share a comment|
Governor W. Lee O'Daniel
 
W. Lee O’Daniel at the Microphone. Courtesy: Texas State Library and Archives. See Image Source below. This is Timothy Patrick Miller with Another Texas Story
Governor O’Daniel: If you were listening to the radio on this date in 1941, chances are you heard W. Lee O’Daniel and the Hillbilly Boys broadcasting from the steps of the Governor’s Mansion. Ever since 1928, when this Fort Worth flour salesman first began hosting a country music radio show for Burrus Mill, he had become one of the most familiar and "trusted" voices on radio. In between songs, performed by the Light Crust Doughboys, O’Daniel read poems, quoted scriptures and lectured on morality. By 1935 he had his own product -- Hillbilly Flour -- and his own radio show and band. In 1938, at the urging of his listeners, he ran for Governor and was elected by a landslide, thanks to Biscuits, the Bible and the rising popularity of Western Swing. Today's program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. I’m Timothy Patrick Miller.
©2006, KJ Productions and Texas Stories |
|
 |
|
|
Program Guide for Today's Show
 Online Exhibit: Texas Treasures - Texas Characters - “Pappy O’Daniel”, Texas State Library and Archives W. Lee O’Daniel and the Hillbilly Boys, Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/xgw1.html (accessed November 30, 2006) W. Lee O’Daniel with the Hillbilly Boys and the Lightcrust Doughboys, Western Swing Chronicles, Vol. 4, (1933-1938), OJL 1003, Origin Jazz Library. Actuality: Governor W. Lee O’Daniel’s Weekly Radio Address from the Texas Governor’s Mansion, July 3, 1941
W. Lee O’Daniel at the microphone, Texas State Library and Archives (TSLA) Photo Collection, Online Exhibit: Texas Treasures - Texas Characters Click to see larger image. More photos from this Online Exhibit Picture at Right: Sheet Music Cover of the song “Beautiful Texas”, Words and Music by W. Lee O’Daniel. Texas State Library and Archives Photo Collection, Online Exhibit: Texas Treasures- Texas Characters Click to see larger image.
"Hillbilly Stomp",W. Lee O'Daniel with the Hillbilly Boys and the Lightcrust Doughboys, Western Swing Chronicles, Vol. 4, 1933-1938, OJL 1003, Origin Jazz Library. Special thanks to Cary Ginell and the folks at Origin Jazz Library for permission to use their recording of "Hillbilly Stomp." 
Classroom resources
|
|
September 06, 2010
Did you know?
O’Daniel wrote the words and music to the song “Beautiful Texas”
“Pass the Biscuts Pappy” was the title of a song that became a Campaign Slogan.
