Bob Wills was an American musician known as “The King of Western Swing.” He is best known for his pioneering work in country music, especially with his band Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, which included hits like “San Antonio Rose,” “Faded Love,” and “Steel Guitar Rag.”
Personal and Family Life
Born James Robert Wills on March 6, 1905, Bob Wills came from a large family as the first of ten children of John and Emma Wills. Throughout his life, he was married multiple times; his last wife, Betty Anderson, whom he married in 1942, and with whom he had three children, was by his side until his passing in 1975. His early marriages include Mary Helen Brown, Ruth McMaster, and Edna Posey, all of whom ended in divorce.
Career Highlights
Bob Wills was a major figure in the development of Western swing music in the late 1930s and 1940s. He was among the first musicians to incorporate drums into performances at the Grand Ole Opry. His influence on the country music genre was profound, inspiring notable artists such as Merle Haggard, George Strait, and Willie Nelson. He was honored with numerous accolades, including induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1968, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Death and Legacy
Bob Wills passed away on May 13, 1975, due to bronchial pneumonia, 17 months after suffering a stroke that left him in a coma. His contributions to music were recognized posthumously, including being featured on a US postage stamp as part of the Legends of American Music series in 1993. Wills’ legacy as a trailblazer of Western swing continues to influence musicians today.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Take Me Back to Oklahoma | 1940-11-11 | Bob Wills |
| Go West, Young Lady | 1941-11-27 | Bob |
| Riders of the Northwest Mounted | 1943-02-15 | Mountie Bob Wills |
| Blazing the Western Trail | 1945-09-08 | Bob |
| Lawless Empire | 1945-11-15 | Bob |
| Silver City Raiders | 1943-11-04 | Sheriff Bob Halliday |
| The Lone Prairie | 1942-10-15 | Bob |
| The Vigilantes Ride | 1943-12-23 | Bob |
| A Tornado in the Saddle | 1942-12-15 | Bob Wilson |
| Saddles and Sagebrush | 1943-04-26 | Bob – Texas Playboys Band Leader |
| Wyoming Hurricane | 1944-04-20 | Bob |
| The Last Horseman | 1944-06-22 | Bob |
| Rhythm Round-Up | 1945-09-06 | Bob Wills |
| Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys | 1944-09-02 | Himself |
| Austin City Limits | 1975-01-01 | Self |
| This Is Pop | 2021-03-06 | Self (archive footage) |