Zero to 180 couldn’t take it any more, so it added a new category – steel guitar – and instantly populated a set of 25 pieces from the past three years [40 items as of January 2023] that feature many of the world’s foremost steel guitarists, including today’s post, which is the first to highlight the work of Leon McAuliffe, one of the first players to use multi-neck steel guitars (as well as different tunings on each neck, according to Brad’s Pages of Steel).
Nice to see that the Texas State Historical Association has a biographical profile of the famed steel guitarist bandleader and one-time Bob Wills sideman, for whom Wills coined the famous phrase, “Take it away, Leon!” Tip of the hat to the PragueFrank research team, who note the gently rockin’ “Steel Guitar Chimes” to have been recorded at Capitol’s Hollywood studio in 1958:
“Steel Guitar Chimes“
Leon McAuliff(e)
This “Steel Guitar Chimes” recording appears to have sat for four years, however, before being included on 1962 Starday LP, Mister Western Swing.
Two years later, Starday would gather up “Steel Guitar Chimes” and thirteen other steel guitar instrumentals by McAuliffe’s colleagues for 1964 LP Steel Guitar and Dobro Spectacular.
Billboard reviewed Mister Western Swing in its June 23, 1962 “Music Week” column:
Leon McAuliff and His Cimarron Boys turn in a fine flock of performances here on such Western classics as ‘Steel Guitar Rag,’ ‘Panhandle Rag,’ ‘Waterbaby Boogie,’ ‘Steel Guitar Chimes,’ and ‘Cimarron Rag.’ McAuliff infuses them with his inimitable Western dance band beat. featuring sock steel guitar work. A solid set for Western fans and one that could grab plenty of pop action as well.
“Steel Guitar Chimes” originally began life as a 78 released in 1938 by Roy Acuff And His Crazy Tennesseans, featuring the dobro work of Cousin Jody (née, James Clell Summey).
Link to 7-minute video documentary, The Steel Guitar Rag Story with Leon McAuliffe. about the origins of Leon’s classic steel guitar instrumental.
One question that will likely never get settled —
Is Leon’s surname spelled “McAuliff” (as it says on the album cover for Starday LP Swingin’ Western Strings of Leon McAuliff) or “McAuliffe” like it says most everywhere else?
One Response
My name is Rick Gamboa. My father was Sal Gamboa who was the drummer for Leons band for many years. He is pictured on the album cover with Jack Loyd (clairinet), Billy Dozier (rhythm guitar), Clarence Cagel, Moe Billington (piano) and Ted Adams (string bass). Sorry I forgot the other members after 65 years. I think they are all gone now but they all live on in my memories. I was only about 10 at the time. I was allowed to help set up the bandstand instruments when the band came back from road trips and got to see many performances. The Cimmarron Ballroom was the most magical place I can remember as a little kid. Its a horrible shame that it was torn down.