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Album: 75th Anniversary Album- Bill Simmons Tribute The Light Crust Doughboys have been playing Western Swing for 75 years. Of course, the group members have changed many times over the years. One of the most talented was songwriter Bill Simmons, the group piano player from 1981 until his passing in 2005. This new album by the group celebrates their 75th anniversary and also pays a musical tribute to Bill. The album is comprised of 15 tunes drawn from the past few years in the history of this legendary group in Western Swing. Besides Bill you will hear Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery playing banjo and guitar. His tenure with the group spans from the mid 1930s until his passing just a few years back. Jerry Elliott is heard on guitar and vocals while John Walden does fiddle and vocals. Album producer and current group leader, Art Greenhaw plays bass, guitar and does vocals while Jim Baker also plays fiddle. Dale Cook is the drummer while the brass and reed ensemble features Bob Krenkel, John Anderson, Bud Dresser and Frank Greenhaw. The album opens with Bill in the spotlight on Floyd Cramer's 1960s pop-country crossover hit Last Date and then goes on to Jerry in the vocal spotlight on the pop chestnut Pennies from Heaven. Other tunes with Jerry on vocals are Eddie Miller's Release Me, a medley of Kris Kristofferson's For the Good Times and Why Me, Lord, Fred Rose's Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain and the Red Foley hit written by Bill Simmons M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. Art is heard on vocal on Bob Nolan's Cool Water from the Sons of the Pioneers as well as on the Kristofferson Medley, Stuart Hamblen's This Ole House and Roger Miller's King of the Road. John Walden's vocals are heard on Nick and Charles Kenny's Love Letters in the Sand and Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart's The Tennessee Waltz. Other memories brought back are My Adobe Hacienda from Louise Massey and the Westerners, Jesse Polka from Cliff Bruner and two in memory of Bill Simmons. Bill and his piano are in the spotlight on his own Once Ev'ry So Often and The Bill Simmons Boogie, where he adapted the Boogie Woogie classic sound. The album can be obtained on line at www.honkytonkin.com or toll free at 1-800-664-3740. Mike Gross, WVOF-FM, Fairfield, CT |
