Smokey Rogers band, mid 1950s picture--help ID musicians??

[Mitch Drumm]

I just found this nice pic from the mid 1950s of Smokey Rogers and the Western Caravan, probably taken at the Bostonia Ballroom.




Can you help identify these guys??

The front row, left to right, is probably Andy Parker, definitely Dean Eacker, and Smokey Rogers.

Joaquin Murphey is on the far left of the middle row. I think that is Ossie Godson next to Joaquin. The rest of the guys may be mostly from the earlier Tex Williams band and a couple look familiar, but I can't name any others.

That looks like part of Joaquino's Bigsby on the far left.

Help?

[Ron Whitfield]

Top right is Pedro DePaul, accordion and musical arranger.

[Jussi Huhtakangas]

Johnny Weis, middle row on the right.

[Billy Tonnesen]

I know that Cactus Soldi played violin with Smokey's group but I don't know if he is in this picture or not. Cactus started with Spade Cooley, then Tex Williams and then Smokey Rogers Pretty much the same band with differen't leaders.

[Mitch Drumm]

I've compared these guys to another picture I have of Tex Williams' band from the late 1940s.

Going by that, I think the guy on the left side of the back row is probably fiddler Rex Call. The middle of the back row may be fiddler Cactus Soldi.

Beyond that, it gets dicey. None of these guys appear to be Deuce Spriggens, Benny Garcia, Spike Featherstone, Muddy Berry, or Max Fidler.

As far as I know, Andy Parker was not part of the Western Caravan and may have just been sitting in for the picture? That would square with him being out of uniform.

[Ron Whitfield]

...that may be Benny - 2nd row/right, below Pedro.

He was probably the last of the Spade/Tex bunch still living until last year.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

Would anyone have any info on Johnny Weis ?
pics of him would be of great help too
Mercy !

[Mitch Drumm]

Crowbear:

Here are a couple;

The group pic is Tex Williams' band baseball team. Joaquin looking down in the back row, Weis front row left.

I think I read that he passed away long ago--early 1960s??

It certainly appears to be him on the right side of the middle row in the above Rogers pic, as Jussi has said.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

Thanx a bunch Mitch
i was askin' for any info or pics of Johnny on behalf of his son Danny
http://www.myspace.com/dannyweis
Danny used to play w: Iron Butterfly & Rhinocerous
quite a picker
"apricot brandy" is one of his claims to fame

[Jason Odd]

Good point CrowBear, he also became one of the Elektra Records and Producer Paul Rothchild's regular session pickers in the late 60s-early 70s, sessions for David Ackles, the Everly Brothers, etc.

[Ron Whitfield]

Yep, more likely Johnny than Benny, for sure.

Looks like Joaquin is really up for the game...