to Bob Wills, the King of Western Swing on his 100th Birthday, and doing it in a way that represented his career and contributions to all genres of music, produced many challenges.
To accomplish this task, we started with the producer he chose to do his last album, Tommy Allsup. We then added Leon Rausch, the voice of the Texas Playboys for over 50 years, and of course, the third generation Texas Playboys themselves.
Choosing the Guest Artists wasn’t an easy task, either. We started with Merle Haggard, whom Bob Wills chose to be on his last album. Merle sings and plays the fiddle that Bob Wills gave him. We then invited country legends Gene Watson, Larry Gatlin, Tanya Tucker, Charlie Daniels, Glen Campbell, Johnny Rodriguez and Lynn Anderson; R & B icon Archie Bell; pop legend B J Thomas, cowboy poet Red Steagall; today’s hit makers Cody Canada, Dierks Bently and Joe Diffie; stars of tomorrow Robin English, Rachel Bradshaw, and the Muzik Mafia’s Chance; and “Grand Ole Opry stars Porter Waggoner and Billy Grammer. We added Oscar winning actor Wilford Brimley, to draw attention to Bob Wills’ movie career. Four-time Super Bowl winner, NFL Hall of Famer successful businessman and sports media icon – the versatile Terry Bradshaw joined the album to pay tribute to another man, “Who Knew No Limits,” and crossed genres and professions for many decades.
This album represents every era of Bob Wills music from the lone fiddle days, to twin fiddles, to Dixieland jazz, and all the way to the big band era. Bob Wills even played a for of rap music 60 years before it became known as rap. He influenced every kind of music from the 1930’s to the present day and will continue to do so far into the future.
Bob Wills wasn’t only a music and film hero, but also and American hero. From the cotton fields in West Texas to the Halls of Fame spread out all over America, he serves as an inspiration to us all. Thanks to all the people who took part in this tribute and to all of you who are enjoying it. You are what keeps Bob’s music alive,
See ya in 100 years….
Tune in to "New Mexico In The Morning" with the general manager of MTD Radio, Tim Keithly with special guests grammy award winner and legendary producer Tommy Allsup and Hall of Fame Disc Jockey Joe Baker of the popular Backforty Bunkhouse Show for a sample preview of the new CD, "Bob Wills' 100th Birthday Tribute". This radio show was recorded on October 4th, 2005, prior to the 16th Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. MTD Radio was the very first radio station to review this awesome CD on the air and www.BackfortyBunkhouse.com is the second, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS ARE ON THE AIR."
Listen to the Bob Wills' 100th Birthday Tribute
 |
Genre: Western Swing 
|
|
|