Author, noted historian presents look at Texas country music

Fourteen members and guests of Oran Milo Roberts Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas enjoyed a humorous look at Texas country music at the Oct. 1 meeting featuring historian and author Bill O'Neal.

O'Neal, a former teacher at Panola College in Carthage, has written more than 30 books and is a well-known historian of the Old West.

He is the sister of Judy Smith, chapter president.

O'Neal spoke of the many famous musicians who come from Texas, which has provided more than any other state, he said.

He recounted stories about the very early days in Texas when dances were held in individual homes each Saturday night. Local musicians provided music -- usually a fiddle and a guitar or two -- and ranchers provided the space.

On the radio, families listened to the Grand Ole Opry and gospel quartets such as The Stamps and Ranger Quartets.

On cattle drives, cowboys on night herd duty played radios and sang to calm the restless herds, singing songs they were familiar with -- be it church songs, gospel or ones they made up to a familiar tune. This music became known as cowboy music.

Hollywood began making westerns where the good guys wore white hats, and the bad guys wore black. Silent movies were always accompanied by a local pianist or organist.

When "talkies" came in, westerns had problems to overcome, such as placement of microphones, etc. John Wayne even made some of the early westerns and sang in a few of them. Later, he hired Gene Autry from Texas to sing in his movies and Autry became an instant hit as the Singing Cowboy.

The second singing cowboy, Tex Ritter, was a former law student at a Texas university and a Broadway star.

Roy Rogers hailed from Ohio but his Sons of the Pioneers sported two vocalists from the Texas Hill Country.

Other Texas performers include Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Ernest Tubb, Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizzell, Jim Reeves, Buddy Holly, Mary Martin, Jimmy Dean, Van Cliburn, Sandy Duncan, Scott Joplin, Barbara Mandrell, Clint Black, George Strait and many more.

O'Neal left his audience laughing as he finished his presentation by reading actual song titles together to make a humorous statement.

Guest Janie Potts invited everyone to the Lampasas County Historical Commission's "Ghosts of Lampasas County" presentation set Oct. 23 at the county courthouse. Eleven "ghosts" of county pioneers will be portrayed by representatives of communities in the county.

During the business session that followed, Mrs. Smith called for reports from officers and committee chairmen. She appointed June Davis as parliamentarian and reported on the area meeting in Temple where a descendant of Gov. Oran Milo Roberts, Inez Roberts Lundy, received her 50-year pin.

Carolyn Harmon's membership has been changed to emeritus status.

Rocking chairs on the Hancock Springs Hostess House porch have been donated by Kathy Baxter in memory of Evelyn Smith.

Carol Wright and Judy Smith will donate a tree for the Keystone Square Museum Christmas Tree Contest in December.

Meeting hostesses were Diane Davis and June Davis.

Next meeting is Nov. 3 at the Hostess House. Ross Cox, a retired highway patrolman from San Saba, will speak on his book, "The Texas Ranger and the San Saba Mob." Hostesses will be Wilda Mullins and Suzanne Keele.