Johnny Bonvillian, in the book - The Jazz Of The South West

Erik van Beek · Post by **Erik van Beek** » 6 Mar 2009 7:13 am

Wow Billy, that sounds great! If you ever gonna put these recordings on a cd count me in for a copy!

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 6 Mar 2009 12:17 pm

I am pretty sure the third cowboy from right to left is "Sam Nichols". Sam was quite well known here in So. Califoria and put out some good records. He was alos known for his hand tooled "Leathercraft". He made belts, Guitar Staps, and I believe even Saddles for various artists Sam was part of the Pico STreet musicians.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 6 Mar 2009 12:31 pm

Billy:

You got a good eye.

After you responded, I went out and found this pic below, which looks very much like the guy in the pic with Hughes and Cochran.

Some of Sam's records had Curley Cochran on steel. Billy Hughes was both a vocalist and fiddle player, so the pic I posted could be the Sam Nichols band with Curley and Billy as sidemen, rather than the Billy Hughes band with Curley and Nichols as sidemen. I don't know if Sam played bass or any instrument, so maybe it is his band.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 6 Mar 2009 12:57 pm

Two other musician singers around the Pico Street Gang were "Johnny Tyler" and "Ed Moody" (brother of Clyde Moody). I pretty much knew all these guys and they knew me from my playing in the Ole Rasmussen band. They were always visiting the dances and would get up and perform. They loved having a 10 to 11 piece band backing them up.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 6 Mar 2009 1:13 pm

Billy:

Do you know what ever became of Tyler? He made a bunch of great recordings with Luke Wills and on his own up to about 1956 and then vanished.

A friend of mine, who I think you know (Steve Hathaway) spent a lot of time trying to research Tyler, without any success. Maybe he died young? He's pretty much a mystery, other than his recordings and a picture or two.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 6 Mar 2009 8:31 pm

Mitch:
Ole hired Johnny Tyler for a short while before finally hiring Teddy Wilds. Johnny did not seem to want to settle down with a band, he always had some other iron in the fire. He was an excellent singer and also a good lead guitar player. I don't know whatever happened to him.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 6 Mar 2009 9:47 pm

Billy;

A couple of hours ago I discovered a web page that said he died in Missouri at age 43 in 1961, but I don't have any further details. He recorded as late as 1960, so he may have still been "in the business" until he died.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 7 Mar 2009 8:38 am

Anyone wanting a used copy of: "The Jazz of The Southwest By Jean Ann Boyd" Go to Borders Market Place on line.

I found a soft cover copy for only $10.50

ROGER

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 10 Mar 2009 8:25 pm

Being Johnny Bonvillian has been located and still active I will not be making a CD from the Cassette Tape given to me. I suggest anyone interested in Johnny's music to contact him directly.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 14 Mar 2009 12:21 am

I received my paperback copy on friday of "The Jazz Of The Southwest". The book is brand new and appears to never have been used.

ROGER

The Steel Guitar Forum

Johnny Bonvillian, in the book - The Jazz Of The South West

Attn: Mitch

Johnny Tyler

"The Jazz of The Southwest By Jean Ann Boyd"

The Jazz Of The Southwest