The Steel Guitar Forum

I've ran across an old photo - 1940s vintage - of a band named "Clyde Chesser and his Texas Village Boys". In the photo, Clyde is barefoot - too cool. I have it hanging in my music room, but would like to know more about the band and musicians. The photo is obviously from a radio show from KCEN in Temple, Tx. There is a standup steeler in the photo - Gaylon Christie. Other musicians - Okie Davis & Eddie Spradley / fiddle; Arnold Williams / guitar; and Alvin Berry / bass.
Does anyone have any background on these guys or can point to someone who may?

Gary,

Maybe I can give you a little information. I remember the name “Barefoot” Clyde Chesser from my second job in radio, which was at KOKE in Austin, TX in 1963 and 1964. I think he was a DJ at KVET at that time, which was a competitor. I don’t remember ever meeting the man, but I remember hearing my friend Sammy “Giezenslaw” Allred talk about him. Now whether Sammy knew him from radio, or music, or both I don’t remember.

Even more astounding is the name Gaylon Christie. I have a very dear friend who is the Program Director at KKYX here in San Antonio. His son is named Gaylon, and I seem to remember him telling me at one time many years ago, that his son is named for Gaylon Christie. The reason he mentioned it to me was that he said Mr. Christie was a fairly well known steel player in these parts many years ago. Interestingly enough, I believe his son was born when he was working at a radio station in Temple-Belton, TX. Ain’t that interesting! I really can not remember what the association with the name was, whether they are somehow related, or this gentleman was just a good friend, owned the radio station in Belton, worked there with my friend…or what.

My friend does the morning show, and since it is New Years Eve, he is long gone for the day. I will try and call him later this week and see if he can give me a little more information. Please understand these recollections are very vague in my mind, as they go back many years, so they may not be all that accurate.

B. Bailey Brown

Gaylon owned and operated koov in copperas cove tx until a few yrs ago and then retired.Clyde Chesser came into my office about 15 yrs ago or so. He was selling advertising and was working out of the Houston area Clyde passed on a few yrs back. O K Davis and eddie Spradly have passed also. I am sure about O K but I heard that eddy had died. Another steel player with Clyde, I believe replaced Gaylon was Charles Tunn of Florence Tx and Don Ricketson of Llano Tx also played occasionally.

Gaylon Christie did in fact own an FM station in Belton-Temple for quite a while.
I don't believe the Photo you have is from the 40's but probably from sometime in the Fifties. Gaylon started with Chesser when he was but a teenager. During the late fifties he had a band together with another local popular fellow, Dell McBride (father to McBride of McBride and the Ride) called the Downbeats. I ran into Gaylon getting on an elevator Scott & White Hospital in 1993 and he told me that he had just had open heart surgery and was going in for his stress test.
The photo was probablity taken at KCEN TV. They had a weekly TV show there for quite a while.

I also played in a band with Charlie Ton. I think that is the right spelling. I could find out with a phone call or two. Charlie passed on due to cancer. He had the very first fender 1000 I ever saw. Charlie was a very good steel player by night and a blackland dirt farmer daylight to dark. I was just talking about him this weekend with a mutual friend from that same band.

Clyde Chesser had a very popular band during the fifties and early sixties. Okie Davis played fiddle right handed and Eddie Spradley played left handed as I recall (could have been the other way). Anyway, it was an awesome sight to see and they played great. Clinton Taylor (barber in Troy,Tx) or Gandy (barber in Temple,Tx) can give you as much info on all of these players as anyone and a lot more than most.

Just a few memories from the past(some faded now) about good country music in Central Texas during the fifties. Just got back from there at 4pm today.

George

My ichiban fiddler in Copperas Cove tx,Cecil Newton, and wife Cissy, tell me that Eddy Spradly is alive and living in the Gatesville Tx area. He has been quite ill but they have heard that he is now playing occasionly. BTW,JUST ABOUT EVERYONE,pronouced davis' name as Okey, it was really O K Davis. I'ii ask Cecil andfind out what the O and K names were. CC

I checked with Cecil and Cissy and they thought it was just initials O K. I called Bonnie, his widow in Gatesville, and she said it was simply O K. He would have fun makng up hilarious names. She also confirmed that Eddy Spradly was doing better now. CC

B Bailey / CC / George,
Appreciate the info. I have a lot of interest in C&W music history is Texas. Justed wanted to know more about who these guys were?
Thanks!
Gary

Clyde Chesser and his Texas Village Boys, are we talking a Western Swing band here?

we sure are. They were a fine west sg band and also did country, 50s rock, and a little pop standards. This was a fine band, all real good fellows. When Gaylon Christy left he form the "Downbeats" which were also a fine band with a large repetoire, primarily the rock of that era.

Re the other steelplayer mentioned above as Charlie Tunn or Ton, I think it might be Tonn, as there are a number of those in that area. I'm originally from near that neck of the woods & that time era, but don't recall any of those groups (my Pa kept me busy in those blackland & chalk fields).

My dad was an audio engeneer at KCEN from the time it hit the air until the late 50's. He did all the Barefoot "Chester" shows. I think they only used one mic, and he would have to position all the instruments in the studio to get a balanced sound. Gaylon was my inspiration to play steel. This is off topic, but the guy that gave the weather report in those days at KCEN went to Hollywood and eventually co-starred with Broderick Crawford in the old "Highway Patrol" TV series. Over the years he has been a supporting actor in dozens (if not hundreds) of various TV shows. I believe he has a production company now. His name was Bill Boyette. ~~ Travis

This came from various posts on the South West music group on the Yahoo list, I sent it a link to this page, so it started an interesting discussion.

CLYDE "BEARFOOT" CHESSER
Born - 19th August 1929. Tahoka. Texas. Raised Oglesby. Texas

Waco. Texas - KWTX (First Radio Show)
Hamilton. Texas - KCLW (As DJ)
1951 - 1953 Military service - Two years in Germany
1953 - KCEN-TV Temple Texas (First TV show)

Unknown Date
CLYDE CHESSER & THE TEXAS VILLAGE BOYS
TELECRAFT 101/102
101.A Would I Be Satisfied (Vocal - Eddie Spradley)
102.A I'm Sorry For You Darlin' (Vocal - O.K.Davis)

c. November 1954
CLYDE "BAREFOOT" CHESSER & THE TEXAS VILLAGE BOYS
CENTRAL 102/103
C.102 Give The Devil A Little Rope (Vocal Okie Davis)
C.103 I Wish (Vocal - Eddie Spradley & the Diamond Twins)
Texas Village Boys - Printed on label - Eddie Spradley. Alvin Berry. Arnold
Williams. Gaylon Christie

1955 - Recorded "If Jesus Came To Your House" - covered by Red Sovine, Tex
Ritter, Porter Wagoner.
Release date and label unknown.

1957
CLYDE "BAREFOOT" CHESSER & THE TEXAS VILLAGE BOYS
CENTRAL 119
A Lost Highway (Vocal - Leon Ralph - sic)
B Smudges On The Wall (Vocal - Clyde Chesser)
Texas Village Boys - Printed on label - Frankie Quarter (sic). Curtis
Williams. Tex Crompton. Lou Rochelle.

Unknown Date - early 60's?

"IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE" AUSTIN LP LCS -33-6242
Tracks:
If Jesus Came
Smudges On The Wall
Maw's Old Galvanised Washing Tub
The Mother I Never Knew
Red Deck Of Cards
Dear Jesus
Last Sunset
Mail Order From Heaven
What Is A Boy?
The Farmer And The Lord
The Monkey's Viewpoint
Mama Sang A Song

Backing - The Kountry Boys - (Includes) Burt Rivera (Steel Guitar). Jim Fogel (Bs). Billy Belding (Electric Standard Guitar). Vocal - (eighteen year old) Ray Frushay
Was working on KOKE Austin. Texas. when he recorded the LP

Hey your honor sir......

Cut it out - Proctor !

Gary I played with Clyde " Barefoot" Chesser during the late 1950's and early 1960's.