Bob Wills
It’s hard to overstate the importance of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys when examining the history of western swing, the emergence of country music as a national sensation, and the early days of radio broadcasting in the US.
Born in east Texas to a family of musicians on March 6, 1905, Bob Wills got his professional start at the age of 10, playing fiddle concerts and square dances. In his mid-20s Wills formed his first group and found success in Fort Worth, eventually moving to Waco and dubbing his band The Texas Playboys.
Bob Wills
and his horse,
“Punkin”.
In 1934, the band relocated to Tulsa to take up residency at Cain’s Ballroom. Before long, their lunchtime concerts were being broadcast across the nation via the 25,000-watt powerhouse radio station KVOO, “The Voice of Oklahoma.” This paved the way for the band’s national stardom, and showcased their groundbreaking Western swing sound, featuring impressive jazz infused arrangements and (most shockingly) a drum kit. Until the massive success of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, drums had not been accepted in country music…due to their association with black musicians.
When KVOO later upped their power to 50,000 watts, the band’s popular midday show could be heard from coast to coast, Canada to Mexico. The Playboys subsequently became one of the top selling bands in the US. Wills was soon elevated to the status of major star, performing in several Hollywood films throughout the 1940s and recording numerous chart-topping songs.
Donations to support the the OKPOP Museum may be made to the OKPOP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Donations may be mailed to:
OKPOP
422 North Main Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
Or, donate through this secure online donation form.
If you have questions about additional gifting options or to make wire transfer arrangements, please contact Jeff Moore at jeffmoore@okhistory.org
*Required fields.
Note: Fees for online processing are a necessary part of online giving and vary based on donation amount and type of card used. The fees charged by the credit card processor will be subtracted from the donation amount, but your tax deduction will remain for the full amount of the donation.
