TOMMY HAYS & THE WESTERN SWINGSTERS: 60 Years Of Western Swing

Tommy Hays & The Western Swingsters

60 Years Of Western Swing

© 2006 Maria Weir Werth (806838129223)

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western swing, traditional country & country blues

notes

Tommy Hays (band leader, guitarist, and vocalist) was born in Harthhorne, Oklahoma, in 1929 and started playing the guitar in church when he was 10 years old. He performed on the Billy Mize TV Show, Cousin Herb Show, was a member of the house band for the Lucky Spot, Blackboard and had his own radio show on KMPC. Tommy played on stage with many of the old timers who were part of creating the Bakersfield sound. Tommy has thoroughly enjoyed playing music for the past 60 years and sincerely hopes that you will enjoy these renditions of some of his favorite songs.

"Legendary guitarist, vocalist and bandleader, Tommy Hays, has been playing in the smoked-filled honky-tonks in and around Bakersfield for over fifty years. Along with the Western Swingsters, he has released his first CD, “60 Years of Western Swing.” Recognized as one of the original “Bakersfield Sound” pioneers, Tommy Hays, helped forge this unique and definitive sound."

Band Members:

Tommy Hays (guitar and vocals)
Tracy Barns (vocals and saxophone)
Jimmy Phillips (drums and vocals)
Hughie Smith (fiddle and piano)
Bill Wilkerson (bass and vocals)
Larry Petree (pedal steel)
Maria Weir Werth (vocals and bass)

Content Description:

1. Tommy's Guitar Ripple - features Tommy Hays on Guitar)

2. Send Me the Pillow - Lead Vocal, Tommy Hays, Tracy Barns and Maria Werth on Harmony.

3. Roly Poly - Tracy Barns on lead vocal and Maria on harmony.

4. Who Will Buy the Wine (written by Billy Mize - co-producer for CD) with Jimmy Phillips on lead vocal, Tracy Barns and Maria Weir Werth on harmony.

5. Jambalaya - featuring Maria on lead vocal and bass

6. Ramblin' Fever - Bill Wilkerson on vocals and lead guitar - Maria on bass.

7. Little Bit of Swing features Hughie Smith on the Fiddle

8. Welcome to My World - Tommy Hays on lead vocal

9. Bill Bailey (Lead Vocal - Tracy Barns)

10. Kansas City – drummer, Jimmy Phillips plays and sings this one with Tracy and Maria on harmony. Tracy plays a sax sole on this one.

11. Swingin' Doors - Bill Wilkerson on vocals and lead guitar - Maria on bass, harmony and Tracy on harmony.

12. Home in San Antone – features Tommy Hays and Hughie Smith on twin leads, Tommy on lead vocal and Tracy on Vocals.

13. Brain Cloudy Blues - Tracy Barns really sings the blues on the one

14. Black Mountain Rag (Featuring Tommy Hays on Guitar)

Produced by Maria Weir Werth, Billy Mize and Tracy Barns

reviews

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  • A Swingin' Blend Of Styles & Sounds
    author: Jef Fazekas

    Tommy Hays could easily be called a Renaissance Man....throughout his long and varied career, he's done it all - band leader, session guitarist, talk show host. Hard to believe he's just now releasing his first CD, the upbeat 60 YEARS OF WESTERN SWING, an ode to "the smoke-filled honky-tonks in and around Bakersfield." With his time-weathered voice and smooth guitar licks, Hays shines on such cuts as "Send Me The Pillow" and "Black Mountain Rag." But Hays is also the kind of seasoned vet who's secure enough in his abilities that he doesn't need the spotlight on him every second of every minute. Consequently, he surrounds himself with top-notch musicians, often sharing said spotlight with them. Drummer Jimmy Phillips takes the lead on the classic country weeper "Who'll Buy The Wine", while Hughie Smith - and his fiddle! - are at center stage for "Little Bit Of Swing." With it's good-time, hoedown vibe, this track is simple, sturdy, fun and unaffected. Bassist Bill Wilkerson's take on Merle Haggard's "Swingin' Doors" is spot-on....a brilliant arrangement cushions an aching lead vocal that both caresses and spits out Haggard's well-honed lyrics. Awesome....totally awesome! That said, I think Hays is probably enough of a gentleman that he wouldn't mind my saying that the true stars of 60 YEARS.... are sisters Maria and Theresa Weir. Now going by the names Maria Weir Werth and Tracy Barns, the pair started out in the late 70's as, respectively, the bassist and lead vocalist/saxaphonist of the LA-based pop/jazz band The Weirz (which also included their seven siblings). Both women have continued to blossom and mature as musicians and vocalists, sitting in the producer's seat as well for this project. Weir Werth's take on the traditional "Jambalaya" is relaxed and sexy, while Barns' frisky "Roly Poly" just soars. Her take on the classic "Bill Bailey" is another gem, but it's her lead on the smokey "Brain Cloud Blues" that is the disc's high point....shimmering and sultry, this one's a stunner! (The sisters don't even need to be taking the lead to shine - their doo-wop backing vocals on the snappy version of "Kansas City" are killer!). All in all, 60 YEARS OF WESTERN SWING is the real deal....great playing and singing, as well as a true respect for the music that inspired it. What more could you ask for?!?

  • Excellent
    author: Paul W. Dennis

    One of the great injustices of the music works is that a disc such as this one doesn't fly off the shelves at Targets, Walmarts, etc. earning the artist a quadruple platinum disc. Meanwhile, no-talents like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw sell millions. Getting back to this disc - I love the song selection and the musicianship of the band (especially steel guitar player Larry Petree). Although not all of the songs selected are out of the western swing repertoire book, all of the performances have a strong swing feel to them. The vocals are handled by six different members of the band. Bill Wilkerson ("Ramblin' Fever" and "Swingin Doors") is adequate but the rest are very good to excellent. I particularly liked Ms Tracy Burns vocals on "Roly Poly", "Bill Bailey" and "Brain Cloudy Blues". Tommy Hays does a very nice job on "Welcome To My World", "Home In San Antone" and "Send Me The Pillow". --- Buy it !

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