Oklahoma Musicians

Musician

Joe Frank Ferguson

Baylor and UNT oral-history catalogs identify Ferguson as a bass player/vocalist with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys from 1936-1942, providing a direct Oklahoma band-history connection through the Tulsa-centered ensemble.

Musical work

double bassist; vocalist; band musician. Instruments recorded in the collection: string bass. Genres: western swing; country; jazz-inflected dance music.

Evidence and identity

Two institutional oral-history archives support the identity, bass role and Wills/Playboys chronology.

Bob Wills

Bob Wills Oklahoma career; Tulsa base 1934-1942; Oklahoma City arrival; western swing and jazz/blues-inflected band history

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Joe Frank Ferguson oral history

Joe Frank Ferguson identity, bass role and 1936 Texas Playboys connection

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Joe Frank Ferguson interview

Joe Frank Ferguson identity and Oklahoma/Texas Playboys career context

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Sources

  1. countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/bob-wills
  2. digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/documents/detail/1593187
  3. digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2288850/