EP-1 This is a rare undiscovered recording by Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys on January 2, 1958. It was recorded during a KVOO On-Air Radio Broadcast from the Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bob and the Boys are talking with the radio announcer and performing live on stage. The song they are performing in this video is “Boot Heel Drag”.
Bob Wills is introduced by his brother Johnnie Lee Wills at the beginning of the show and they announce the merging of their two bands. This long time popular Bob Wills instrumental kicks things off. It was composed by Bob Wills’ steel guitar player, Herb Remington. Next to Leon McAuliffe, Herb Remington is considered one of Bob’s best steel guitarists.
Herb Remington was born in Mishawaka, Indiana in 1926. He joined Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys in 1946 after he auditioned for Luke Wills, Bob’s brother, in a hotel room. He replaced Noel Boggs as the band’s steel guitar player.
Herb Remington can be heard to great advantage on the Tiffany Transcriptions that Bob Wills recorded in 1946 and 1947. He stayed with Bob Wills for three years, leaving in 1949 to join Hank Penny’s band.
At some point, Herb began concentrating on building steel guitars for other musicians. However, he continued to play as often as he could. Even at the age of 91, he was still playing gigs. Herb Remington died in October 2018 at the age of 92.
The original recording of “Boot Heel Drag” was the B-side of “Faded Love,” which was released by M-G-M Records in September 1950.
Here is a rare forgotten recording of Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys performing “Boot Heel Drag” on the live KVOO broadcast at the Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma on January 2, 1958. I have digitally remastered the original recording for clarity and stereo effect.
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