Fiddler, leader Western Swing  US, né le 2 Septembre 1912 à Jewett (Texas). Johnny Lee Wills est un frère de Bob Wills et il a débuté dans les "Texas Playboys" de son illustre frère. Il fonde son propre groupe "Johnny Lee Wills And His Boys" en 1941 et a enregistré pour Decca, Bullet et RCA Records. Johnny Lee est mort le 25 Octobre 1984 à Tulsa (Oklahoma), des suites d'une opération du coeur.

Fiddler Johnnie Lee Wills led the most popular pre-war Western swing band around the Oklahoma area; that is, after older brother Bob moved his Texas Playboys to California in 1940. He was born in Jewett, TX, on September 2, 1912, the second of four musical sons and seven years behind Bob. Johnnie Lee learned about music from his father, and began playing banjo with Bob when the Texas Playboys moved to KVOO-Tulsa in 1934. He formed the Rhythmairs in 1939, but returned to the fold the following year when Bob split the Playboys into two groups. Johnnie Lee took over the second unit (switching from banjo to fiddle), with younger brother Luther Jay on bass. A few months later, Bob moved to California and left Johnnie with his own band, christened Johnnie Lee Wills & His Boys. The brothers remained close though, and when Bob needed a substitute as leader, he called Johnnie.
Johnnie Lee Wills & His Boys signed with Decca in 1941, and recorded ten initial sides. The group played on another session when a recording ban was lifted after World War II, but moved to Bullet Records in 1949. Wills' Bullet recordings proved to be the most popular of his career. Early in 1950, "Rag Mop" spent five weeks at the number-two spot in the country charts, and crossed over to the popular Top Ten; though a version by the Ames Brothers did even better. Later that year, "Peter Cotton Tail" also hit the country Top Ten. He moved to RCA Victor in 1952, but none of his recordings sold very well. Western swing's popularity was declining, though Wills' regional fame remained unchanged and he continued to appear regularly on KVOO until 1958.
Wills recorded several albums for Sims in the early '60s, but his band broke up in 1964. He continued to work occasional shows and dances, and opened a Western clothing store in Tulsa with his son, John Thomas Wills. By the late '70s, the Western swing revival took notice of Johnnie Lee Wills, and releases of his early-'50s material appeared on Rounder and Bear Family. He also recorded reunion albums for Flying Fish and Delta with many former Texas Playboys.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Lee_Wills

Talents : Vocals, Banjo, Fiddle

Style musical : Western Swing

Whatcha Know Joe (1941)

RAG MOP (1950)

Blackberry Boogie (1952)

Blub Twist (1962)

LAZY JOHN (1963)

Years in activity :

1910 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 2000 10 20

DISCOGRAPHY

78 t.,  Singles & EP

05/1941 78 t. DECCA 5948 (US) .

Johnny Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Whatcha Know Joe / I'm Sorry That We Said Goodbye
05/1941 78 t. DECCA 5957 (US) .

Johnny Lee WILLS & His BOYS - I Wonder What I'm Going To Do / Too Long
07/1941 78 t. DECCA 5969 (US) .

Johnny Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Do I Really Deserve It From You? / Devil's Blues
09/1941 78 t. DECCA 5985 (US) .

Johnny Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Memories Of You Dear / Milk Cow Blues
01/1942 78 t. DECCA 6014 (US .

Johnny Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Together Forever / Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight
07/1946 78 t. DECCA 46012 (US) .

Johnny Lee WILLS & His BOYS - I'm Sorry That We Said Goodbye / Milk Cow Blues
06/1947 78 t. DECCA 46053 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Late Evening Blues / Square Dance Boogie
06/1947 78 t. DECCA 46054 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Lazy John / Texas Sandman
08/1947 78 t. DECCA 46064 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - The Queen Of San Joaquin / Green Grow The Lilacs
09/1947 78 t. DECCA 46070 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Who's Gonna Love Me / I Never Knew How Much I Love You
01/1950 78 t. BULLET 696 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Rag Mop / Near Me
01/1950 SP BULLET 45-696 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Rag Mop   / Near Me
02/1950 78 t. BULLET 700 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Petter Cotton Tail / Shattered Dreams
02/1950 SP BULLET 45-700 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Petter Cotton Tail / Shattered Dreams
04/1950 78 t. BULLET 710 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - I'm That Way About You / Champagne Polk
04/1950 SP BULLET 45-710 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - I'm That Way About You / Champagne Polk
04/1950 78 t. BULLET 711 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Boogie Woogie Highball / Coyote Blues
04/1950 SP BULLET 45-711 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Boogie Woogie Highball / Coyote Blues
06/1950 78 t. BULLET 717 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - A Bad Deal All Around / Tom Cat Boogie
06/1950 SP BULLET 45-717 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - A Bad Deal All Around / Tom Cat Boogie
10/1950 78 t. BULLET 721 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - This Room Is So Crowded / Si Te Amo (Yes I Love You)
10/1950 SP BULLET 45-721 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - This Room Is So Crowded / Si Te Amo (Yes I Love You)
12/1950 78 t. BULLET 724 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - I Like You Best Of All / I'm Leaving (Yes Indeedy!)
12/1950 SP BULLET 45-724 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - I Like You Best Of All / I'm Leaving (Yes Indeedy!)
02/1951 78 t. BULLET 726 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Oklahoma (That's For Me) / I Needed You
02/1951 SP BULLET 45-726 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Oklahoma (That's For Me) / I Needed You
04/1951 78 t. BULLET 737 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - The Band's A-Rockin' / I'm Not Sorry (That I Cried Over You)
04/1951 SP BULLET 45-737 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - The Band's A-Rockin' / I'm Not Sorry (That I Cried Over You)
1951 78 t. BULLET 741 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Careless Me / Big Chief Wamp-A-Setti
1951 SP BULLET 45-741 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Careless Me / Big Chief Wamp-A-Setti
1951 78 t. BULLET 743 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Levee Blues / I'll Make You Happy
1951 SP BULLET 45-743 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Levee Blues / I'll Make You Happy
03/1952 78 t. RCA VICTOR 20-4570 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - She Took! / The Thing-A-Ma-Jig
03/1952 SP RCA VICTOR 47-4570 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - She Took! / The Thing-A-Ma-Jig
05/1952 78 t. RCA VICTOR 20-4721 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Hot Check Baby / There Are Just Two I's In Dixie (Two Blue Eyes That Mean The World To Me)
05/1952 SP RCA VICTOR 47-4721 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Hot Check Baby / There Are Just Two I's In Dixie (Two Blue Eyes That Mean The World To Me)
11/1952 78 t. RCA VICTOR 20-5001 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Blackberry Boogie / Two-Timing
11/1952 SP RCA VICTOR 47-5001 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Blackberry Boogie / Two-Timing
01/1953 78 t. RCA VICTOR 20-5114 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Bees In My Bonnet / Let Me Be
01/1953 SP RCA VICTOR 47-5114 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Bees In My Bonnet / Let Me Be
04/1953 78 t. RCA VICTOR 20-5243 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Oo Oooh Daddy (Johnnie Lee Wills & His Boys / Vocal refrain by Cotton Thompson) /  Ten Little Bluebirds In My Lapel (Johnnie Lee Wills & His Boys / Vocal refrain by Curley Lewis & Trio)
04/1953 SP RCA VICTOR 47-5243 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Oo Oooh Daddy (Johnnie Lee Wills & His Boys / Vocal refrain by Cotton Thompson) /  Ten Little Bluebirds In My Lapel (Johnnie Lee Wills & His Boys / Vocal refrain by Curley Lewis & Trio)
04/1953 78 t. RCA VICTOR 20-5336 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E / Honey In The Horn
04/1953 SP RCA VICTOR 47-5336 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E / Honey In The Horn
10/1953 78 t. RCA VICTOR 20-5449 (US) .

Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Sold Out Doc / Two Step Side Step
10/1953 SP RCA VICTOR 47-5449 (US) . Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Sold Out Doc / Two Step Side Step
1957 EP RCA CAMDEN CAE 413 (US) Johnnie Lee WILLS & His BOYS - Headin’ West - She Took / Blackberry Boogie / Honey In The Horn / Sold Out Doc
08/1962 SP SIMS 129 (US) . Johnny Lee WILLS & BOYS - Blub Twist (instr.) / Your Love For Me Is Losing Light
11/1962 SP SIMS 129 (US) . Johnny Lee WILLS & BOYS - Blub Twist (instr.) / Travelin'
03/1963 SP SIMS 133 (US) . Milk Cow Blues / Lazy John
1979 SP FLYING FISH FF-4001 (US) .

Talking 'bout You / Silver Bells
1980 SP DELTA 11323 (US) .

In The Mood / Big Beaver









Albums

1958 LP 12" RCA CAMDEN CAL-363 (US)

LIVIN' IN Western STYLE - The Urn On The Mantel (And His Picture On The Wall) (Tex Williams & His ORCHESTRA) / She Took (Johnnie Lee Wills & His BOYS) / Livin´ In Western Style (Billy WILLIAMS & The PECOS RIVER ROGUES) / Bronco Busters´ Ball ) (Tex Williams & His ORCHESTRA) / Blackberry Boogie (Johnnie Lee Wills & His BOYS) / My Adobe Hacienda (Billy WILLIAMS & The PECOS RIVER ROGUES) / Shame On You  (Tex Williams & His ORCHESTRA) / Honey In Your Horn (Johnnie Lee Wills & His BOYS) / Yippee Ki-Aye (Billy WILLIAMS & The PECOS RIVER ROGUES) / Miracle Waltz ) (Tex Williams & His ORCHESTRA) / Sold Out Doc (Johnnie Lee Wills & His BOYS) / Lonely Corral, Old Pard´ner (Billy WILLIAMS & The PECOS RIVER ROGUES)
1962 LP 12" Sims LP-101 (mono) / LPS-101 (stereo) (US)

Where There's A Wills... There's A Way - Rag Mop / Lazy John / Sugar In My Coffee / Baby It Must Be Love / Eyes Of My Heart / Ridin' For The Rancho / Your Love For Me Is Losing Light / Blub Twist / Milk Cow Blues / I Wish You Could Learn To Love Me
1963 LP 12" Sims LP-108 (mono) / LPS-108 (stereo) (US)

Johnny Lee Wills At The Tulsa Stampede - Slush / I Won’t Cry Tomorrow / This Room Is So Crowded / Relaxin‘ / Stay A Little Longer / Why Do I / The Red Dress / Dusty Skies / Too Soon To Worry / Time Changes Everything / Sweet Memories / Big Beaver
1965 LP 12" CROWN CLP-5565 (mono) / CST-565 (stereo) (US) THE BEST OF JOHNNY LEE WILLS -  Your Love For Me Is Losing Light / Blub Twist / Milk Cow Blues / I Wish Your Picture Was You / Travelin' / Slush / I Won't Cry Tomorrow / Why Do I Love You / Red Dress She Wore / Too Soon To Worry
1978 LP 12" Rounder 1027 (US)

1950-1951 Radio Transcriptions - Opening Theme - In The Mood / Ridin' Down The Canyon - Cowboy's Dream / Southland Swing - Don't Let Your Deal Go Down / Keep A Light In The Window Tonight - Never Alone / Four Or Five Times - Leather Britches / Theme - Sally Goodin - Buffalo Gals / Silver Dew On The Bluegrass Tonight - Smoke On The Water / Boogie Woogie Highball / Love You So Much - Black-Eyed Susan Brown - Farther Along - Smith's Reel - Closing Theme
02/1979 LP 12" Flying Fish FF-069 (US)

Reunion - Silver Bells / Rag Mop / Memories Of You Dear / I Wish That Your Picture Was You / Four Or Five Times / La Golondrina / Rosetta / South / If I Had Another Chance / In A Little Spanish Mission / Talking 'bout You / Whose Heart Are You Breaking Now / Milk Cow Blues / Goodnight Little Sweetheart
09/1980 LP 12" Delta DLP-1132 (US)

Dance All Night With Johnnie Lee Wills And His Boys - Opening Theme / Cotton-Eyed Joe / Faded Love / In The Mood / Take Me Back To Tulsa / Spanish Two-Step / Honky Tonk / Milk Cow Blues / Big Beaver / Tulsa Schottishe / Boot Heel Drag / "C" Jam Blues / "Blub's" Twist / Closing Theme 
1983 LP 12" BEAR FAMILY BFX 15103 (GER) ROMPIN', STOMPIN', SINGIN', SWINGIN' - She Took / Hot Check Baby / There Are Just Two I's In Dixie / The Thingamajig / Let Me Be / Two Timing / Bees In My Bonney / Oo Oooh Daddy / Ten Little Bluebirds In My Lapel / Blackberry Boogie / Honey In The Horn / A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E / Sold Out Doc / Two Step Side Step
1996 CD Krazy Kat KK CD 18 (UK)

The Band's A-Rockin' - The Band's A Rockin' / Boogie Woogie Highball / Lazy John / Rag Mop / Milk Cow Blues / Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight / What'cha Know Joe / I'm Sorry That We Said Goodbye / Do I Really Deserve It From You / Devil's Blues / Memories Of You Dear / Together Forever / I Wonder What I'm Goin' To Do / Late Evening Blues / Too Long / Square Dance Boogie / A Bad Deal All Around / Coyote Blues / Who's Gonna Love Me / Tom Cat Boogie / Levee Blues / I'm Not Sorry (That I Cried Over You) / I Like You Best Of All / The Queen Of San Joaquin / I'm That Way About You / I'm Leaving (Yes Indeedy) / Texas Sandman 
1998 2 CD Sims SM-101BS (US)

Where There's A Wills... There's A Way - Rag Mop / Lazy John / Sugar In My Coffee / Baby It Must Be Love / Eyes Of My Heart / Ridin' For The Rancho / Your Love For Me Is Losing Light / Blub Twist / Milk Cow Blues / I Wish You Could Learn To Love Me / Are You Really Worth It All / Dance Toward The Door / Slush / I Won’t Cry Tomorrow / This Room Is So Crowded / Relaxin‘ / Stay A Little Longer / Why Do I / The Red Dress / Dusty Skies / Too Soon To Worry / Time Changes Everything / Sweet Memories / Big Beaver / Glass Of Pride / Heart Of A Clown

© Rocky Productions 25/08/2020