1. Although similar in many respects, Texas and the Southwest are more ethnically diverse than Appalachia and the Southeast. This is especially true after 1901, when oil was first discovered near Beaumont, TX.
1. Influences include southern "Anglo," Cajun, and Mexican.
2. Most of the ethnic groups in the region shared a love for dancing, which stimulated the growth of Western Swing.
3. David Kapp, a talent scout from Decca, recorded artists from the Southwest. The commercialization of Western music further led to alterations in its character (see article summary for "That Ain't Country: The Distinctiveness of Western Music").
2. The mystique of the American cowboy
1. A highly romanticized picture of the West and of "the life of the cowboy" has long been a part of American culture.
2. Interest in Western music give country artists an opportunity to shed the "hillbilly" image.
3. The "authentic" songs of real cowboys proved uninteresting to the public and made little impact on country music. The image of the cowboy became a major factor.
4. The "singing cowboys":
1. John I. White, the "Lonesome Cowboy" - had a regular radio program on NBC from 1927 to 1936 that included hillbilly and western songs.
2. "Tex" Ritter ["Rye Whisky" from the Smithsonian Collection Vol. 1]- one of the most believable of the singing cowboys, Ritter gained a national audience in 1932 by narrating and singing on a western musical and dramatic program.
3. Patsy Montana ["I Want To Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" from the Smithsonian Collection Vol. 1]- born Ruby Blevins; this was the first big hit by a woman country singer.
4. Gene Autry ["Silver Haired Daddy of Mine," "South of the Border"]- originally a "hillbilly" singer on WLS, Autry was discovered by Nat Levine, head of production for Lone Star Productions; Autry could both sing and ride a horse. His lack of acting ability worked to his advantage, as his awkward, halting style was popular among small-town and youthful fans.
5. Sons of the Pioneers - possibly the most famous of western groups. Originally organized by Roy Rogers (Leonard Slye), they got their start on KFWB in Hollywood on an early-morning radio program.
5. The Hollywood cowboy became a role model.
3. Western Swing
1. "Hot string bands" were a popular alternative to the big bands, and the amalgum of country, cowboy, polka, and folk music became known as "Western Swing."
2. In 1930, a group known as "The Aladdin Laddies" began regular appearances on WBAP in Ft. Worth. The group included fiddler Bob Wills, guitarist Herman Arnspiger, vocalist Milton Brown, and his brother Derwood Brown on rhythm guitar. After a change of sponsor on the radio show, they became known as "The Light Crust Doughboys."
3. Both Brown and Wills later became band leaders
4. Some websites with more information include:
1. Western Swing.
2. the Seattle Western Swing Society.
3. http://www.nfo.net/.WWW/weswing.html#WESTOP.

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