My Years with Bob Wills

Paperback
144 pages
ISBN 9781571681195   
Retail Price - $16.95 

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By Al Stricklin & Jon McConal
Al Stricklin will be remembered for what he did best—playing western swing in the Bob Wills band, the Texas Playboys. He played almost to the end; his last appearances were just a few months before his death in Johnson County, Texas, on October 15, 1986.

Stricklin was born in Johnson County, Texas in 1908 and started playing the piano at the age of four. Although he never had a paid lesson, Stricklin was heavily influenced by the jazz musicians of that time. But the religious people of his community considered jazz to be sinful and preached against both jazz and dancing. So, Stricklin limited his music to acceptable folk and sacred music. But his father secretly encouraged Stricklin to play the music he liked best, in hopes that one-day, the music would become acceptable and profitable.

 Fortunately that day came and led to Stricklin being inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1999 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.