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Bob Wills - King of
Western Swing
Lubbock, TX– The
Buddy Holly Center invites patrons to share in the
melody with Bob Wills: King of Western Swing.
This exhibit of photographs from Bob Wills’
early career as a musician,
which have been on display in the Texas Musician
Hall of Fame since February of 2006, will conclude
with a Closing Reception on February
2, 2007 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Charles R.
Townsend, author of San Antonio Rose: The Life
and Music of Bob Wills, will be at the reception
for a book signing on February 2nd from
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Closing Reception
will coincide with the February First Friday Art
Trail on February 2, 2007 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Refreshments and a cash bar will be provided to the
public.
The
closing reception will feature live music with Joe
Gillis & Debbie Rule, and a talent showcase of the
Buddy Holly Center guitar classes. Originally from
England, Joe Gillis moved to the South Plains in
2000 and has been performing with Debbie Rule, as
vocalist, at various local venues throughout the Hub
City and Surrounding area. The two have performed at
the “Air Sho’ ’06” in Midland and “The Apple
Orchard” in Idalou.
Bob Wills’ musical
innovation of combining jazz, swing, country and
blues created what is now called Western Swing. He
has influenced well known performers including Buck
Owens, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and bands such
as Asleep at the Wheel. He performed for over 40
years, until a stroke paralyzed his left side in
1969.
Wills
performed and recorded over 550 records throughout
his forty-four year career. He recorded his last
tracks in 1973 with a final reunion session with
various “Texas Playboys”. Bob Wills was inducted
into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1968 and into
the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
The photographs are
courtesy of Charles R. Townsend from the Southwest
Collections Texas Tech University.
Programming at the Buddy
Holly Center is made possible in part by the
generous support of CH Foundation, Helen Jones
Foundation, Target, City of Lubbock and Supporters
of the Fine Arts (SOFA). For more information about
this exhibit or other events, please contact the
staff at the Buddy Holly Center at 806.775.3560.
Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys
BMI / Michael Ochs Archives / Venice CA
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