Bob Wills

USA, 1929–1973

American bandleader and fiddler (1905–1975), the 'King of Western Swing'. With his Texas Playboys he fused country and old-time fiddle with jazz and big-band swing ('New San Antonio Rose'), creating a danceable hybrid that shaped country music for generations.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Bob Wills and 3 artists Bob Wills influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Bob Wills?

• Bessie Smith — Wills idolised Bessie Smith — he once rode 35 miles on horseback to see her perform — and folded her rowdy 'city blues' into the western-swing sound.
• Jimmie Rodgers — Jimmie Rodgers's blue yodels — country with one foot in the blues — were a direct influence on Wills's blend of hillbilly song and blues.
• Louis Armstrong — The New Orleans jazz of Louis Armstrong was a core ingredient of western swing's 'chili-pot' — the improvised, swinging horn-and-rhythm feel Wills brought to a country string band.

Which artists did Bob Wills influence?

• Willie Nelson — Western swing is the Texas dance music Nelson grew up playing and never left behind.
• Merle Haggard — Western swing is the other half of the Bakersfield sound Haggard made, and he recorded a tribute album with Wills's own Texas Playboys.
• Kay Starr — Starr got her start singing with Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys at fifteen — the western-swing bandstand where she first fused country with jazz and swing.