PAT ODANIEL & HIS HILLBILLY BOYS-RADIO SHOW # 2.wmv

Please pass the biscuits Pappy!" was a familiar call heard on Texas depression era radio emanating from Ft. Worth. Led by Burrus flour mill sales manager, Wilbert Lee O'Daniel, the Hillbilly Boy's daily (noon?) fifteen minutes of hot licks and happy patter roused citizenry to the point of electing the colorful W. Lee O'Daniel to a term as Governor! In 1941 he successfully beat out Lyndon Johnson for a seat in the Senate.

Fans of the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" might be interested to know that the "Governor Menelaus 'Pappy' O'Daniel" character played by Charles Durning is in fact based upon the real life character W. Lee O'Daniel. Coincidence doesn't stop there. The young blues guitar player's character (Tommy Johnson) is loosely based on famed blues legend Robert Johnson, whose skill with the guitar after journeying a spell in the Mississippi delta area, was so improved that folks said he sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads meeting to get it. Not only that, the only recordings we have from the short life of Robert Johnson were the result of a single recording session on November 23, 1936, "unceremoniously squeezed between W.Lee O'Daniel & His Hillbilly Boys the day before, and Hermanas Baraza con guitarras the day after." Unfortunately, neither Hillbilly Boys nor Robert Johnson recordings are to be found anywhere in the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack.

In 1931, Bob Wills pursuaded Burrus Mill and Elevator Company under the presidentship of W. Lee O'Daniel to sponsor his band in a radio program to advertise the Burrus lightcrust flour. In 1935, after a series of disputes, Wills was fired. O'Daniel then formed his own band "The Hillbilly Boys" and his own flour "Hillbilly Flour". With this band he stomped and successfully won the 1938 gubernatorial race.
UPDATE:




These are presumably from circa 1939. The radio shows they are introduced as "Pat O'Daniel and His Hillbilly Boys", but have the same line-up as W. Lee's musicians on recording sessions.) Exact dates and session numbers are unknown. The whereabouts of the original transcription discs is also unknown. It is rumored these recordings come from a Canadian collector who died after the tape transfers were made so the transcription discs may have been lost for all time. W. Lee does not appear in any of these shows to my knowledge although his son Pat does lead the band. Presumably W. Lee was busy carrying out his duties as governor at this time. A Christmas card from 1936 lists the following personel, some of which are mentioned during these shows: Caesar (fiddle), Patty Boy (Banjo), Horace (Guitar), Klondike (Bass), Happy (Do-Bro), Mickey (Fiddle) Leon (Guitar-Singer).

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• MUSIC
• COUNTRY
• WESTERN
• SWING
• PAT
• O'DANIEL

[bigdogmaniac72]

Just great Love it. Thanks Marcus

[oldtexasmusic]

@bigdogmaniac72 Glad you like it, Annie.

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

Nice video and amusing music from the radio. Grazie Marcus

[oldtexasmusic]

@FAUSTORICCARDO Riccardo, sorry about all those commercials. LOL!!!

[jtls8]

Thank you for the great upload Marcus!!!!

5*****s

[oldtexasmusic]

@jtls8 You are most welcome, my friend.

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

@oldtexasmusic

However, me gusta

[oldtexasmusic]

@misterstewball Glad you found it to be worthy of the 15. LOL!!!

Your Friend,

Marcus

[misterstewball]

Say There

Marcus...

Fifteen minutes of nostalgia,good tunes and fun fun fun are all found in this EXCEPTIONAL offering today. Thanks,Pardner...please pass them thar hillbilly biscuits. Man,that fiddle player really had me goin' to town!

Pax,

Max

[oldtexasmusic]

@BABSINUK As I recall, the program was just too darn short, but when it was convenient, we listened. LOL!!!