The Light Crust Doughboys Are on the Air: Celebrating Seventy Years of Texas Music (Evelyn Oppenheimer Series, 2)

This is the story of the Light Crust Doughboys phenomenon, from their debut broadcast in 1930 to their contemporary live performances. Included is a bonus CD containing 72 minutes of Doughboys music, from early studio recordings to contemporary tunes. Millions of Texans and Southwesterners have been touched over the years by the Light Crust Doughboys. From 1930 to 1952, fans faithfully tuned in to their early-morning and, later, noontime radio program, and turned out in droves to hear them play live. The Doughboys embodied the very essence of the golden era of radiolive performances and the dominance of programming by advertising agencies. Their radio program began as a way to sell Light Crust Flour. Their early impresario, W. Lee Pappy ODaniel, quickly learned how to exploit the power of radio to influence voters, and he put that lesson to good use to become a two-time Texas governor and the model for Pappy ODaniel in the movie, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? But the group was more than a way to push flour; the talented musicians associated with them included Bob Wills and Milton Brown, each of whom receive credit for founding western swing. With the demise of their regular radio program, the Light Crust Doughboys had to remake themselves. Trailblazers in western swing, the Doughboys explored many other musical genres, including gospel, for which they were nominated for Grammys in 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2002. They continue to play together with versatility and wide-ranging talentofficial music ambassadors of the Lone Star State as declared by the state legislature in 1995. Their legendary banjo player, Smokey Montgomery, was with the group for sixty-six years before his death in 2001. For the first time, here is the story of the Doughboys phenomenon, from their debut broadcast to their contemporary live performances. This is a rich slice of Texas musical and broadcasting history. Included inside is a bonus CD containing seventy-two minutes of Doughboys music, from early studio recordings to contemporary tunes. CD contains: (The Golden Age) The Light Crust Doughboys' Theme -- Swanee River stomp (M. Montgomery) -- Jean from Abilene (M. Montgomery) -- Hot pretzels (M. Montgomery) -- I'm taking care of mother (While daddy's gone away) (M. Montgomery) -- Cowtown polka (M. Montgomery) -- Lasso a girl from El Paso (M. Montgomery) -- Ring that banjo (arr. M. Montgomery) -- Jingle bells (arr. M. Montgomery) -- Bonnie (arr. M. Montgomery) -- Dark eyes dance (M. Montgomery) -- The Light Crust Doughboys' Theme (Reprise). (The Silver Age) The yellow rose of Texas -- Last night waltz (arr. J. Strawn-M. Montgomery) -- Looking through a stained glass darkly (with The Jordanaires) (A. Greenhaw) -- Spaghetti rag (arr. B. Simmons) -- God bless Amarillo (A. Greenhaw) -- I am a Pilgrim (with James Blackwood) -- 12th Street rag (arr. B. Simmons) -- A closer walk (with Bob Krenkel and The Jordanaires) -- In the garden -- Texas women (with the SMU Mustang Band) (A. Greenhaw) -- Sending me with you (with The Jordanaires) (A. Greenhaw) -- Amarillo, where the wind blows free (B. Cohen-M. Montgomery) -- Listen to the mockingbird (arr. J. Walden) -- Red River Valley -- Hear dem bells (arr. M. Montgomery) -- Life's railway to heaven (with James Blackwood and the East Gate Mass Choir) -- He's got the whole world in His hands (with The Jordanaires (arr. A. Greehnaw-M. Montgomery) -- The Light Crust Doughboys Theme (arr. M. Montgomery-A. Greenhaw)

Millions of Texans and Southwesterners have been touched over the years by the Light Crust Doughboys. From 1930 to 1952, fans faithfully tuned in to their early-morning and, later, noontime radio program, and turned out in droves to hear them play live. The Doughboys embodied the very essence of the "golden era" of radio - live performances and the dominance of programming by advertising agencies. Their radio program began as a way to sell Light Crust Flour. Their early impresario, W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, quickly learned how to exploit the power of radio to influence voters, and he put that lesson to good use to become a two-time Texas governor and the model for Pappy O'Daniel in the movie, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? But the group was more than a way to push flour; the talented musicians associated with them included Bob Wills and Milton Brown, each of whom receive credit for founding western swing.

Dallas Morning News - Rock Koster, Rock

As valuable to the casual fan as to any student of Texana.

The Light Crust Doughboys Are on the Air......Page 2 Contents......Page 4 Foreword......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 1 “The best show group I’ve ever had” “The best show group I’ve ever had”......Page 12 2 “The Light Crust Doughboys are on the “The Light Crust Doughboys are on the air!”......Page 28 3 “If you take Marvin, I’ll break up the “If you take Marvin, I’ll break up the band!”......Page 80 4 “Seems to me I heard a piano “Seems to me I heard a piano player”......Page 120 photo gallery......Page 165 5 “I’m going back to work for the “I’m going back to work for the Doughboys”......Page 181 6 “I’ll die with them, if they’ll keep me that long.” “I’ll die with them, if they’ll keep me that long.”......Page 215 Postscript......Page 248 Appendix 1 Light Crust Doughboys Recording Sessions 1936–1948......Page 252 Appendix 2 Light Crust Doughboys Discography, 1969–present......Page 288 References......Page 298 Index......Page 306 "Millions of Texans and Southwesterners have been touched over the years by the Light Crust Doughboys. From 1930 to 1952, fans faithfully tuned in to their early-morning and, later, noontime radio program, and turned out in droves to hear them play live. The Doughboys embodied the very essence of the "golden era" of radio - live performances and the dominance of programming by advertising agencies. Their radio program began as a way to sell Light Crust Flour. Their early impresario, W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, quickly learned how to exploit the power of radio to influence voters, and he put that lesson to good use to become a two-time Texas governor and the model for Pappy O'Daniel in the movie, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? But the group was more than a way to push flour; the talented musicians associated with them included Bob Wills and Milton Brown, each of whom receive credit for founding western swing."--BOOK JACKET. When the tale of the Light Crust Doughboys began, Herbert Hoover was president.