ROOTS of Country Music

The Tex Roe Story

Real name John Frederick Robarge

(Sep. 14, 1922 ~ Feb. 25, 2001) Tex Roe's career started in his hometown of Oswego, New York (NY).  In 1941, Tex Roe was serving a stint at Paris Island in the services of Uncle Sam.  There with southern musicians Tex Roe started his first band. This southern association led him to appear with Butterball Page the lead guitarist for Ernest Tubb's band. 

At the Wars end Tex Roe relocated to Cortland, NY where he joined the WKRT Radio Trailblazers. WKRT featured the dean of country music announcers Tex Roe. By 1949, he had his own Syracuse, NY television show Andy's Bar on WHEN TV-8. That show featured Tex's own band the Bar-O-Range Boys a seven piece band with double fiddle.

 The late 1960's found Tex on Wheeling WWVA's Star Maker Radio Program. The show would elevate Tex Roe to a new plateau. He was now a national act appearing with Ernest Tubb on Nashville's WSM Radio.

Tex Roe graced the airwaves from 1947 through 1982. His musical background features appearances with Buck Owens, Ernest Tubb, Boots Randolph, Eddy Arnold and "Little" Jimmy Dickens to name just a few. Tex Roe performed regularly with his own group, The StarMaker Show, on the Ernest Tubb Jamboree radio program and he performed and was close friends with PeeWee King

Tex Roe recorded singles with Glen Campbell and ex-Elvis Presley drummer D.J. Fontana. His single, John The Babptist reached No. 10 on the Billboard Country Charts. Among his other popular recordings include, What Love Have I, Treasure Chest Of Love and Rocketship To The Moon.

Considered to be a pioneer of country music, Tex Roe was inducted into the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame on May 24th,1981. 

This page is sponsored by Cindi Taylor in memory of Tex Roe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Feb. 16, 2012.

Advisor, Contributir Cindi Taylor