Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys with Tommy Duncan and the McKinney Sisters - New San Antonio Rose

This is an improved version of the movie clip. I love the shot of KFWB at the beginning. This was filmed in 1944 and features a hybrid version of the two hit versions. This has fiddle and steel, and multi-million selling record had neither. Tommy Duncan once told me that, "The biggest selling record we ever had didn't have a lick of fiddle." But Bob recorded it multiple times on film, audio and video.
Tommy did many versions on various labels as well.

He must have realized when it came time to play it at apperances that it left him with nothing to do except smile and say ah-ha. His first hit was San Antonio Rose in 1939 an instrumental fiddle reworking of Spanish Two Step, which Bob had written. When he added horns and formed the big band to go with the string band, he recorded the "New" San Antonio Rose in 1940. He got it right on Worried Mind in 1941 he added steel to the arrangement. World War 2 broke up the big band, Tommy joined the Army, Bob got drafted, no recordings by anyone in 1943...musicians strike. Shortgage of shellac to press 78s.
New San Antonio Rose was #11 in 1940 and was reissued in 1943 and went to number 19. Bing Crosby also recorded it.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Western
• Swing
• Tommy
• Duncan
• Les
• Anderson

[radiobob805]

Bob Wills was one of the founding members of the Light Crust Doughboys, who did a radio show for a flour company. When he quit that group, he eventually wound up in Tulsa, Okla at KVOO. He called the new group the Texas Playboys. Remember, you never know what you don't know.

[radiobob805]

Yes, Tommy did die young, but not real young. Bob outlived him. There's no way Bob was gay. He was ladie'sman (young ladies) who cheated on his wives and was insanely jealous of them. He was a binge drinker, but he did not allow booze in his house.

[enochpowell3]

SPADE COOLEY was voted the King of Western Swing ( twice) beating Bob Wills. Goes to show that just b/c people vote doesnt make it so!

[radiobob805]

Spade was voted the King of Western Swing by a local club, call the Boots and Saddle Club. It was their members who voted for Spade. However, at the time Spade had a really good band with two basses and a harp. Later he had an all girl ochestra. Spade's record never sold like Bob's.

[looselatigo]

I've heard Bing Crosby recorded a limited edition of this song with Wills as a fund raiser during WWII. Anything to that?

[radiobob805]

That's true, and the disc was one of a kind that has never turned up.

[familyguybro78]

oh man.....how annoying it would be to have will crowing and cawing in your ear all night while you are trying to sing!! This dude is a character.

[Yehudi]

Now I know where my old man, born in 1924, got all those crazy tunes he used to sing and whistle while doing hard work! Bob Wills was popular far beyond Texas and still raises goose bumps when I hear those old tunes again. Thanks for posting this video!

[barbergreg]

@jcrafts55 that would have been my Aunt Deane. she and her sister Evelyn were with Bob for 4 or 5 years I think. That's where she met and married my Uncle Tiny Moore. He was with Bob's band and then went on to play with Mearle Haggard for something like 10 or 12 years.. Cool footage. I've never seen it before.

[jazz10boy]

Mickey Mouse!

[FreqBand]

Look at that tripple-threat-fret slide !!

[lorajodavis]

@ldrigg71 Amazon has a great CD remastered in Germany that has a San Antonio Rose version I love. Album name is Beneath a Neon Star in A Honky Tonk.

[lorajodavis]

Not only was Tommy Duncan a wonderful singer, he was a beautiful soul. He played often at my parent's Southern Club in Lawton, Oklahoma in the 50s and stayed in our home. I was instantly aware that he was a really special kind and caring guy. He played with our house band the Southernairs and my folks opened a booking agency with him. If you heard him with the Southernairs,.Bob Wommack, Glenn Rhees, Tommy Allsup,Kilroy,Bob White you'd never say he needed Bob Wills.

[5thcorps]

@1fentanyl Amen from Glynn Duncan's adopted Grandson, Uncle Tommy was the best

[rlpittsjr]

What a romantic vision and sound of Texas music!

[nomoskovite]

That's exactly the way I remember it. Tommy's band wasn't much without Bob and like you say The Texas Playboys were never as good after Tommy left. Together, they made wonderful music.

[jcrafts55]

@familyguybro78 I think it would have been hard not to laugh! :)  Tommy Duncan was probably used to it, but I think the McKinney sisters are supressing a laugh in this clip.