HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Ernest Tubb

Originally a folk musician, Ernest Tubb, aka the Texas Troubadour, was an early honky-tonk musician. Born on a farm near Crisp, Texas, on 9 February 1914, his numerous compositions include 'I'll Get Along Somehow' issued in 1940, 'It's Been So Long, Darling' in 1945 and 'I'm Free at Last' in 1950. Liking Jimmie Rodgers as a youth, Tubb taught himself to yodel and play guitar until at age 19 he landed a singing spot at radio KONO AM in San Antonio [Wikipedia]. Tubb first recorded as a result of visiting Jimmie Rodgers' widow, Carrie, for an autographed photo. (Jimmie had died of tuberculosis on May 23 of 1933, at but age 35.) A friendship developed and Carrie helped Tubb acquire a contract with RCA, handling Bluebird now. Per Tony Russell's 'Country Music Records' Tubb backed Carrie in San Antonio on October 26 of 1936 to record a tribute to Jimmie titled 'We Miss Him When the Evening Shadows Fall' (Bluebird 6698). Tubb and Merwyn Buffington would back Carrie on guitars later in March of 1937 for 'My Rainbow Trail Keeps Winding On' (Bluebird 7339). Meanwhile, the day after Tubb's first session with Carrie on October 26 he laid out a couple more tributes to Jimmie with other solo titles: 'The Passing of Jimmie Rodgers' / 'The Last Thoughts of Jimmie Rodgers' (Bluebird 6693). Tubb will play guitar and sing vocals on nigh all recordings on this page.

'The Passing of Jimmie Rodgers' by Ernest Tubb

27 Oct 1936 in San Antonio Matrix BS-02952-1 Bluebird B-6693

Composition: Carrie Rodgers

Tubb recorded a couple more tracks with Buffington on March 2 of 1937 ('The T B Is Whipping Me' / 'Since That Black Cat Crossed My Path' Bluebird 7000) before switching to Decca in 1940 in Houston for songs with Jimmie Short on guitar like 'Blue Eyed Elaine' / 'I'll Get Along Somehow' (5825). Tubb kept plugging at Decca for the next few years, in the meanwhile joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, forming his band, the Texas Troubadours, that year.

'Blue-Eyed Elaine' by Ernest Tubb

4 April 1940 in Houston Matrix C 92006-A Decca 5825

Lead guitar: Jimmie Short

Composition: Ernest Tubb

Decca's patience began paying off with Tubb's issue of 'Walking the Floor Over You' exceeding 400,000 copies in 1941 (#23 on the Folk Juke Box). Decca, though, would wait yet a couple more years to enjoy Tubb's rise to #2 on Billboard's new Country chart in 1944 with 'Try Me One More Time'. Also performing well in 1944 were 'Soldier's Last Letter' at #1 and 'Yesterday's Tears' at #4. Decca had waited a long time for Tubb to eventually arrive to the right formula, and it paid off huge for years thereafter, he continuously issuing Top Forty songs to as late as another version of 'Walking the Floor Over You' in 1979 with Merle Haggard tiering at #31 (#18 Canada). Numerous of Tubb's releases rose to the Top Ten to as late as 'Thanks a Lot' in 1963 at #3.

'Soldier's Last Letter' by Ernest Tubb

13 Jan 1944 at the Decca studio in Hollywood Matrix L 3280/L 50149 Decca 6098

Lead guitar: Jimmie Short Fiddle: Johnny Sapp

Guitar: Leon Short Bass: Butterball Paige

Composition: Ernest Tubb / Redd Stewart

Highlighting Tubb's career in the latter forties were a couple titles put away with the Andrews Sisters on 15 February 1945: 'Don't Rob Another Man's Castle' and 'I'm Biting My Fingernails and Thinking of You'. Later that November he joined Red Foley on several titles including 'Letters Have No Arms' and 'I'll Take a Back Seat For You'. In March and June of 1951 Tubb received backing from the Anita Kerr Singers. It was the Wilburn Brothers in February and November of 1957.

'Hillbilly Fever No.2' by Ernest Tubb w Red Foley (vocal)

23 June 1950 in Nashville Matrix 76536/NA 2148 Decca 9-46255

Lead guitar: Hank Garland Piano: Owen Bradley

Guitar: Jack Shook Bass: Billy Robinson Drums: Farris Coursey

Composition: George Vaughn

'Try Me One More Time' by Ernest Tubb

Television 1956

Composition: Ernest Tubb

'Walking the Floor Over You' by Ernest Tubb

Television 1956

Composition: Ernest Tubb

Highlighting Tubb's career in the fifties was a bit of wild west in 1957 when Tubb mistook the wrong man for producer, Jim Denny, at the National Life Building in Nashville and tried to shoot him with a .357 magnum, though missing. He was arrested for public drunkenness instead. Highlighting the sixties was the addition of guitarist, Leon Rhodes, to Tubbs band in 1960, Rhodes putting down his first tracks with Tubbs in Nashville on September 21 for titles to see release in 1960 on 'All Time Greatest Hits (Decca DL-74046). Tubb held on to Rhodes to as late as August 11, 1966, in Nashville for tracks with Loretta Lynn to issue on 'Singin' Again' (Decca DL-74872). Rhodes went on to a career with the Grand Ole Opry for above three decades, eventually to reunite with Tubb on July 26 of 1982 in Nashville for 'Tomorrow Never Comes'.

'Who Will Buy the Wine?' by Ernest Tubb

6 April 1960 in Nashville Matrix: 109040/NA 11081

See the album 'Ernest Tubb Record Shop' on Decca DL 4042 / 1960

Lead guitar: Buddy Emmons Guitar: Grady Martin

Steel: Bobby Garrett Piano: Howard Johnson

Composition: Billy Mize 1944

'Drivin' Nails in my Coffin' by Ernest Tubb

Television 1961

Lead guitar: Leon Rhode Steel: Buddy Emmons

Composition: Jerry Irby

'Walking the Floor Over You' by Ernest Tubb

Television 1961

Steel: Buddy Emmons

Composition: Ernest Tubb

Tubb was elected into the Country music Hall of Fame in 1965, the same year he began to host his own television program into 1968, 'The Ernest Tubb Show'. In 1970 Tubb was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Praguefrank's sessionography gives him up as of August 5th 1982 with Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. for 'Leave Them Boys Alone'.