Roots & Routes

Western swing emerged in the 1930s in Texas, and its “king” was Bob Wills, a Texan who loved blues and swing, the jazz style that was still quite young at the time. Especially the swing of regional orchestras like that of Bennie Moten (including Count Basie) had a strong influence. Swing covers by such “territory bands” were played by southern, white musicians in western swing bands, using the instruments they knew: the fiddle, banjo, and guitar. Over the years, horns and drums were added.

Western swing was a real melting pot of styles; besides swing, you can hear hillbilly music, cowboy ballads, blues, and Mexican music in it. And even Hawaii had something to do with it…

Playlist

1.   Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – San Antonio Rose – 3:10
2.   Prince Albert Hunt’s Texas Ramblers – Traveling Man – 2:46
3.   Bo Carter & The Mississippi Sheiks – Sitting on Top of the World – 3:05
4.   Jimmie Rodgers & Louis Armstrong – Blue Yodl #9 – 2:41
5.   Bessie Smith – St. Louis Blues – 3:11
6.   Fletcher Henderson – King Porter Stomp – 2:56
7.   Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies – I’ll be Glad when You’re Dead – 3:21
8.   Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Jazz Orchestra – South – 2:35
9.   Bob Wills – South – 3:35
10.   Sol Hoopii – Singing the Blues – 2:56
11.   Bob Dunn – Taking off – 2:52
12.   Lonnie Johnson met Away Down in the Alley Blues – 2:51
13.   Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – Steel Guitar Rag – 2:48
14.   Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies – Some of These Days – 2:45
15.   Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – Ida Red – 2:01
16.   Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – New San Antonio Rose – 2:37
17.   Louise Massey & The Westerners – My Adobe Hacienda – 2:41
18.   Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – Trouble in Mind – 3:29

19.   Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – Bubbles in My Beer – 2:17

With thanks to: