My father, Herman Nelson "Bubba" Boykin, graduated from high school in 1936. He grew up in the small town of Batesville, Arkansas. The town is on the White River in the foothills of the Ozark Plateau. It might surprise young folks of today but the "greatest generation" was just as "into" music as they are, maybe more so. The difference is they knew what good music sounded like. My dad was no exception.
Music came to the hills three ways. One could hear live performances, listen to the radio or go to the "movie show".
The economy was in the tank, big time. The price of "movie house" tickets was five cents. As inexpensive as that may sound tickets were considered a luxury. The movies were brought a much wider variety of music. All of a sudden hillbillies were hearing blues, jazz and swing. Blacks were hearing country and pop. It might have been tough economic times but it was a growth period for music appreciation.
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| Bob Wills, " ah hahhh" |
America was going through one of it's toughest periods. The latter part of the "Great Depression"was hard on everybody. When a severe drought hit the worn out farm land, nature added the dust bowl phenomenon. Life in the south and central plains states became almost unbearable. There were no jobs. Farms were blown out of business. If they were lucky or connected they might land a job at one of the Civilian Conservation Corp camps. Of if they were really fortunate the Works Progress Administration was a better deal. Others would join the military if and when a few slots opened. Those were rare. Very few would find career jobs or be able to afford college. The decade of the "Dust Bowl" and "the Great Depression" was only half over. It was what it was. Tough ! The economics wouldn't change until1941 and the beginning of World War Two.
The people depended on the music as much as the musician's sustenance needed the people. The music was the soothing. It was constant. Man, was it good!
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| Bob Wills one of three fiddles and his Texas Playboys |
Try to imagine, the young people of the depression era Ozarks. They were eager to hear music from the "outside" world. Think of those kids at a "house party". They might gather around one of those big old stand up "tube radios". One of the guys or gals would gingerly turn the tuning dial. One night they might hear Chicago for half an hour. Then as the static level rose the tuner would desperately search the dial for a clearer station. They might hear New Orleans or Memphis. Static, always lots of static. Maybe this time St. Louie. Will we be able to pick up the Nashville's Grand Ole Opry tonight ?
What about all those great live radio shows ? They had drama, comedy and lots of variety. Yes, variety shows with live bands, an announcer and lots of "guest" talent. There were plenty of comedy shows like Bob Hope and Lum and Abner's "Jot em down store".
Rural Americans were not as mobile as today. In fact they were darned near stuck in place. No money, no travel. They needed radio, newspapers and movies to learn what was going on outside their own communities. That included popular music. These are those musical sounds. The radio sounds of hope, life and laughter were imagined to be in a world without dust, hunger or patched overalls. Music was an important part of keeping the population from going slap nuts. It was needed for more than just enjoyment.
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| On Stage Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys (and Gal) |
Some of the music I picked from my father's eighteenth year may or may not have been on his radar screen. I have no way of knowing for sure. I do know he and his buddies loved Bob Wills. At some point they drove all the way to Tulsa just to see Bob and his Texas Playboys. The drive took twelve hours each way. Those rocky roads were hell on an old car. The sedan had seven flats on that trip. In our household it was an oft repeated story.
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| Non air conditioned luxury band bus for the nations top Western Swing Band |
It was a time of separate societies. I'm not sure how much Robert Johnson would have been heard by the Blue Grass crowd. Or how many blues and jazz fans enjoyed Roy Acuff's Great Speckled Bird.
I include all genre's in this blog for one reason. My father and mother loved music. They had favorite styles and artists like anyone else but foremost they loved music just because it was music. My mother sang church solo's and could sing opera in Italian, although she couldn't speak the language. My father had a great voice and on Sundays could be heard over the congregation. From opera to Duke Ellington you never knew what you might hear in our home. My mother was a few years younger and was partial to the "hotter" sounds of the Big Bands. They both loved to dance and although wounded on D-Day my dad loved to cut a rug.
So just to be sure I don't leave any of my father's favorites out I will include the most memorable names from all popular 1936 genres.
Kicking off the series is my dad's favorite !
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
Steel Guitar Rag
Music by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
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