Billy Jack Wills And His Western Swing Band

Western swing band led by Billy Jack Wills & Tiny Moore based out of Bob Wills' Wills Point Ballroom in Sacramento, active from 1949 or 50 to 1954, when the band was folded into Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Known for incorporating influences and songs from jump blues, R&B and be-bop music, and regarded as early rockabilly/ rock 'n roll pioneers. The band made some commercial recordings in the early ’50s for 4 Star Records and later for MGM, and a series of radio transcriptions at Radio Station KFBK in Sacramento, California between 1952-1954. Original steel guitarist Tommy Varner was drafted into the U.S. Army for the Korean War, replaced by Vance Terry early in the band's career. Charlie Moore was the original drummer in the group, from 1950 to 1953, and was replaced by Tommy Perkins.