Bob Wills, Home in San Antone

This song was a big hit for Bob Wills and several other Western-styled bands. Danny Alguire describes singing it on a record for Bob, having joined his friend, second-trumpeter Benny Strickler in Wills’ so-called “Tulsa orchestra.” His narrative offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into one of the most eclectic and peculiar dance orchestras of the Swing era. The Texas Playboys were in residence at the Trianon Ballroom in Oklahoma City in the early Forties. Garnering vast regional and national popularity, they were heard on daily noon radio broadcasts across Texas and Oklahoman playing dances. Their huge repertoire of 3600 tunes encompassed fiddle breakdowns and country stomps; jazz and swing; polkas and square dances; ballads, and Blues, Tin Pan Alley and Western Swing originals like Wills signature song, “San Antonio Rose.” This was Alguire’s only recording session with the Texas Playboys and his sole vocal on disc with Wills. He later sang or played the song in the band of “T Texas” Tyler; and with the Firehouse Five Plus Two during more than twenty years with that Disney-sponsored Dixieland band -- and explored in his recently published memoir. https://syncopatedtimes.com/dust-bowl-to-disney-the-lost-memoir-of-danny-alguire/ Jazz trumpeter Chris Tyle (and drummer Hal Smith) knew Alguire well. Tyle describes how Danny first heard the record while he was serving in the U. S. Navy in the South Pacific. During WWII, lots of Wills stuff was issued on V-Disc including “Home in San Antone” and was broadcast on Armed Forces Radio to American soldiers, sailors, aviators and marines. Thanks to Tyle and Smith for use of their 1977 interview. Home in San Antone (unabridged): https://youtu.be/x2qMZd1VIMM?si=-2ZTk-npETZHarLm The Benny Strickler Story - Tulsa: Part One http://jazzhotbigstep.com/STRICKLER%20_Pgms/Benny%20Strickler%20Story%202A.mp3 Part Two http://jazzhotbigstep.com/STRICKLER%20_Pgms/Benny%20Strickler%20Story%202B.mp3 Danny Alguire: http://www.jazzhotbigstep.com/99401.html http://bearmanormedia.com/ http://jazzhotbigstep.com/Danny_Remembered_by_Chris.PDF More tracks from the July 1942 session. Vocals by Leon Huff, except “My Confession” sung by Wills. Whose Heart are You Breaking Now? https://youtu.be/0957vmmQ174?si=y0IQs4SIPG0079JE My Confession (vocal, Bob Wills) https://youtu.be/14sMNzIT2vw?si=_39OisStcwSbh_vG Ten Years https://youtu.be/2NcVkh_mGAk?si=UbBlmBVTjs4WR-ma

Added 4 Apr 2026