The Professional Work of Bill Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers
For true fans of western swing music, Bill Boyd rates with his contemporary, Bob Wills, even though the two utilized very different styles; whereas Wills & His Playboys often used horns and recorded songs from a variety of genres, Boyd remained true to his western roots, using only a string band, the Cowboy Ramblers.
Bill Boyd was born on September 29, 1910, near Ladonia, Texas, USA. After purchasing a guitar through a mail-order catalog, Bill and his younger brother Jim, were performing country music on radio station KFPM in Greenville as early as 1926. The Boyd family moved in 1929 to Dallas, where Boyd played in a band that included fiddler Art Davis. By this time, Boyd decided to persue a career in music, first joining a band on WFAA and then he moved to WRR and formed the pioneering western swing band The Cowboy Ramblers (1932). That same year, Boyd recorded with the "Blue yodeler" Jimmie Rodgers.
Although Bill and Jim Boyd (bass player) were the mainstays, the Cowboy Ramblers had a number of important sidemen pass through their ranks, such as Art Davis (fiddle), Walter Kirkes (tenor banjo), Jesse Ashlock, Cecil Brower and Knocky Parker. A younger Boyd brother, John, also played steel guitar on later recordings.
They soon found regular radio work on station WRR and in 1934 were signed to Victor's budget label, Bluebird, cutting hits including the standard Under the Double Eagle (1945) and Going Back to My Texas Home (No. 1945). The band continued to record for Bluebird until 1951, during which time they recorded more than 229 singles. Though they moved toward the performance of jazz and swing music, the Cowboy Ramblers basically remained a string band, not using brass instruments like many bands of that era. In the late '30s, their membership increased to ten; among their better-known members were Carroll Hubard (fiddler), Knocky Parker (piano player) andWilson "Lefty" Perkins (steel guitar).
While their recorded output included blues, cowboy songs, novelty tunes, waltzes and fiddle tunes were their staples. The Cowboy Ramblers were influential recording musicians, with songs that remained country standards long after being recorded. Under the Double Eagle (1935) and Lone Star Rag (1949), for instance, were among the most popular instrumentals in all of country music. They only charted two singles, Shame on You (No. 4, 1945) and New Steel Guitar Rag (No. 5, 1946). Unlike many bands, the Cowboy Ramblers didn't spend much time touring. With most of their performances coming in the recording studio and on radio stations, they were basically a recording band. Their members, however, often played with other groups.
Boyd effectively retired from the music business in the early 1950s, and began a second career as a radio DJ atDallas' WRR. Upon his posthumous induction into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, Bill was introduced into theTexaslegislature to honor Boyd and his contributions to the state's cultural identity. Bill suffered a stroke in 1973 and died inDallason December 7, 1977. Bill Boyd has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
