Bill Boyd
Source: Discogs
Jim Boyd
Source: From the Vaults
Born one of thirteen children on a farm near Ladonia, Texas, on 29 September 1910, guitarist and vocalist, Bill Boyd began his career singing for KFPM Radio in Greenville about 1926 with his younger brother, Jim, born in Fannon County, Texas, four years later on 28 September 1914. This Jim Boyd was the much older cowboy, not the younger Indian. Moving to Dallas in 1929, while Jim was forming the Rhythm Aces as a teenager Bill joined Jimmie Rodgers on the 2nd and 3rd of February, 1932, toward 'Roll Along Kentucky Moon' issued on Victor 23651 and 'Hobo's Meditation' on Victor 23711. Also supporting Rodgers were Dick Bunyard on steel, Red Young on mandolin and Fred Koone on upright bass.
'Roll Along, Kentucky Moon' Bill Boyd (guitar) backing Jimmie Rodgers (vocal)
Boyd's first-known recording to issue
2 Feb 1932 at the Jefferson Hotel in Dallas Matrix BVE-70645all;" class="margin"> Victor 23651 Montgomery Ward M-4219 Bluebird B-5082 (dub)
Steel guitar: Dick Bunyard Mandolin: Red Young Upright bass: Fred Koone
Composition: Bill Halley
'Hobo's Meditation' Bill Boyd (guitar) backing Jimmie Rodgers (vocal)
3 Feb 1932 at the Jefferson Hotel in Dallas Matrix BVE-70646
Victor 23711 Montgomery Ward M-4205 Zonophone 4374
Steel guitar: Dick Bunyard Mandolin: Red Young Upright bass: Fred Koone
Composition: Jimmie Rodgers
Both Bill and Jim performed at WRR Radio in Dallas. Bill formed the western swing band, the Cowboy Ramblers, in 1932 with brother, Jim, on upright, Art Davis (fiddle) and Walter Kirkes (banjo). If to take Jim at his word, he appeared on every Cowboy Ramblers recording. Russell's 'Country Music Records' (CMR) wants them in San Antonio on August 7, 1934, for their debut session yielding such as 'I'm Gonna Hop Off the Train'' / 'The Rambler's Rag' (Bluebird 5740) and 'The Lost Wagon' / 'Way Down in Missouri' (Bluebird 5788).
'I'm Gonna Hop Off That Train' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
The first-known recording of all personnel except Bill
7 Aug 1934 at the Texas Hotel in San Antonio Matrix BS-83822-1
Bluebird B-5740
Guitar: Bill Boyd (vocal) Banjo: Walter Kirkes
Fiddle: Art Davis Upright bass: Jim Boyd (vocal)
Composition: ?
While working at WRR Radio Jim performed with Roy Newman and His Boys, recording with that band from 1934 to 1937. He also performed no later than 1937 with young Kay Starr, not yet a jazz vocalist, while at WRR. In 1938 he joined the Light Crust Doughboys, then the Hillbilly Boys from 1938 to 1942. He formed the Texas Mockingbirds in 1942 in Dallas which became his Men of the West.
'Messin' Around' Jim Boyd (guitar) w Roy Newman and His Boys
30 Sep 1934 in Fort Worth Matrix FW 1140-2 Vocalion 02906
Piano: Newman Banjo: Walter Kirkes
Fiddle: Art Davis / Thurman Neal Upright bass: Ish Erwin
Composition: Newman
'Mama Don't Like No Music Playin' Here' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
27 Jan 1935 at the Texas Hotel in San Antonio Matrix BS-87724-1
Montgomery Ward M-4791
Piano: Slomie Creel Guitar: Bill Boyd (vocal) Banjo: Walter Kirkes
Fiddle: Art Davis Upright bass: Jim Boyd
Composition: Traditional
'Under the Double Eagle' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
27 Jan 1935 at the Texas Hotel in San Antonio Matrix BS-87727-1
Montgomery Ward M-4905
Piano: Slomie Creel Guitar: Bill Boyd Banjo: Walter Kirkes
Fiddle: Art Davis Upright bass: Jim Boyd
Composition: Josef Franz Wagner
'Wah Hoo' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
24 Feb 1936 in San Antonio Matrix BS-99319-1 Montgomery Ward B-6308
Piano: Jack Hinson Steel guitar: Lefty Perkins
Guitar: Bill Boyd Banjo: Walter Kirkes Upright bass: Jim Boyd (vocal)
Composition: Cliff Friend
'New Steel Guitar Rag' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
12 Sep 1937 at the Dallas Athletic Club Matrix BS-014056-1
Montgomery Ward M-7631
Piano: John "Knocky" Parker Steel guitar: Lefty Perkins
Violin: Carroll Hubbard / Kenneth Pitts
Guitar: Bill Boyd / Curly Perrin / Muryal "Zeke" Campbell
Banjo: Marvin Montgomery Upright bass: Jim Boyd
Composition: Leon McAuliffe
'Jig' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
9 April 1938 at the Bluebonnet Hotel in San Antonio Matrix BS-022321-1
Montgomery Ward M-7631
Clarinet: Butch Gibson
Piano: John "Knocky" Parker Steel guitar: Lefty Perkins
Violin: Gail Whitney / Carroll Hubbard / Kenneth Pitts
Guitar: Bill Boyd / Curly Perrin / Muryal "Zeke" Campbell
Banjo: Marvin Montgomery Upright bass: Jim Boyd
Composition: ?
'I Had Someone Else Before I Had You' Jim Boyd w the Light Crust Doughboys
15 June 1939 in Dallas Matrix DAL 834-1 OKeh 05968
Piano: John "Knocky" Parker Steel guitar: John Boyd
Violin: Kenneth Pitts / Cecil Bower
Guitar: Muryal "Zeke" Campbell / Marvin Montgomery (banjo / kazoo)
Guitar / upright bass: Jim Boyd (vocal) / Ramon DeArman
Music: Jack Stanley Lyrics: Harry Harris / Joe Darcey 1924
'Careless' Jim Boyd w the Light Crust Doughboys
24 Nov 1939 in Saginaw TX Matrix 25596-1 Vocalion 05307
Piano: John "Knocky" Parker Violin: Kenneth Pitts / Cecil Bower
Guitar: Jim Boyd (vocal) / Muryal "Zeke" Campbell Banjo: Marvin Montgomery
Upright bass: Ramon DeArman
Composition: Eddy Howard / Dick Jurgens / Lew Quadling
Bill and his longtime fiddler, Art Davis, appeared in several Western films together during the 1940s including 'Raiders of the West' (1942) and 'Texas Man Hunt' (1942). Bill is often confused with the actor, William Boyd, who was also known as Hopalong Cassidy.
'Prairie Pals' Film featuring Bill Boyd and Art Davis (Deputy Marshals)
Starring Lee Powell (Marshal) Directed by Sam Newfield Released 4 Sep 1942
The Boyds made above 225 recordings from 1934 to 1951 with the Cowboy Ramblers, among the best-known of which was likely Spade Cooley's 'Shame on You' in 1945. Jim hooked up with the Light Crust Doughboys again in 1953 and remained with them for the next four decades until his death. Meanwhile Praguefrank's follows the Boyds and their Ramblers to as late as circa June of 1957 possibly in Dallas for 'Lone Star Rag' and 'Rambler's March' (Starday 303).
'Shame on You' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
19 June 1945 in NYC D5-AB-424-1 Victor 20-2069 / Bluebird 33-0530
Composition: Spade Cooley
'Palace in Dallas' Bill Boyd (vocal) and his Cowboy Ramblers
3 Oct 1946 in New Orleans D6-VB-2993-2 Victor 20-2172
Steel guitar: Andy Schroder
Guitar: Jim Boyd / Muryal "Zeke" Campbell (electric) / Dale Woodward
Accordion: Kenneth Pitts Upright bass: Red "Asa" Woodward
Composition: Steve Nelson
'From Here On (It's Up to You)' Jim Boyd & His Men of the West
11 March 1949 in Chicago D9VB-0446 Victor 21-0418 / RCA Victor 48-0418
Steel guitar: Paul Blunt
Guitar: Jim Boyd (vocal) / Marvin Montgomery
Violin: Dave Bohme / Art Davis
Accordion: Kenneth Pitts Upright bass: Charles R. Grean
Composition: Jim Boyd / Kahl Ra-Faun / Ginger Thomas
'I Got Along Without You Before I Met You' Jim Boyd & His Men of the West
7 Feb 1950 in Dallas E0VB-3228 Victor 21-0383 / RCA Victor 48-0383
Steel guitar: Paul Blunt
Guitar: Jim Boyd (vocal) Banjo: Marvin Montgomery
Violin: Art Davis / Kenneth Pitts
Accordion: Kenneth Pitts Upright bass: Dale W. Course
Composition: Jim Boyd / Jimmy Allard
'Mule Boogie' Jim Boyd & His Men of the West
7 Feb 1950 in Dallas E0VB-3229 Victor 21-0301 / RCA Victor 48-0301
Steel guitar: Paul Blunt
Guitar: Jim Boyd (vocal) Banjo: Marvin Montgomery
Violin: Art Davis / Kenneth Pitts
Accordion: Kenneth Pitts Upright bass: Dale W. Course
Music: Bill Boyd Lyrics: Leonard McRight
'Dixieland Boogie' Jim Boyd & His Men of the West
28 May 1950 in Dallas E0VB-4735 Victor 21-0383 / RCA Victor 48-0383
Steel guitar: Paul Blunt
Guitar: Jim Boyd (vocal) / J. B. Brinkley (electric) Banjo: Marvin Montgomery
Violin: Art Davis Upright bass: Dale W. Course
Composition: Rudy Sooter
'Big D' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
C March 1957 in Dallas ? ST-2547 Starday 289
Composition: Bill Boyd / Kenneth Pitts
'Texas Star' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
C March 1957 in Dallas ? ST-2548 Starday 289
Composition: Bill Boyd / Kenneth Pitts
'Lone Star Rag' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
Last-known Cowboy Ramblers session
C June 1957 in Dallas ? ST-2589 Starday 303
Composition: Bill Boyd / Art Davis
'Rambler's March' Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers
Last-known Cowboy Ramblers session
C June 1957 in Dallas ? ST-2590 Starday 303
Composition: Bill Boyd / Kenneth Pitts
Bill and Jim spent their latter years working as radio DJs until Bill died in Dallas on December 7 of 1977, Jim following later in Dallas of lung cancer on 11 March of 1993
.
Sources & References for Bill Boyd:
TSHA Online VF History (notes) WikipediaAssociates Musical:
Art Davis (fiddler / 1913-87):
DAHR (sessions 1934-50)
IMDb (films)
Praguefrank's (sessions 1934-50)
Compositions: Music Brains Second Hand Songs
Discographies:
45 Cat (Cowboy Ramblers)
45 Worlds (Cowboy Ramblers)
Discogs (Bill Boyd)
Discogs (Cowboy Ramblers)
Rocky 52 (Cowboy Ramblers)
RYM (Cowboy Ramblers)
Bill Boyd in Film: IMDb
Sessionographies:
Steven Abrams (Montgomery Ward series 7500-8000 / 1937-38)
DAHR (1932-51)
Praguefrank's (Bill Boyd / 1934-57)
Praguefrank's (Jimmie Rodgers / 1927-55 / Bill: 1932)
Tony Russell's Country Music Records (1921-1942 / Oxford University Press / 2004)
Other Profiles: Birthplace of Western Swing
Sources & References for Jim Boyd:
Discographies:
Discogs (Jim Boyd)
Discogs (Jim Boyd and His Men of The West)
Sessionographies:
DAHR (Jim Boyd / 1934-51)
Praguefrank's (Jim Boyd / 1934-59)
Praguefrank's (Light Crust Doughboys / 1932-85 / Jim: 1938-39)
Praguefrank's (Roy Newman and His Boys / 1934-39 / Jim: 1934-37)
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