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Topic: Texas Bill Strength |
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2013 8:56 am |
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| Does anyone out there remember anything about the late Texas Bill Strength? I was an acquaintance of two of his sons in the early '70s, and met Bill once or twice, but know virtually nothing about him. I do know he was a country music DJ in both the Twin Cities and Los Angeles areas, and may have had a fledgling music career as a singer or a bass player. I remember there were always instruments laying around their house in Richfield, Minn. I particularly recall his son Dale playing around with a beat-up old blonde Sho-Bud. Guys like Al Udeen and Terry Bethel and Mike Cass probably know more. |
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Steve Pacholl
From:
Minneapolis
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Posted 7 Dec 2013 3:03 pm
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| I only knew of Texas Bill Strength and heard may stories from local musicians who played the Flame Cafe. About 10 years ago or so I found a large box of records at a Twin Cities thrift store. All classic country many still sealed and many with Bill Strength's name written on them. The box included a sealed copy of Bill Strength's LP. Knowing Strength's legacy gave me another reason to snatch up this box of vinyl treasure. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2013 3:24 pm
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Steve,
Wow, what a great find! I'd love to see and hear Texas Bill's album. I wonder who played on it. Can't be too many of those old records out there. But most that still exist are probably in the Twin Cities or surrounding area. Thanks for sharing that story.
Jack |
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Steve Pacholl
From:
Minneapolis
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Posted 7 Dec 2013 6:06 pm
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| I just took a look at the LP and no personnel are listed. The LP is called Texas Bill Strength's Greatest Hits on Re-Car records. Several of the songs give Bill Strength the writing credit. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2013 7:29 am
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| Texas Bill and his wife were members of the KSTP Valley Barndance group. They used to tour the upper Midwestern states. My cousin sent him a letter inquiring about some of his licks and he responded with an autographed picture and a very nice letter. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2013 8:24 am Texas Bill Strength
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Thanks, Erv. My curiosity got the best of me, and a quick Google search provided this interesting bio courtesy of Hillbilly-Music.com:
http://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=11253
Includes this photo of Bill which reveals an uncanny resemblance to his son Dale, who was probably born about 4-5 years after this picture was taken. Dale is an accomplished guitarist who has toured with Olivia Newton-John, among others.
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