Texas Playboys Pianist Dies At 83

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Oct 2003 4:48 am

(From the DAILY OKLAHOMAN 10-9-03)

TULSA - Clarence B.Cagle, a legendary pianist for the Texas Playboys, has died at the age of 83.

Cagle, who was born April 19, 1920, in Oklahoma City, died on Sunday.

Cagle began playing violin and banjo at house parties at age 9.

While playing at Moonlight Gardens club in Oklahoma City, he became friends with legendary jazz musician Charlie Christian, who was playing at the club next door.

In 1938, Cagle moved to Coffeyville, Kan., where he played with Herb Goddard's Oklahoma Wanderers. By then, he'd switched to playing the piano. Cagle auditioned for legendary Texas swing musician Bob Wills in 1943 in Tulsa. He got the job and performed with the Texas Playboys until Wills left for Hollywood.

Cagle stayed in Tulsa with Wills' brother, Johnny Lee Wills, developing his well-known "Boogie Woogie Highball." Cagle played music with him for the next 17 years.

After running a music store in Rogers, Ark., Cagle returned to Tulsa in 1982 and coninued to play with Johnnie Lee Wills during the next several years, filling in as a pianist for the Texas Playboys.

Cagle is survived by his wife, two children, two great-grandchildren and three brothers. Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Friday at Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow.

(From Staff and Wire Reports)[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 09 October 2003 at 05:59 AM.]

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 9 Oct 2003 5:26 am

While I didn't know him personally, I knew Johnny Vaughn who was playing steel with JLW then. It was at one of those shows where I saw the fiddle player whose wife used to sit beside him on the stage and make sure he was only playing music. They were a great bunch and if memory serves me correctly, I saw Gene Crownover work with them on a Quad 8 Fender as well; "The fastest thumb in the west !" Thanks for the memorial tribute, Gene.

Regards, Paul

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 9 Oct 2003 6:48 am

Paul, ironically, I used to work with the fiddler that you referenced above.

That's him 2d from left on the top row...the bearded one with the pony-tail is me!

<img height=310 width=411 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/January%20 ... .jpg>[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 09 October 2003 at 07:55 AM.]

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 9 Oct 2003 8:23 am

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