Who is Floyd Tillman? Second in the Floyd Tillman Haunted Tour Bus Series
The haunted tour bus of Floyd Tillman has been discovered in a junk yard. As in my earlier article, we will explore the phenomena of the tour bus and now of the phenomenon of Floyd Tillman. Years before most of us were old enough to know, Floyd was on his way to Country Music stardom.
Photo supplied by Mr. Richard L. Smith
Floyd Tillman (December 8, 1914 – August 22, 2003) was an American country musician who, in the 1930s and 40s, helped create the Western Swing and the honky tonk genres. Tillman was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984.
Floyd Tillman was born in Ryan, Oklahoma on December 8, 1914, but raised in Post, Texas, Floyd was drawn to playing music by the fact that two of his brothers were earning $5 a night playing dances at a local skating rink.Floyd developed his own style of performing at an early age. He was always just a little off from the beat of the other musicians. He would rather sing his own compositions than the common hits of the day. Tillman grew up in the cotton-mill town of Post, Texas as a sharecropper's son. One of his early jobs was with Western Union as a telegraph operator. In the early 1930s He played mandolin at local dances and eventually took up the guitar.
Floyd's first major hit, "It Makes No Difference Now," which he sold for $300, established him as a songwriter in 1938, and led to his own Decca recording contract. Jimmie Davis purchased the song from Floyd. Floyd would retain the ownership of the song once again after twenty eight years.
Floyd Tillman - Cold, Cold Beer
Tillman moved to San Antonio played lead guitar with Adolph Hofner, a Western swing bandleader, and soon developed into a songwriter and singer. He took a job with Houston bandleader Mack Clark in 1938, with Western swing groups fronted by Leon “Pappy” Selph and Cliff Bruner. He also worked with Ted Daffan, and singer and piano player Moon Mullican.
Tillman recorded as a featured vocalist with Selph’s Blue Ridge Playboys in 1938, the same year Floyd scored his first major songwriting hit, "It Makes No Difference Now," giving him his own Decca recording contract. Jimmie Davis bought the song from Floyd for $300, the rights to which he got back 28 years later.
Tillman's only number one song as a singer was "They Took The Stars Out of Heaven." It reached the top of the charts in 1942. Previously, he had reached number two with "I'm Gonna Change All My Ways." His 1944 hit, "Each Night At Nine," struck a chord with lonely servicemen during World War II. Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose played it heavily to encourage desertion.
A big hit for Tillman and also for Jimmy Wakely was 1948's "I Love You So Much" "Slippin Around", It Hurts." His 1949 "Slippin Around", one of the first country western "cheating" songs, was a hit for Tillman as well as Ernest Tubb, Texas Jim Robertson and the duo of Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely. Tillman had another successful song with his own answer " I'll Never Slip Around Again" as did the Whiting-Wakely duo. He slowed down on his performing in the early 1950s, although he appeared on ABC--TV's Jubilee in 1958 and 1959.
At the link below the radio, you will find 'Drivin' Nails in My Coffin' and many more Floyd Tillman songs and videos!
Tillman's final album, recorded in 2002-2003 titled The Influence, paired him with country music artists who were influenced by his style and performing: Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Justin Trevino, Ray Price, Frankie Miller, Hank Thompson, Connie Smith, Lawton Williams, Mel Tillis, Darrell McCall, Johnny Bush and George Jones. The project, released in April of 2004, featured liner notes by Dr. Bill Malone, Bill Mack, Hank Thompson and Willie Nelson. It was produced by Justin Trevino on Heart of Texas Records.
Floyd slowed down on his performing in the early 1950's relying on his past sonwriting hits to provide an income.
"It was a daily rat race," Floyd said. "I was sleeping in my car-a bus was out of the question, too expensive-and making $200-$500 a night, more money than I could pay taxes on, and I got tired of it. I told the band they could go on and keep playin' but I was going to retire. That kind of life can get to you."
Floyd would become a very honored songwriter and performer especially out of the "outlaw music craze" that swept Texas. Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Darrell McCall and so many others regarded Floyd as one of their major influences.
He returned to work occasionally in the 1970's primarily throughout Texas. He did enjoy a part in several of the "Legends" or "Pioneer Reunion" shows in Nashville. Floyd continued to work until he reached his 88th birthday, just months before his death.
Floyd was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1971. His greatest honor was bestowed on him in 1984 when his protege Willie Nelson inducted him into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Floyd returned to the studio in 2002-2003 to record his final album. The project titled "The Influence" paired Floyd with some Country Music artists that were influenced by his style and performing. Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Leona Williams, Dolly Parton, Justin Trevino, Ray Price, Frankie Miller, Hank Thompson, Connie Smith, Lawton Williams, Mel Tillis, Darrell McCall, Johnny Bush and George Jones recorded some of Floyd Tillman's masterpieces with the creater himself.
The project, released in April of 2004, features liner notes by Dr. Bill Malone, Bill Mack, Hank Thompson and Willie Nelson. It was produced by Justin Trevino on Heart of Texas Records.
"We were so delighted to bring Floyd back into the studios after a twenty year absence," Heart of Texas Records President Tracy Pitcox said. "We were just very dissapointed that Floyd could not hear the final project. He loved his vocals and smiled 'ear to ear' when I first played them for him."
"The Influence" is a fitting tribute to a great Country Music Legend.
Floyd Tillman passed away peacefully at his home in Bacliff, Texas, on August 22, 2003.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi8TO8bYRBw
For more information and lyrics of Floyd Tillman CMT has some great resources - http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/tillman_floyd/artist.jhtml
And as for the Floyd Tillman Haunted Tour Bus journey.... I should continue with some interesting reports...if you don't hear from me in two weeks, I'm off with Floyd.
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Who is Floyd Tillman? Second in the Floyd Tillman Haunted Tour Bus Series
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