Millions of Texans and Southwesterners have been touched over
the years by the Light Crust Doughboys. From 1930 to 1952, fans
faithfully tuned in to their early-morning and, later, noontime radio
program, and turned out in droves to hear them play live.
	
    The Doughboys embodied the very essence of the "golden era"
of radio—live performances and the dominance of programming
by advertising agencies. Their radio program began as a way to
sell Light Crust Flour. Their early impresario, W. Lee "Pappy"
O'Daniel, quickly learned how to exploit the power of radio to
influence voters, and he put that lesson to good use to become a
two-time Texas governor and the model for Pappy O'Daniel in the
movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? But the group was more
than a way to push flour; the talented musicians associated with
them included Bob Wills and Milton Brown, each of whom receive
credit for founding western swing.

    With the demise of their regular radio program, the Light Crust
Doughboys had to remake themselves. Trailblazers in western
swing, the Doughboys explored many other musical genres,
including gospel, for which they were nominated for Grammys in
1998, 1999, 2001, and 2002. They continue to play together with
versatility and wide-ranging talent—"official music ambassadors
of the Lone Star State" as declared by the state legislature in 1995.
Their legendary banjo player, Smokey Montgomery, was with the
group for sixty-six years before his death in 2001.

    For the first time, here is the story of the Doughboys
phenomenon, from their debut broadcast to their contemporary live
performances. Included inside is a bonus CD containing
seventy-two minutes of Doughboys music, from early studio
recordings to contemporary tunes.

_________________________________________________________

JOHN MARK DEMPSEY is a native Texan and long-time admirer
of the Light Crust Doughboys. He currently works as a newscaster
for the Texas State Network and as an assistant professor of
broadcast journalism at the University of North Texas. Dempsey is
the editor of The Jack Ruby Trial Revisited: The Diary of Jury
Foreman Max E. Causey by UNT Press. He lives in Denton, Texas.
ART GREENHAW is the bassist for the Light Crust Doughboys,
their manager, and a respected producer with multiple Grammy
and Dove nominations. He lives in Mesquite, Texas. 


Number Two: Evelyn Oppenheimer Series


What people are saying about this book

"This is the most definitive work on the beginning and evolution of
western swing music and the history of the Light Crust Doughboys
that I have seen."—James Blackwood, nine-time Grammy
winner

"This book will rank highly with Texas music fans, music
historians, and most country and western music lovers."—Phil
York, Producer