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BOOK REVIEW & DISCUSSION: Ain't Got No Cigarettes: Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller By Lyle E Style "It's an endless story about Roger. He was one of the cleverest people I've ever met in my life." (Waylon Jennings) This is my own review of Ain't Got No Cigarettes, the first Roger Miller book ever published. My review is based on reading the book (twice) and having several discussions with Lyle E Style, the author. He may stop by later to answer questions (as his schedule allows). This one is a must-read, folks. And for you radio personalities who...

May 13, 1975: Fiddler Bob Wills dies http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/daybyday/05-13-002.html On this day in 1975, Texas swing musician James Robert (Bob) Wills died. He was born in 1905, near Kosse, Limestone County, Texas. In 1913 his family moved to Hall County, where Wills learned to play the fiddle; in 1915 he played at his first dance. He played for ranch dances in West Texas for the next fourteen years, and his life and career were greatly influenced by that environment. During that time he brought together two streams of American folk music to produce western swing. He had learned frontier fiddle music...

Fans flock to Turkey to get in swing of things BY JIM CRAWFORD MORRIS NEWS SERVICE Bob Wills is still the king, at least he is in Turkey at this time of year. The 35th annual Bob Wills Day celebration took place this weekend and Western swing fans from near and far were on hand to mingle with old friends, listen to some great fiddlin' and hear the remaining members of Wills' Texas Playboys perform. And perform they did. The nine-member band rocked out Saturday afternoon to old Playboy standards and tunes made famous when the band members were decades...

Okay, okay... I know this is late for The Birthday, but I just received it.  I checked snopes and they don't seem to have it yet.  The e-mail came from a woman whose brother went to high school with Bum at French High School (Beaumont, Tx), so I'm thinking he really wrote it.  It sure sounds like him, anyway.  Does anyone know him personally so we can verify? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TEXAS -- FROM BUM PHILLIPS  Being Texan by Bum PhillipsDear Friends,   Last year, I wrote a small piece about what it means to me to be a Texan. My...

Sunday, April 25, 2004 Thousands invade Turkey to celebrate Bob Wills' music BY P. CHRISTINE SMITH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL TURKEY — The fans came swingin' across Texas to honor Bob Wills and enjoy the legendary musician's unique style. "They had (country) music back in those days, and Bob Wills came along and put western swing to it," said Al Paschall of Lubbock. "A lot of people tried to copy it, but they just ain't got it." Paschall, who retired from a job with the Santa Fe Rail road, grew up not far from Turkey. He has attended the annual Bob Wills Day...