Houston Hometown Jamboree

In 1954 a new barn dance type show hit the radio airwaves in a big way as things are usually done in Texas. The Houston Hometown Jamboree came on the scene over KNUZ in Houston, Texas. It was held every Saturday night, from the City Auditorium. The show was also broadcast over television on KNUZ-TV.

KNUZ-TV signed on at 7pm on Thursday October 23, 1953, after months of frustrating delays. It was Houston’s 4th TV station and the first in the UHF band, operating on channel 39 with an estimated radiated power of 20,000 watts which they later increased to 100,000.

A couple of the emcees for the Houston Hometown Jamboree were Paul Hunter, then a DJ at KRCT in Baytown, Texas and eventual country music DJ pioneer, show promoter and DJ Hall of Famer, Biff Collie (11/25/1926 - 2/19/1992).

Pictured left Floyd Tillman

Biff Collie was a DJ on KNUZ at the time and also provided some comedy routines. Collie was one of the first hires on KNUZ-AM in 1948, coming to town to be a sports reporter but later becoming the station's very popular morning man.

The featured star of the show was a fellow by the named of Arlie Duff. He had a big hit recording of Y'All Come on Starday Records back then and everyone thought he'd be one of the next big stars.

The song became the theme song of the Houston Hometown Jamboree and the audience loved to join in the singing of the chorus. Duff was making a name for himself in the south, in states like Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. He was said to have a big smile and a voice to match.

Pictured right Biff Collie

Some of the big names to appear on the Houston Hometown Jamboree included George Jones, Hank Locklin, Link Davis and Tommy Collins. Another part of the show was a portion devoted to amateur talent.

Listeners were invited to contact the show through either Pete Hunter or through Mr. and Mrs. Jack Starnes, who organized and managed this portion of the show.

As part of the deal, they offered a recording contract to anyone winning six times in a row.

Jack Starnes (Lefty Frizzell’s mamaner) started Starday Records in 1953 in Beaumont, Texas along with Houston record distributor Harold W. “Pappy” Daily.

The Starday name is a combination of Starnes' and Daily's last names.

Pictured left george Jones

The following is a partial list of performers who appeared on the Houston Hometown Jamboree. 

• Carroll Campbell Family Quartet
• Cliff Bruner
• Dixie Drifters
• Floyd Tillman
• George Jones
• Hank Locklin
• Lefty Frizzell
• Link Davis
• Sonny Burns
• Tommy Collins
• Western Cherokees

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, May 10, 2010.