Tommy Duncan
01/03/1917  -  08/20/1988
As the lead singer for the classic lineup of Bob Wills' Texas
Playboys, Tommy Duncan was the definitive Western swing vocalist.
Crossing the smooth croon of Bing Crosby with the twang of Jimmie
Rodgers and the bluesy inclinations of Emmett Miller, Duncan had a
warm, distinctive, and welcoming voice that helped the Playboys
cross over to a wider audience. Not only was he a wonderful,
trendsetting vocalist, Duncan also wrote many of the Texas
Playboys' biggest hits, including "Time Changes Everything," "Stay
a Little Longer," "Take Me Back to Tulsa," "New Spanish Two Step,"
and "Bubbles in My Beer." Throughout the '30s and '40s, he was
remained with Wills, leaving in 1948 when tensions between the two
musicians became too great. Following his departure, Duncan
launched a solo career that resulted in one major hit single,
"Gamblin' Polka Dot Blues." Throughout the '50s, he sang both as a
solo artist and a member of the Miller Brothers Band. In 1960, he and
Wills patched up their differences and recorded several albums.
Following his reunion with Wills, he began touring as a solo artist,
and he remained on the road until his death in 1967.

Duncan was hired by Wills in 1933 to fill the vacant spot left in the
Light Crust Doughboys by vocalist/pianist Milton Brown, who had
left the band when W. Lee O'Daniel, the sponsor of the group's radio
show, refused to let the band play dances. Wills auditioned a total of
67 singers before hiring Duncan. Later that year, Wills was fired from
the radio station by O'Daniel for showing up drunk, Duncan chose to
join Bob's new band, the Texas Playboys, instead of staying with the
Lightcrust Doughboys.

Once the Texas Playboys settled in Tulsa in 1934, Duncan moved to
permanent lead vocalist, leaving the piano to Alton Stricklin. Over the
next eight years, the group had a regular show on Tulsa's KVOO and
recorded a number of hit singles for the American Recording
Company, including "Right or Wrong" and "New San Antonio
Rose." In 1942, Duncan left the band to join the Army and fight in
World War II. His departure began a wave of defections from the
Playboys, as many of the members enlisted in the service. The
Playboys' popularity crumbled with the absence of so many key
musicians, yet they bounced back up the charts once Duncan and
several other members rejoined following the end of the war.

Duncan stayed with Wills until 1948, when the fiddler fired the singer,
believing that Tommy was commanding too much attention. Upon
leaving the Playboys, Duncan formed a Western swing band with
several former members of the Texas Playboys and signed to
Capitol Records. "Gamblin' Polka Dot Blues," his debut single, was a
hit upon its summer release in 1949, peaking at number eight on the
charts. After touring with the band during 1948 and 1949, Duncan
joined the Miller Brothers Band in the early '50s. Over the course of
the early '50s, he recorded with the Miller Brothers on Intro Records,
as well as solo for Coral. During the latter half of the decade, Duncan
recorded for a variety of small labels, including Cheyenne, Fire, and
Award. Despite his constant touring and recording, Duncan failed to
have much success, primarily because Western swing had fallen out
of favor with many contemporary country fans.

Wills and Duncan patched up their differences and reunited in 1960,
recording a number of sessions that were released as albums and
singles over the next two years. One single, "The Image of Me,"
became a minor Top 40 country hit in early 1961. Following his brief
reunion with Wills, Duncan continued to tour as a solo artist
throughout the rest of the decade, usually employing a house band
as his supporting group. In 1966, Duncan released his last single, "I
Brought It on Myself"/"Let Me Take You Out," on Smash Records.
The following year, he suffered a major heart attack and died in July,
leaving behind a legacy of classic recordings and songs.