Spade Cooley - King of Western Swing - not really

[travhank1]

Cooley's music was like that of the then-current big band orchestras, and its sound was drawn from those dance-oriented hot bands like Bob Wills and Milton Brown. In contrast to Bob Wills' work, the performances and arrangements of Cooley's orchestra were more big-band Swing than improvised Western.

[TheCrimsonsGhosts]

Spade was the King of Western Swing.

[Avaalonn]

although this is good, Bob Wills is the undisputed king of western swing. John England is an incredible modern artist.

[Basfdlr]

Spade Cooley is reported as being the first one who used the title of "King of Western Swing." He certainly had one of the biggest most diverse bands in the business. From the harp to the Jew's harp (Oh Oh PC!!!! MOUTH harp) piano accordion, fiddle and guitar, drums... he had 'em all. His band was so big that finances ultimately brought him down. Several band leaders called themselves or were called "The King of Western Swing" but Spade was the first who billed himself that way.

[videooman1]

I remember Spade Cooley from local SoCal television in the 50's. I also remember my mother had lots of old 78's of Bob Wills. So it was really Bob Wills music that I remember more. I really don't know enough about Spade Cooley to make a fair comparison. But I always loved Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. So in my heart he will always be number one.

And I don't remember Spade Cooley using any of the "Ah Haws"

[videooman1]

I remember Spade Cooley from local SoCal television in the 50's. I also remember my mother had lots of old 78's of Bob Wills. So it was really Bob Wills music that I remember more. I really don't know enough about Spade Cooley to make a fair comparison. But I always loved Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. So in my heart he will always be number one.

[westurnswang]

Joaquin Murphy burns it up on these numbers, but anyone know who the lead guitar guy is? He appears on quite a few of these soundies picking some nice breaks and back ups on what looks like an epi...and also, get a load of those blondes at 5:58: va-va-voom!

[whitt702]

I got to give the edge to Spade Cooley. He had three violinists in perfect harmony, and Ieven heard a harp in an album "Fiddodlin" His steel man Joaquin Murphy, did the first, and my favorite version of Steel Guitar Rag. Back in the early 40', it was the 8 pm theme song for WCKY in Cincinatti. 60 years later I found it on a CD. He had Tex Williams, Carolina Cotton, and once on a record I thought I heard Merle Travis.

[dgtxdutch]

Spade's music had it's merits. He hired top musicians and then there was Tex Williams who eventually left with most of the musicians. BUT BOB WILLS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE UNDISPUTED KING OF WESTERN SWING!

[mrpharmacist29]

@dgtxdutch

Also Wills didn't murder his wife which is points in my book

[BigBingFan]

@dgtxdutch

Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies was the Father of Western Swing. Bob Wills was the King of Western Swing. Spade Cooley was probably the Best of Western Swing, based on his musicanship, best vocalist (Tex Williams), and didn't talk and "Ya-hoo!" constantly like Bob Wills did during Tommy Duncan's singing--(That grates on the nerves!)........I LOVE Bob Wills though, so don't take it wrong.

[dgtxdutch]

@BigBingFan Ya-hoo? I don't figure you are from Texas. In the 30's, Bob, Tommy , the Texas Playboys and Milton "built the road" that Spade and his crew traveled on with pleasure some years later. Texas Williams did some fine vocals in his time.

[BigBingFan]

@dgtxdutch

I most certanily AM from Texas. I love Bob Wills, but I have most of everything that Milton Brown ever did, and all the documentation called Milton, "Father of Western Swing," and called Bob Wills, "Father of Western Swing." I"m getting into no fights here, just relaying what many documentaries said, and what logic tells me: Spade Cooley was equal if not a better musician, had a better vocalist, and didn't yelp "Ya-Hoo" while his vocalist was singing--YIKES! Bob was great, yes.

[BigBingFan]

@dgtxdutch

OOOPS! Should have said that Milton's biographer and other experts in the industry, called Milton the "Father of Western Swing" and Bob Wills "King of Western Swing."

I mistakenly said Bob was also "Father" in my comments. So, with that correction, I'll just listen to posts and cease commenting.....but, let me tell you, I am MOST ASSUREDELY a Texan. Lifelong-deep-rooted-and Fort Worth bred. End of story.

[dgtxdutch]

@BigBingFan FRIEND, We ain't fightin' here, just discussing what we both love, that being Western Swing Music! Personally, I always figured Emmett Miller never got the credit for his contributions to the music. And then there was Bessie Smith. That is what makes W/S so unique. You keep looking-you keep finding. Have a good one today!

[BigBingFan]

@dgtxdutch

Being a dyed-in-the-wool, authentic Texan (Fort Worth) I hope I can speak from some stature on this...but, I wanted to know if you had heard of Cliff Bruner and His Texas Wanderers? Down in the Texas Hill Country, there are lots of German settlements & communities, and Cliff Bruner merged the Ooom-pah-pah of German accordian-type music with Western Swing. Very interesting sound. Just a thought if you hadn't heard of them.

[dgtxdutch]

@BigBingFan the last time we saw Cliff, he was on stage with Floyd Tillman down at La Grange about 10-15 years ago. Adolph Hofner and brother Bash did a lot for that "sound" you speak of as well.

[travhank1]

@BigBingFan It only grates on the nerves of folks that are not from Texas or Oklahoma, lol. My grandma used to say "there he goes agin' with that ahhh", "he's makin' it hard for Tommy Duncan to sing", lol. Tommy Duncan musta never noticed, neither did I.

[AuH2O]

One thing though - who's the vocalist singing The Trouble With Me between 5:26-6:35? Not bad.

[AuH2O]

Tex Williams of course.

[AuH2O]

I guess Cooley's music had its merits, but I agree that he didn't come close to Bob Wills. Also, on a personal level, Cooley wasn't even fit to shine Wills' shoes. He got what was coming to him in the end though; only shame is it took too long.