Boyd was born and raised on a farm near Ladonia in Fannin County, Texas as one of thirteen children. His parents, Lemuel and Molly Jared Boyd, who originally hailed from Tennessee, came to Texas in 1902. During the Great Depression, the family moved to Dallas. Bill and his brother Jim (born 1914) tried to survive the hard times by working different odd jobs. Bill joined the Alexanders Daybreakers trio performing at early-morning radio shows.[1] Together with Jim, he appeared on radio in Greenville, Texas[2] and at WRR in Dallas[3] Meanwhile, Jim formed the "Rhythm Aces."[4] In February 1932, Boyd recorded with the "Blue yodeler" Jimmie Rodgers.[5] The same year, he formed the pioneering western swing band "The Cowboy Ramblers". His band consisted of himself on guitar, Jim Boyd on bass, Walter Kirkes on tenor banjo and Art Davis on fiddle.[6] During the band's history, many of the members also worked simultaneously with the Light Crust Doughboys and Roy Newman's Boys. The Cowboys Ramblers made more than 225 recordings between 1934 and 1951.[3] The band had their own popular radio show, "The Bill Boyd Ranch House."[6] They made their recording debut for Bluebird Records on August 7, 1934.[7] In 1935, the Cowboy Ramblers had a huge hit with their recording of "Under the Double Eagle," which later became a western swing standard[6] and remained in print for twenty-five years. Other classics of the 1930s include "Wah Hoo", "Beaumont Rag", "Fan It", "New Steel Guitar Rag", and "I've Got Those Oklahoma Blues".[1]
The Cowboy Ramblers became major stars on radio and were offered work in Hollywood films and Boyd eventually appeared in six Western films during the 1940s. One of his other hits was "If You'll Come Back", No. 4, Jan. 1941.
After the outbreak of World War II, Boyd joined "The Western Minute Men" promoting the sale of war bonds. During the 1940s, Jim Boyd often led the Cowboy Ramblers when his brother was indisposed. Eventually, Jim formed his own band, the 'Men of the West'. In the 1950s, the brothers terminated their radio show and became DJs.[6] In the early 1970s, Bill Boyd retired from the music business.[8] His brother Jim Boyd died in 1993.[6]
For his contribution to radio, Bill 'Cowboy Rambler' Boyd has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6101 Hollywood Blvd.
Discographyedit
Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers (Bluebird AXM2-5503, 1975) [2LP]
Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers (1934–1947) (Texas Rose TXR-2701, 1982)
The Master of Cowboy Swing (Bronco Buster CD-9002, 1995)
The Eyes of Texas (Cattle CCD-205, 1998)
The Golden Age of Bill Boyd (Cattle CCD-229, 2000)
Swing with Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers (Cattle CCD-234, 2000)
Saturday Night Rag 1934–1936 (Volume 1) (Acrobat ACRCD-132, 2003)
Lone Star Rag 1937–1949 (Volume 2) (Acrobat ACRCD-145, 2004)
bill, boyd, musician, william, lemuel, boyd, september, 1910, december, 1977, american, western, style, singer, guitarist, bill, boydbackground, informationbirth, namewilliam, lemuel, boydalso, known, asbill, cowboy, rambler, boydborn, 1910, september, 1910fan. William Lemuel Boyd September 29 1910 December 7 1977 was an American Western style singer and guitarist Bill BoydBackground informationBirth nameWilliam Lemuel BoydAlso known asBill Cowboy Rambler BoydBorn 1910 09 29 September 29 1910Fannin County Texas United StatesDiedDecember 7 1977 1977 12 07 aged 67 Dallas Texas United StatesGenresWestern SwingOccupation s Singer songwriter musicianInstrument s GuitarLabelsRCA Victor Bluebird Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography editBoyd was born and raised on a farm near Ladonia in Fannin County Texas as one of thirteen children His parents Lemuel and Molly Jared Boyd who originally hailed from Tennessee came to Texas in 1902 During the Great Depression the family moved to Dallas Bill and his brother Jim born 1914 tried to survive the hard times by working different odd jobs Bill joined the Alexanders Daybreakers trio performing at early morning radio shows 1 Together with Jim he appeared on radio in Greenville Texas 2 and at WRR in Dallas 3 Meanwhile Jim formed the Rhythm Aces 4 In February 1932 Boyd recorded with the Blue yodeler Jimmie Rodgers 5 The same year he formed the pioneering western swing band The Cowboy Ramblers His band consisted of himself on guitar Jim Boyd on bass Walter Kirkes on tenor banjo and Art Davis on fiddle 6 During the band s history many of the members also worked simultaneously with the Light Crust Doughboys and Roy Newman s Boys The Cowboys Ramblers made more than 225 recordings between 1934 and 1951 3 The band had their own popular radio show The Bill Boyd Ranch House 6 They made their recording debut for Bluebird Records on August 7 1934 7 In 1935 the Cowboy Ramblers had a huge hit with their recording of Under the Double Eagle which later became a western swing standard 6 and remained in print for twenty five years Other classics of the 1930s include Wah Hoo Beaumont Rag Fan It New Steel Guitar Rag and I ve Got Those Oklahoma Blues 1 The Cowboy Ramblers became major stars on radio and were offered work in Hollywood films and Boyd eventually appeared in six Western films during the 1940s One of his other hits was If You ll Come Back No 4 Jan 1941 After the outbreak of World War II Boyd joined The Western Minute Men promoting the sale of war bonds During the 1940s Jim Boyd often led the Cowboy Ramblers when his brother was indisposed Eventually Jim formed his own band the Men of the West In the 1950s the brothers terminated their radio show and became DJs 6 In the early 1970s Bill Boyd retired from the music business 8 His brother Jim Boyd died in 1993 6 For his contribution to radio Bill Cowboy Rambler Boyd has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6101 Hollywood Blvd Discography editBill Boyd s Cowboy Ramblers Bluebird AXM2 5503 1975 2LP Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers 1934 1947 Texas Rose TXR 2701 1982 The Master of Cowboy Swing Bronco Buster CD 9002 1995 The Eyes of Texas Cattle CCD 205 1998 The Golden Age of Bill Boyd Cattle CCD 229 2000 Swing with Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers Cattle CCD 234 2000 Saturday Night Rag 1934 1936 Volume 1 Acrobat ACRCD 132 2003 Lone Star Rag 1937 1949 Volume 2 Acrobat ACRCD 145 2004 Notes edit a b Carlin 2003 p 36 Malone 2002 p 168 a b Tribe 2006 p 209 Boyd 1998 p 172 Rounder CD 1061 booklet a b c d e Wolff Duane 2000 p 75 Russell Pinson 2004 p 121 Carlin 2003 p 37 References editBoyd Jean Ann 1998 The Jazz of the Southwest An Oral History of Western Swing University of Texas Press Carlin Richard 2003 Country Music A Biographical Dictionary Taylor amp Francis Malone Bill C 2002 Country Music U S A University of Texas Press Russell Tony Pinson Bob 2004 Country Music Records A Discography 1921 1942 Oxford University Press US Tribe Ivan M 2006 Country A Regional Exploration Greenwood Publishing Group Wolff Kurt Duane Orla 2000 Country Music The Rough Guide Rough GuidesExternal links editThe Frontier Marshalls series of movies in which Bill Boyd was an actor Biography at the Handbook of Texas Online Bill Boyd recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Boyd musician amp oldid 1177517013, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
