Episode 1 Complimentary Blog Info

Today, Thursday October 5, the first Dogger and Muddy Music Show was published for our listeners to enjoy.

In the back of my mind I have been thinking about putting together a show like this for years.

As a kid I remember my dad lying on the living room floor conducting a symphonic piece blasting from a outsized music cabinet. During the day ‘Judy Garland Live at Carnegie Hall’ would help mom with her chores. Whenever Buddy Rich, the greatest drummer ever in my book, was a guest on the Tonight Show I would sneak down stairs late at night to catch a glimpse. Understanding how music worked and the mind of a musician fascinated me.

As a grown up (some might say otherwise), my business career was spent in the technology industry marketing and selling application solutions. Yet on weekends and whenever there was free time I would listen, play or read about music.

So after putting my technology career behind me I was able to direct my available time to music. Here we go.

What a great way to start. Ray Benson the founder and leader of Asleep at the Wheel is our first guest. Following him is Pat Bywaters the Director of Encore / 508 Park. This is the building where key Robert Johnson and Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys recording sessions took place in the 1930’s.

Pat Bywaters in studio

Ray discusses the musical artists that inspired him. One of which is Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. During his interview Ray references the following people:

– Lucky Ocean – a close friend to Ray and one of the original members of Asleep at the Wheel.
– Milton Brown – with Bob Wills, created the Light Crust Doughboys in 1931. Bob Wills left a couple years later to create the Texas Playboy group. The Light Crust Doughboys are still playing today

Light Crust Doughboys playing at the Museum of Street Culture opening on October 1, 2017. While Bob was known as the “King of Western Swing” – Milton was knows as the “Father of Western Swing”.

– Johnny Gimball – one of the premier fiddlers from the Western Swing Era. He was a member of the Texas Playboys.
– Leon Rausch – excellent musician and “the voice” of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
– Herb Remington – excellent steel guitar stylist that played with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Merle Haggard and others. The Remington Steel Guitar Company was created and run by Herb.
– Eldon Shamblin – guitarist and arranger for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
– Art Satherly – a record producer and A&R man that headed up Warner Bros. and other recording activity at 508 Park.
– Don Law – worked with Art at 508 Park. He was involved in Robert Johnson’s Blues recordings and over his career worked with Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash.
– Tommy Allsup – a musician and producer who worked with Buddy Holly, Bob Wills, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson. He was unfortunately involved in a key moment in music history. On February 3, 1959, Allsup was touring with Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson when he lost a coin toss with Valens for a seat on the plane that crashed, taking Holly, Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson’s life. This date became known as “The Day the Music Died”.

Vocalion 78 RPM records of musical artists Gene Autry and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. The music was recorded at 508 Park.

During Pat Bywaters’ interview segment several of the people above were mentioned. We also discussed the biography ‘San Antonio Rose: The Life and Music of Bob Wills’ by Charles Townsend.

Enjoy Episode 1 and see you again soon.