I am sad to say Slim Dossey passed away. Roy had played steel guitar on some of his record's in the 50's. I got to meet him when we went to Washington for Roy's induction into the Western Swing Society. He was nominated by Slim. He was in his in his 90's then and could still sing "Cattle Call" without a problem. He was an awesome person. I bet he and Roy are once again sharing memories. Prayers for comfort for his family and his friends. He will be missed. RIP Slim. I love you! Laurie
Below is his obit in the Western Swing Society Newsletter.
Born and raised in Brownsville, Kentucky, in 1918, Slim Dossey started his entertainment career when he was just about 16 years of age. He graduated from high school in 1937. He had athletic talent and earned a basketball scholarship to attend college. After a year of college, he decided to concentrate on music, and had a band, the Green River Boys.
World War II interrupted Slim's musical endeavors. He was a chief petty officer in the U. S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific. Upon discharge, he returned to the northwest and Washington. He worked on Channel 5, KING-TV on the Texas Jim Lewis and His Lonestar Cowboys show.
Around 1952 Slim moved to Kirkland, Washington and was doing a daily broadcast over KRKL, along with doing personal appearances in the evening at a Tacoma night spot.
In early 1953, Slim made his way to California. In Los Angeles, Slim found work on various shows such as the Jimmy Wakely Sunday Night TV Show and the Spade Cooley Show.
He eventually became a band leader at the The Town Hall Party, broadcast nationwide on the NBC radio network. He became a part of Smokey Rogers outfit in San Diego.
In the mid-1950's, Slim toured with the Grand Ole Opry. He would usually be the opening act and emcee, sometimes playing bass for Eddy Arnold.
Slim was inducted into both the NorthWest and Sacramento Western Swing Societies’ Halls of Fame in 1994.
He will be missed by all who loved him and knew him.
Slim Dossey
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I'm REALLY sorry to hear this. Slim was one of my good pals and I was just talking about him this morning while watching Merle Travis in "From Here To Eternity"
Most of you guys probably never heard of Warner Garvin "Slim" Dossey so here's a brief expansion on the added bio.
He grew up in KY and crossed paths with Travis and Ike Everly, rode the rails to eastern WA to pick apples, wound up in Seattle and singing in Texas Jim Lewis's band. TX Jim was big shot back then. Bought a new Martin D-28 at Gerkie's (sp?) music store in the Ballard district of Seattle and I guarantee he still had it to the end. I forget exactly but I think it's a 1950 model. Moved to LA in '53 and wound up on Town HAll Party and in Smokey Rogers Western Caravan at the Bostonia Ballroom in El Cajon singing and playing rhythm guitar. He roomed with Earl Murphy. The stories he told were great. In the later 50's he was in a version of the Sons of the Pioneers a Hugh Farr deal. The lead guitarist was Ivey J. Bryant. Again the stories were great. He and Dean Eaker split the band and when they went back to Fender to return the instruments they were loaned Forrest White gave him a job. He was kind of an "Artist Liason" and when any stars came by Slim would give them the nickle tour. When he wasn't doing that he was covering amps. In late 1960 he was given a guitar and an amp. When asked what model amp he wanted he said Bassman. why? That was the only model he knew the name of! As it turned out the last production run of the single greatest amp ever made was immenent and Forrest said he would call down and have one reserved. So the last tweed Bassman to ever leave the plant was in his hands. The tube chart is dated "KB" and is the only Feb 61 Bassman I've seen so far. I also guarantee he had it till the end. In the early 60's Slim's song "Just to Ease the Pain", written in 55 but considered to racy for the 50's, was a hit for Hank Thompson. Slim told me once his greatest thrill ever was sitting home watching the Tonight Show where Hank was singing the song. It was just Hank and a piano. "To hear Skitch Henderson playing one of my songs, it just dosen't get any better" He continued with Fender until the CBS take over when he moved up to Idaho where he would spend the rest of his life. He performed the entire time often with Dean Eaker and Portland Fiddle great Norval "Bus" Boyk.
He produced a fine solo album along the way entitled,"Reflections".
Always ready with a joke and a song he was truely a first class Gentleman and will always be one of my 3 biggest musical influences. I will cherish every memory.
Most of you guys probably never heard of Warner Garvin "Slim" Dossey so here's a brief expansion on the added bio.
He grew up in KY and crossed paths with Travis and Ike Everly, rode the rails to eastern WA to pick apples, wound up in Seattle and singing in Texas Jim Lewis's band. TX Jim was big shot back then. Bought a new Martin D-28 at Gerkie's (sp?) music store in the Ballard district of Seattle and I guarantee he still had it to the end. I forget exactly but I think it's a 1950 model. Moved to LA in '53 and wound up on Town HAll Party and in Smokey Rogers Western Caravan at the Bostonia Ballroom in El Cajon singing and playing rhythm guitar. He roomed with Earl Murphy. The stories he told were great. In the later 50's he was in a version of the Sons of the Pioneers a Hugh Farr deal. The lead guitarist was Ivey J. Bryant. Again the stories were great. He and Dean Eaker split the band and when they went back to Fender to return the instruments they were loaned Forrest White gave him a job. He was kind of an "Artist Liason" and when any stars came by Slim would give them the nickle tour. When he wasn't doing that he was covering amps. In late 1960 he was given a guitar and an amp. When asked what model amp he wanted he said Bassman. why? That was the only model he knew the name of! As it turned out the last production run of the single greatest amp ever made was immenent and Forrest said he would call down and have one reserved. So the last tweed Bassman to ever leave the plant was in his hands. The tube chart is dated "KB" and is the only Feb 61 Bassman I've seen so far. I also guarantee he had it till the end. In the early 60's Slim's song "Just to Ease the Pain", written in 55 but considered to racy for the 50's, was a hit for Hank Thompson. Slim told me once his greatest thrill ever was sitting home watching the Tonight Show where Hank was singing the song. It was just Hank and a piano. "To hear Skitch Henderson playing one of my songs, it just dosen't get any better" He continued with Fender until the CBS take over when he moved up to Idaho where he would spend the rest of his life. He performed the entire time often with Dean Eaker and Portland Fiddle great Norval "Bus" Boyk.
He produced a fine solo album along the way entitled,"Reflections".
Always ready with a joke and a song he was truely a first class Gentleman and will always be one of my 3 biggest musical influences. I will cherish every memory.