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    Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

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    Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

    Western swing band founded in 1934 by Bob Wills after leaving The Light Crust Doughboys, active until 1965, reuniting for a final recording session with an ailing Wills in 1973. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1968, and into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame (as "Early Influence") in 1999.

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    More than 600 artists played with the Texas Playboys during their lifetime, and several spin-off groups achieved significant success on their own, including Johnnie Lee Wills & His Boys and Billy Jack Wills And His Western Swing Band.

    See also Bob Wills & Tommy Duncan, The Texas Playboys.

    After the initial breakup in 1965, the band continued performing briefly as The Texas Playboys, led by Leon Rausch. They would reunite again as The Original Texas Playboys Under The Direction Of Leon McAuliffe from 1973-1986, until the death of pianist Al Stricklin. At that point, Leon Rausch and Tommy Allsup purchased the rights to use the name Bob Wills' Texas Playboys from Betty Wills and continued touring.

    Original Lineup:
    Founded in Waco, Texas, 1933
    Fiddle - Bob Wills
    Piano, Vocals - Tommy Duncan
    Steel Guitar - Kermit Whalen
    Tenor Banjo - Johnnie Lee Wills
    Bass/Rhythm Guitar - June Whalin

    Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Lineup:
    Fiddle/Mandolin/Vocals - Bob Wills
    Vocals - Tommy Duncan
    Fiddle - Joe Holley
    Fiddle/Electric Mandolin - Johnny Gimble, Tiny Moore
    Steel Guitar - Leon McAuliffe, Herb Remington
    Guitar - Eldon Shamblin
    Piano - Al Stricklin

    Final Lineup:
    (Selected by Wills for the 1973 reunion For The Last Time)
    Leader - Bob Wills
    Fiddle – Hoyle Nix, Keith Coleman, Merle Haggard
    Fiddle/Mandolin - Johnny Gimble
    Steel Guitar – Leon McAuliffe
    Electric Guitar – Eldon Shamblin
    Piano – Al Stricklin
    Bass – Leon Rausch
    Drums – Jody Nix, Smokey Dacus

    Data provided by Discogs
    Concert Tickets available at StubHub!
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