Biography
Smiley Whitley And His Texans
Western swing band
Members:
Steel Guitar: Olan "Smiley" Whitley
Vibraphone: Jesse "Smitty" Highsmith
Accordion: Rudy Henze
Bass: J.R. "Shorty" Bryan
Drums: Jimmy Blankenship
Electric Guitar: Dave Frazier
Rhythm Guitar: Russ Gotcher
San Antonio had an especially lively country dance scene from the 1930's through the 1950's and, along with perennial local favorites Adolph Hofner and His Pearl Wranglers and the Texas Top Hands, Smiley Whitley (1911-1992) led one of the top radio and club bands in the city from 1947 into the mid-1950's. Like the Top Hands, Whitley's band was consistently top-notch during this period and Whitley was, though largely unsung, one of the best steel guitarists in Texas, evolving from a Bob Dunn-inspired youngster in the late 1930's to an individual and fully up-to-date stylist in the late 1940's. He made his recording debut with Adolph Hofner in April 1938, then worked with Buster Coward in the Tune Wranglers in Fort Worth in 1939. After a 1945-46 stint with Adolph Hofner in California, he headed back to San Antonio and became leader of KABC's staff band, the Texans. With guitarist Phil Marx singing and Buck Buchanan on fiddle, among others, the Texans cut a session in Houston for Gold Star in the summer of 1947 (at least three sides were issued, two as by Phil Marx & The Texans, another erroneously as by the Gold Star Band).
In 1949-50, Whitley cut sessions for Marathon and Everstate (in additions to sessions as leader he also continued to record as a sideman, cutting sessions with Cliff Warren, Charlie Walker and possibly others over the years). His Everstate sides are less interesting, with bland vocals by Cliff Warren and Whitley playing mostly commercial steel (though they contain some fine lead guitar work from Dave Frazier). His Marathon session yielded at least one release (and perhaps several others not yet traced), and was far more compelling.
Whitley's wife Margaret also led her own Texas Tomboys, an all-female lineup, in the early 1950's. His daughter Tommie Jeane sang with both parents' bands and had a single release in Coral's pop series in 1955. Smiley Whitley gave up full-time band leading in the mid-1950's.
Members:
Steel Guitar: Olan "Smiley" Whitley
Vibraphone: Jesse "Smitty" Highsmith
Accordion: Rudy Henze
Bass: J.R. "Shorty" Bryan
Drums: Jimmy Blankenship
Electric Guitar: Dave Frazier
Rhythm Guitar: Russ Gotcher
San Antonio had an especially lively country dance scene from the 1930's through the 1950's and, along with perennial local favorites Adolph Hofner and His Pearl Wranglers and the Texas Top Hands, Smiley Whitley (1911-1992) led one of the top radio and club bands in the city from 1947 into the mid-1950's. Like the Top Hands, Whitley's band was consistently top-notch during this period and Whitley was, though largely unsung, one of the best steel guitarists in Texas, evolving from a Bob Dunn-inspired youngster in the late 1930's to an individual and fully up-to-date stylist in the late 1940's. He made his recording debut with Adolph Hofner in April 1938, then worked with Buster Coward in the Tune Wranglers in Fort Worth in 1939. After a 1945-46 stint with Adolph Hofner in California, he headed back to San Antonio and became leader of KABC's staff band, the Texans. With guitarist Phil Marx singing and Buck Buchanan on fiddle, among others, the Texans cut a session in Houston for Gold Star in the summer of 1947 (at least three sides were issued, two as by Phil Marx & The Texans, another erroneously as by the Gold Star Band).
In 1949-50, Whitley cut sessions for Marathon and Everstate (in additions to sessions as leader he also continued to record as a sideman, cutting sessions with Cliff Warren, Charlie Walker and possibly others over the years). His Everstate sides are less interesting, with bland vocals by Cliff Warren and Whitley playing mostly commercial steel (though they contain some fine lead guitar work from Dave Frazier). His Marathon session yielded at least one release (and perhaps several others not yet traced), and was far more compelling.
Whitley's wife Margaret also led her own Texas Tomboys, an all-female lineup, in the early 1950's. His daughter Tommie Jeane sang with both parents' bands and had a single release in Coral's pop series in 1955. Smiley Whitley gave up full-time band leading in the mid-1950's.