As I’ve long noted in the introduction to SWING ON THIS, Tulsa is the place where Western swing grew up, so it’s only logical that each show would feature a lot of music with T-town connections. Sometimes, though, one of the broadcasts contains even more Tulsa… Read More »19 FEBRUARY 2022
I guess my frequent use of “Western swing, cowboy jazz, and maybe a surprise or two” as a way of describing the content of SWING ON THIS constitutes some sort of tagline. But as I look over this week’s playlist, I see the description is… Read More »12 FEBRUARY 2022
Here’s a one-question music quiz for you: What’s the only song ever recorded by Billy Parker, Tom T. Hall — and legendary crooner Rudy Vallee? Hint: As you might imagine, it’s an American classic. You’ll hear Billy’s version if you tune in to… Read More »5 FEBRUARY 2022
I’ve done a pretty good amount of research on Bob Wills over the years, and one of the more interesting things I’ve unearthed was his apparent attitude toward rock ’n’ roll music in the late 1950s. Of course, this was when he and brother Johnnie… Read More »29 JANUARY 2022
This week, I’m starting SWING ON THIS with an alternate take of a famous Bob Wills tune that didn’t see the light of day until nearly 40 years after it was recorded. You’ll also hear a song from Leon McAuliffe that was recorded at the… Read More »22 JANUARY 2022
When the music that would become known as Western swing took off from Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, via Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom and radio station KVOO, a lot of bands came along that looked to Wills for inspiration — and sometimes, for outright imitation.… Read More »15 JANUARY 2022
Like the blues and other musical genres, Western swing — especially Western swing from the ‘30s and ‘40s — loves its double entendre songs. One of the best-known, whose origin is attributed to the blues artist Memphis Minnie, is “What’s the Matter with the Mill?”… Read More »9 JANUARY 2022
1. “She’s Killing Me,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys 2. “What Am I Doing Hangin’ Round?” the Monkees(for NORMA HAMBRICK) 3. “Show Me the Way to Go Home,” Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies(for CAT & CHRIS BURTON and the GLASS LIFTERS) 4. “Till Then,” Tom… Read More »1 JANUARY 2022
It just may be that all the holiday company has mostly, or completely, left your place after a big Christmas day, and you’re settling down with a big tankard of nog to reflect on things. If that’s going to be what’s happening with you at… Read More »25 DECEMBER 2021
For my money, the late Michael Nesmith never got the credit he should’ve gotten as a writer, vocalist, and musical innovator. I’ve always felt he was especially suited to SWING ON THIS listeners, as he combined classic pop, old-time country, swing, and rock — crafting… Read More »18 DECEMBER 2021