Texas Playboys on TV 1976 with Merle Haggard

[@paulnott3344]

This was 1978, not 1976. Part of the TV show "50 Years of Country Music" Recorded over 5 nights at Opreyland I was there each night and this was a highlight for me.

[@paulnott3344]

www.imdb.com/title/tt0499116/

[@saucerblock]

thank you for pointing this out!

[@armandoflores5297]

lost bob wills many moon ago,and now the hag. i'm at a loss.

[@brazilgrass]

Bob Wills was rock'n'roll before rock'n'roll. That and something else.

[@mrbeaverstate]

All the ages of Merle, the 1970's were my favorite.

[@michaelgillispie8219]

I'm 36 and love Bob Wills...spent my early years in Texas where Faded Love used to be the National Anthem.

[@jondoe8889]

I first heard Bob Wills in 1974. Not my kind of music, it made my jaw drop. I have liked his music ever since!!! And I got to spend a weekend at a dance camp where Johnny Gimble played. It felt like dancing in a dirt-floored bar in old Texas. We all had the best time, and he was the nicest guy. And look at these old coots - they still emit the bravado and a sexiness of their youth!

[@bdzmusicprod]

Bob Wills must have been the father of fusion in that he combine big band swing with country western music. WOW! This stuff really swings!!!

[@dcgilleland]

Sax being played by Wayne Johnson who played with Bob in Tulsa during the 40's. Louie Tierney was killed when hit by a train in his car. That was in 1962 in Big Spring Texas. He was playing with Hoyle Nix and the West Texas Cowboys at the time of the accident. His brother Mancel also played piano for Bob and was "A good "um"!

[@joybreeden366]

RIP Bob Loved your music Master of western swing... Texas finest!

[@robertherridge9309]

Yes, Texas Swing!! Best band ever!! Thank you Merle for pulling the guys together!

[@janetkurnick1641]

angel band. So sad. Thank God the Wheel is carrying on for them.

[@shiboof]

That is Tiny Moore, indeed. MY DAD!!! HE is playing one of his electric mandolins made with an extra string. I believe that is the Roberts mandolin.

[@hankelling5833]

This is wonderful. The Texas Playboys were playing "hot" that night. Thanks for posting!

[@Harpplayer504]

I personally love KZbin because it allows me to see Great videos like this treasure!Thank You for posting, and thank you KZbin!

[@BrickPa]

I take exception to Merle's statement about Wills being able to make a tune sound like "real jazz". I'm not a musical scholar by any means, but I believe the Texas Playboys were in fact a jazz band, though with somewhat different instrumentation.

[@saucerblock]

most definitely!

[@TulsaGirlForever]

Oh my gosh....thanks SO much for posting this!!! I'm an old Tulsa gal and knew Johnnie Lee Wills & his wife, they lived one block to the South of us in Tulsa and their original JLW Western Shop was 1 block to the North. He was one sweet fella, as sweet as his wife. Years later, working for Peaches Records & Tapes I ran into Johnnie Lee and laughed about those young years. I also met up with Eldon Shamblin at a Haggard concert in '81, talking with him about his days when he was off the road and working at the Get N Go at 21st & Memorial in Tulsa (our fav haunt for candy!) Tiny Moore played that night too at the ORU Mabee Center & what an honor to meet him! Great times....there'll never be another band like this one, altho Asleep at the Wheel is pretty dang close. ;)

[@gottabekidding8504]

+TulsaGirlForever I got to meet up with Eldon, Tiny and a bunch more when they performed in Sacramento, CA in the mid 80s--many had moved there when Hag took them on as his occasional backup band. They all still played great and were as into the music as ever. It was the most complete version of the Playboys to play since the above at the show I saw, including even Leon McAuliffe, and they hung out after and talked music with anyone who wanted to hang out. Priceless.

[@GBPLVR]

TulsaGirlForever, thanks for the great story! I have lived in Tulsa my entire life and still do. loved Peaches record shop and loved Merle, Bob wills and boys music. Used to shop at 21st and memorial at Roy and Candys music store. Love Old history about Tulsa

[@hachinohehorse]

Hello there TulsaGirlForever. This old fella born and raised in Garden City and graduated from Webster in 1954. At a ver young age, used to listen to the Boys at Cain's. My dad, who had a service station between West Tulsa and Redfork, used to service that old bus they traveled in. hat was a long time ago. The USAF took me away for 20 plus years and now reside in Norfolk VA with a 25 year stopover in Tennessee...

[@MrJbaker7]

I love this music...Jack Baker NYC

[@riodosa40]

It is Texas Swing, Dolly! The great state of Texas with Bob Wills being the Swing Miester has that honor. San Anton!!!! Yee Haw!

[@theirsareidiots]

My first guitar teacher was Tiny Moore, in Sacramento. I was 10 (1963) when I first started taking lessons. He once told me that if I would learn to play the pedal steel, I'd never be out of work. Wish I'd listened! I got my first Alamo guitar & amp from Tiny, and years later he sold me his own Gretch Tennessen. Wish I still had that guitar! One day I'll see Tiny in the big band in the Sky, and show him that I really did pay attention to what he taught me! They don't make guys like him anymore!

[@wishuwerehere74]

My grandpa played for Bob Wills for like 5 years. He also played with Gary Van, and The Starlighters. He passed away about 7 years back..I can't find any evidence of him online anymore...all I have left of him is his guitar pick...

[@josephsardena3525]

What an amazing band created by the late great Bob Wills. I only discovered about him recently and been searching around for more live music connected to him. They new how to rock the place up !

[@stangosnell1201]

I learned to play mandolin because of Tiny. I love his sound. I had to make my own instruments, because there were no factory-made 5-string electrics available, and then learn to play them. Totally worth the effort.

[@susan7266]

one of my Mothers3 sisters married Tiny Moore,another married Billy Jack Wills. You can imagine i heard alot of music.Drawn to guitar at 11,at 62 is still my souls survival at times. My mom married John, and he bought me a banjo and a Gibson.I went to town on the guitar and began writting many songs over the years,bringing much peace to me,...my childhood influences were remarkable and enchanting. Uncle Tinys childrens t.v. show spotlighted a spider monkey,(anna bannana) donkey and Lg. bird.+

[@ratherknotty]

It's great to watch this again, especially now Johnnie Gimble has just been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He died 3 years ago in may 2015. What a pity they did not do it while he was still alive to enjoy it. I'm afraid they keep doing this, leaving it until it's way overdue and too late.

[@tnorling]

I'm a yankee who loves bob wills and texas swing. I put this on the cd player and everyone else loves it too, my friends in their 20's, too, which is kind of a surprise.

[@pwea1anda2]

Such a great band. Thx for the post and bringing back great memories of all those great players.

[@jerichothedrifter60]

Out of all the players in Wills' band over the years, I think Tiny Moore and Junior Barnard might be my favorites. Lots of interesting harmonic ideas and absolutely fearless players.

[@essbo53]

My mom bought me my first guitar from Tiny Moore's music studio in Sacramento. When I was a tyke, I used to watch him on TV hosting his kids show. I had no idea it was him until way down the line. He was a great great musician.

[@brazilgrass]

Tiny Moore on solid body (Jay Roberts) electric mandolin. Johnny Gimble on the other mandolin. Eldon Shamblin on electric guitar.

[@jpeanrkode]

He's still got it, too. I saw him in Dallas back in March of this year and he can still play circles around anybody!

[@1953jazzman]

A fantastic walk thru Bob Wills history - with Merle Haggard and former members of Bob Will's bands!

[@ronniebishop2496]

I heard Faded Love the first time on a juke box in Roscoe Texas when I was 13.

[@geocepa]

+these guys were the best of the best,why do we have to lose such priceless talent.merle haggard, thanks for putting that show together,and thanks to the guy who posted the clip, without himm we would have missed a very special moment in time

[@CSltz]

Just imagine how big and how far. They could have gotten. If they had just practiced a bit Dolly & Merl too. 🤣

[@thisgirl411]

Lol - when I was a kid, Tiny and Dean would sing at my church. I knew he traveled in a band, but had no idea, then that it was THIS! Wow - they were a very sweet couple - loved them both.

[@maryeaton9757]

Wonderful post..... I enjoyed this video and music very much!

[@slopbucket74]

Aw, man. This made my day.

[@Ladymech62]

Oh yes! Had that little girl crush on Johnnie Lee Jr. ! I miss seeing Black Diamond there in the yard . . .

[@ratherknotty]

Terrific bit of history, thanks

[@johnwalterm]

Flawless. Especially San Antonio Rose.

[@larryrealdeal]

a great clip of the way it is and the way it'll always be!

[@BartowWing]

Tiny Moore! Thanks for the memories.

[@laslos3]

I didn't know the Hag played the fiddle...that's crazy! Great music though....I really have been getting more and more into merle...he could do just about anything... Western Swing, Old School, Bakersfield...the list goes on...but needless to say, good job to the Texas Playboy's and Merle Haggard... RIP Bob!

[@beniceorbegone]

This is fantastic!

[@stockarddinald9651]

My dad (Ocie Stockard) was a long time Playboy member

[@P51ride]

All I can say about this video is a sincere Thank God for Asleep At The Wheel for keeping Bob Wills music and style alive. Thanks for the video

[@redriveral2764]

Awesome! First time I've seen it since the telecast.

[@oldtexasmusic]

Those Playboys are some good uns. Merle is too. Too bad Bob was not there. Thanks.

[@WOHP1390]

Love this video! Just looked it up to bookmark it on a new computer. So nice to see a comment from you about your dad! You should be very proud!

[@stangosnell1201]

Trumpet is Alex Brashear, and sax is Louis Tierney. Louis also played fiddle, which was his primary instrument with Bob, but there were already lots of fiddle players on the stage there.

[@CiscoDuck]

No, that's Wayne Johnson on sax - he played in the pre-WWII Tulsa band Bob Wills led there. Louis Tierney died about 1961 or '62 out in Big Spring, Texas in a train vs automobile accident when Louie fell asleep at the wheel and his car was sitting on the tracks.

[@MariaSarah2]

Love it. Thanks Oldcountrytunes for sending it. Maria Sarah

[@dr37sam]

@dgtxdutch Saw Jody Nix for the first time 2weeks ago in Navasota and he was great.Have been following Bobby and his 4 fiddles for sometime.My girl friend told me if I didnt take her to Big Spring in Nov we were through.As you say,HARD CORE Western swing is alive and well! We are lucky to be in Texas! Never had so much fun.

[@manoelluiz2697]

São Incriveis e bons noi canto e na instrumentação. maneco - Brasil.

[@bandbsmom]

great footage of some Classic country music:) Shelly

[@Froike]

Wow...this is fantastic!!

[@equinejessie]

Now that's what I call music!

[@Mikevdog]

Awesome

[@budw84]

I'm a big Merle fan but Bob Wills is still the king

[@AuH2O]

Loved it! Only too bad it was cut right when Dolly was about to sing The Seeker.

[@laslos3]

man Merle sure can tell a good story!

[@FarmallDoctor]

Thankyou so much!!

[@bruiser]

Yes, that's Eldon, one of the best guitarist who ever strapped on a six string.

[@anthonyjones3193]

Yes he was a cord genius

[@gdqqps]

The dude on the right is playing the fiddle left handed. Never seen it before. No reason it can't be done, just never seen it done.

[@anthonyjones3193]

That's Joe Holly, played with Bob Wills from about 1945 though the early 60s

[@ajaxfilms]

YES!

[@bdcruzer]

@gnm109 Scotty is great but don't overlook Johnnie Gimble on both fiddle and electric mandolin. He plays an old gibson A model with an electric pickup. We were playing with him a couple years ago and I asked him where he got an electric pickup for a mandolin way back in the 40's and he said "oh, Leo make it for me. also gave me his first professional amp as well. With Eldon playing the first Stratocaster we have a picture of how deep these guys go. Lets here it for Jazz in Boots!!

[@bdzmusicprod]

LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!! LOVE IT!!!!

[@gdqqps]

I played with a few of Bob's or JL's alums around Tulsa. Autry Rutledge, Gene Crownover and maybe some others. Its been awhile. Not sure I spelled Gene's name.right.

[@robertking1480]

AZ a native Texan god bless

[@eightapeach2861]

To all the people who are asking what year this tv special was made: can't you read? It says 1976 in the description. Snap out of your iPhone trance and READ!

[@jmeintn]

What a gift to those of us who love this music --- thanks, Saucerblock! Wish I could see the guitarist, who must be Eldon, right? Thanks again, John England

[@NormEvans4070]

I think the steel player is Herb Remington, maker of Remington Steel Guitars. Great , isn't he?

[@jerichothedrifter60]

Look at that lineup of silverface Fender amps behind em

[@personnosrep]

Now that's Texas, aahh ha!

[@zaaritha]

This is good!

[@larryrobinson6914]

He brought em back!!!!!!(

[@robertking1480]

Met a flower played with the Texas playboy boys fiddle Walter big noce nice feller

[@monky999]

there's not nearly enough of bob wills on film. at least there's this and a few others

[@eiiiotrodger6279]

4:27 I came here for this

[@Hagfan789]

San Antonio Rose starts at 6:00.....Love dat song!!

[@BrickPa]

They do. Check out Asleep At the Wheel albums: "Ride With Bob" and "Tribute To the Music Of Bob Wills".

[@pearlwhitewing]

Well, gotta get mine in too. Johnny Gimble is my uncle.

[@whatuautado]

Man.. now these are musicians! What do we have now?... Rascal Flatts? Taylor Swift? all the squished up plastic hat guys? I mean seriously....

[@srk64]

All I can say is 5 stars

[@saucerblock]

@theicedman that is a Mandolin.

[@Dr.Pepper001]

Lovin that hillbilly music.

[@paullomeli5406]

I'm thinking that Hagg should be crowded, the king of county music!

[@drscott47]

1:48 GO ELECTRIC MANDOLIN GO!!!!!!

[@TheBasenjiman]

The should have made a movie of Bob Wills and Merle could have played him and it would have been very believable.

[@saucerblock]

yup, Herb Remington

[@srk64]

How old is this video ..Love it

[@TheBasenjiman]

I think Merle Haggard has Bob's fiddle

[@riodosa40]

I think Dolly had it wrong. It is not Western Swing, Bob Wills and the great state of Texas holds that great honor, i.e., Texas Swing!

[@Miglow]

Mandolins traditionally have 8 strings in 4 courses tuned GDAE, which is standard for fiddle/violin. Tiny is playing a 5 string electric mandolin, which (I'm fairly certain) was tuned CGDAE like many 5 string fiddles. Two biggest differences from a standard mando is being electric, and only single string. Other than that, the tuning, fingerings, play style are all consistent with how people would play mandolin. It's very much a mandolin, a guitarist wouldn't be able to play it.

[@Ladymech62]

I miss his western store. Did you have a chance to go to the rodeos too? Johnnie Lee's son is a good musician too. Can't live in Tulsa and not soak up this music into your soul . . . and I'm a life long Tulsan ! Long live Western Swing !!

[@saucerblock]

yes, the great Tiny Moore on Mandolin, that is correct, thank u.......3/4 size guitar? LOL.....

[@budw84]

i didn't know merle played the fiddle

[@saucerblock]

@tperkin52 me too-tell him I say hay-

[@CriticalListener]

What year was this special made?

[@heyyou1140]

who caught the typo in the text that scrolls at the start? I wonder if MerlE caught it....

[@darylpetton7899]

are you talkin bout george petton?

[@theicedman]

is that guy just playing a 3/4 size guitar

[@OW3NS93]

Who's on trumpet and saxophone?

[@saucerblock]

@MelvinWren totally! but it's not like Bob Wills didnt get it from someone else too. Point is, charlie daniels sure didnt come up with it, nothing is original.