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Music Appreciation
Related: About this forumOn this day, January 3, 1917, Texas Playboy Leon McAuliffe was born.
Hat tip, This Day in Country Music
January 3rd: On this day
1917
Born on this day in Houston, was Leon McAuliffe who played steel guitar for Bob Wills' Texas Playboys from 1935-1942. He scored his own instrumental hit in 1949 with "Panhandle Rag."
1917
Born on this day in Houston, was Leon McAuliffe who played steel guitar for Bob Wills' Texas Playboys from 1935-1942. He scored his own instrumental hit in 1949 with "Panhandle Rag."
Leon McAuliffe
Birth name: William Leon McAuliffe
Born: January 3, 1917; Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died: August 20, 1988 (aged 71); Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
William Leon McAuliffe (January 3, 1917 August 20, 1988) was an American Western swing guitarist who was a member of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys during the 1930s. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of that band, and was a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
{snip}
Biography
When he was sixteen he was a member of the Light Crust Doughboys, playing both rhythm guitar and steel guitar. In 1935, at age 18, he played with Bob Wills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He stayed with Wills until World War II.
With Wills, he helped compose "San Antonio Rose". He is more noted, however, for his most famous composition, "Steel Guitar Rag", and his playing, along with that of Robert Lee Dunn (of Milton Brown's Musical Brownies), that popularized the steel guitar in the United States.
His playing (and Dunn's) is also credited with inspiring the rhythm and blues electric guitar style occurring some 20 years later.
After the war, McAuliffe returned to Tulsa and formed a Western swing band named the Cimarron Boys. In 1949, their song "Panhandle Rag" (Columbia) reached No. 6 on the Billboard country chart. McAuliffe recorded through the 1960s. In the 1970s, he participated in a reunion of the Texas Playboys.
In the 1980s, McAuliffe along with Eldon Shamblin and Junior Brown, taught music at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma.
{snip}
Birth name: William Leon McAuliffe
Born: January 3, 1917; Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died: August 20, 1988 (aged 71); Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
William Leon McAuliffe (January 3, 1917 August 20, 1988) was an American Western swing guitarist who was a member of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys during the 1930s. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of that band, and was a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
{snip}
Biography
When he was sixteen he was a member of the Light Crust Doughboys, playing both rhythm guitar and steel guitar. In 1935, at age 18, he played with Bob Wills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He stayed with Wills until World War II.
With Wills, he helped compose "San Antonio Rose". He is more noted, however, for his most famous composition, "Steel Guitar Rag", and his playing, along with that of Robert Lee Dunn (of Milton Brown's Musical Brownies), that popularized the steel guitar in the United States.
His playing (and Dunn's) is also credited with inspiring the rhythm and blues electric guitar style occurring some 20 years later.
After the war, McAuliffe returned to Tulsa and formed a Western swing band named the Cimarron Boys. In 1949, their song "Panhandle Rag" (Columbia) reached No. 6 on the Billboard country chart. McAuliffe recorded through the 1960s. In the 1970s, he participated in a reunion of the Texas Playboys.
In the 1980s, McAuliffe along with Eldon Shamblin and Junior Brown, taught music at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma.
{snip}
Take it away, Leon.
Leon McAuliffe - Steel Guitar Rag
11,446 views Jan 3, 2018
When The Cowboy Sings
274K subscribers
Leon McAuliffe Steel Guitar Rag live perfomance
{snip}
When The Cowboy Sings website
http://whenthecowboysings.com/
KWC Americana Radio Station
http://kwcamericanars.com/
11,446 views Jan 3, 2018
When The Cowboy Sings
274K subscribers
Leon McAuliffe Steel Guitar Rag live perfomance
{snip}
When The Cowboy Sings website
http://whenthecowboysings.com/
KWC Americana Radio Station
http://kwcamericanars.com/
Now we run into a problem. Leon McAuliffe got drafted in World War II, so he wasn't around for the war years. There's a gap here. We pick up his career again in 1950.
#20706
BONAPARTE'S RETREAT ~ Leon McAuliffe (1950)
30,994 views Aug 22, 2010
MrRJDB1969
81.8K subscribers
"Bonaparte's Retreat" ~ Leon McAuliffe & His Western Swing Band (1950) Columbia #20706.
The flip side of, "What, Where, & When"
Previously a steel guitarist for Bob Wills, Leon McAuliffe was born in Houston, Texas in 1917 and passed away in 1988.
"Bonaparte's Retreat" was composed by Pee Wee King.
BONAPARTE'S RETREAT ~ Leon McAuliffe (1950)
30,994 views Aug 22, 2010
MrRJDB1969
81.8K subscribers
"Bonaparte's Retreat" ~ Leon McAuliffe & His Western Swing Band (1950) Columbia #20706.
The flip side of, "What, Where, & When"
Previously a steel guitarist for Bob Wills, Leon McAuliffe was born in Houston, Texas in 1917 and passed away in 1988.
"Bonaparte's Retreat" was composed by Pee Wee King.
&t=6s
Leon McAuliffe And Cimarron Boys - San Antonio Rose
5,578 views Nov 11, 2016
When The Cowboy Sings
274K subscribers
Leon McAuliffe And Cimarron Boys San Antonio Rose live {performance}
5,578 views Nov 11, 2016
When The Cowboy Sings
274K subscribers
Leon McAuliffe And Cimarron Boys San Antonio Rose live {performance}
One more. I don't know what show this is.
LeonMcAulliffe
29,362 views Mar 2, 2010
KoolKlipsFromDeke
2.6K subscribers
Here's a great clip of Leon McAuliffe (the "Take It Away Leon" man himself from Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys) and his solo band playing a steel guitar boogie tune (they never give the title, but Steel Guitar Boogie will do!).
29,362 views Mar 2, 2010
KoolKlipsFromDeke
2.6K subscribers
Here's a great clip of Leon McAuliffe (the "Take It Away Leon" man himself from Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys) and his solo band playing a steel guitar boogie tune (they never give the title, but Steel Guitar Boogie will do!).
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On this day, January 3, 1917, Texas Playboy Leon McAuliffe was born. (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Jan 2022
OP
bahboo
(16,377 posts)1. I'm a sucker for some good steel guitar...
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,695 posts)2. Now you've done it.
Mon Nov 15, 2021: On this day, November 15, 2003, Speedy West died.
Speedy West
Birth name: Wesley Webb West
Born: January 25, 1924
Origin: Springfield, Missouri, United States
Died: November 15, 2003 (aged 79)
Wesley Webb West (January 25, 1924 November 15, 2003), better known as Speedy West, was an American pedal steel guitarist and record producer. He frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others. The duo also recorded with non-Capitol artists in Los Angeles. In 1960, Speedy played on and produced Loretta Lynn's first single. West, who began playing a pedal steel guitar built by Paul A. Bigsby in 1948, was the first country steel guitarist to use a pedal guitar. Nashville players like Bud Isaacs would adopt it in the early 1950s.
He was photographed by Herb Wise, the American photographer who found critical success with his portraits of artists from the 1960s and 1970s.
{snip}
Birth name: Wesley Webb West
Born: January 25, 1924
Origin: Springfield, Missouri, United States
Died: November 15, 2003 (aged 79)
Wesley Webb West (January 25, 1924 November 15, 2003), better known as Speedy West, was an American pedal steel guitarist and record producer. He frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others. The duo also recorded with non-Capitol artists in Los Angeles. In 1960, Speedy played on and produced Loretta Lynn's first single. West, who began playing a pedal steel guitar built by Paul A. Bigsby in 1948, was the first country steel guitarist to use a pedal guitar. Nashville players like Bud Isaacs would adopt it in the early 1950s.
He was photographed by Herb Wise, the American photographer who found critical success with his portraits of artists from the 1960s and 1970s.
{snip}
Not a lot there. Maybe there's something on YouTube.
Speedy and Jimmy - Flyin' High
209,254 views Jun 9, 2009
pappyredux
3.83K subscribers
The incomparable duo of Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant burning the Hometown Jamboree down with their own number, which would later be recorded as 'Cotton Pickin'. Hold on to your hats!
209,254 views Jun 9, 2009
pappyredux
3.83K subscribers
The incomparable duo of Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant burning the Hometown Jamboree down with their own number, which would later be recorded as 'Cotton Pickin'. Hold on to your hats!
Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West w-Tennessee Ernie Ford Live 1950s- 4 songs
58,258 views Jun 22, 2016
Chris Clem
1.43K subscribers
I didn't have good video for this but I did have some decent audio from this 16mm film which I tried to sync.Video footage of Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree Band with Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West backing Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1951 or 52 ? (Not sure of this date). There are 4 songs here.I do know they also did the song (Women is a Five letter word) at this session but I didn't have the video for it.Video quality is bad but any footage of Jimmy and Speedy playing together is rare ......great stuff!
Guitar - Jimmy Bryant
Guitar - Eddie Kirk
Steel Guitar - Speedy West
Piano / Accordian Billy Liebert
Bass - Al Williams
Drums - Roy Harte
58,258 views Jun 22, 2016
Chris Clem
1.43K subscribers
I didn't have good video for this but I did have some decent audio from this 16mm film which I tried to sync.Video footage of Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree Band with Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West backing Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1951 or 52 ? (Not sure of this date). There are 4 songs here.I do know they also did the song (Women is a Five letter word) at this session but I didn't have the video for it.Video quality is bad but any footage of Jimmy and Speedy playing together is rare ......great stuff!
Guitar - Jimmy Bryant
Guitar - Eddie Kirk
Steel Guitar - Speedy West
Piano / Accordian Billy Liebert
Bass - Al Williams
Drums - Roy Harte
Speedy West #1 (From the TV Show "Country Style" 1963-64)
13,239 views Jul 22, 2018
emerysmemories
8.89K subscribers
Speedy West #1 (From the TV Show "Country Style" 1963-64)
This is just a clip from the TV show Country Style created by
The LeGarde Twins back in 1963-64. We will be posting the full shows soon and Speedy West plays lots of Steel Rides behind a lot of the singers in those shows.
We pulled his feature performances and posted all 7 of them first to kind of wet your whistle. The LeGarde Twins released these shows to our channel and in return I want to promote their incredible book.
The LeGarde Twins "Showbiz Hustlers" it is available through
Amazon.com Their life story is a great read and makes for a perfect gift for all the country music fans out there!
We hope you subscribe to this channel and enjoy these Speedy West performances. Just click on the play list at the end of each song to watch them all... Thanks!
13,239 views Jul 22, 2018
emerysmemories
8.89K subscribers
Speedy West #1 (From the TV Show "Country Style" 1963-64)
This is just a clip from the TV show Country Style created by
The LeGarde Twins back in 1963-64. We will be posting the full shows soon and Speedy West plays lots of Steel Rides behind a lot of the singers in those shows.
We pulled his feature performances and posted all 7 of them first to kind of wet your whistle. The LeGarde Twins released these shows to our channel and in return I want to promote their incredible book.
The LeGarde Twins "Showbiz Hustlers" it is available through
Amazon.com Their life story is a great read and makes for a perfect gift for all the country music fans out there!
We hope you subscribe to this channel and enjoy these Speedy West performances. Just click on the play list at the end of each song to watch them all... Thanks!
Speedy West plays "On The Alamo" live on TV 1956!
113,033 views Dec 14, 2009
KoolKlipsFromDeke
2.56K subscribers
Here Speedy West plays live on L.W.'s show, playing his version of "On The Alamo." This is a super-rare clip, there isn't much vintage Speedy West footage out there, to the best of my knowledge this hasn't ever seen the light of day. Here Speedy plays his Fender steel guitar with hand-tooled leather front "apron" on it. R.I.P. Speedy West!
113,033 views Dec 14, 2009
KoolKlipsFromDeke
2.56K subscribers
Here Speedy West plays live on L.W.'s show, playing his version of "On The Alamo." This is a super-rare clip, there isn't much vintage Speedy West footage out there, to the best of my knowledge this hasn't ever seen the light of day. Here Speedy plays his Fender steel guitar with hand-tooled leather front "apron" on it. R.I.P. Speedy West!
Merle Travis /Speedy West/ Judy Hayden 3 songs 1951
113,361 views Aug 23, 2016
Chris Clem
1.43K subscribers
Merle Travis - Guitar/Vocals
Judy Hayden - Vocals
Speedy West - Steel Guitar
Eddie Kirk - Guitar
Harold Hensley - Fiddle
Danny Alguire - Trumpet
Red Wooten ? - Bass
113,361 views Aug 23, 2016
Chris Clem
1.43K subscribers
Merle Travis - Guitar/Vocals
Judy Hayden - Vocals
Speedy West - Steel Guitar
Eddie Kirk - Guitar
Harold Hensley - Fiddle
Danny Alguire - Trumpet
Red Wooten ? - Bass
bahboo
(16,377 posts)3. he was new to me...thx...