tex owens

Biography

Tex Owens, born Doie Hensley Owens on June 15, 1892, in Killeen, Texas, was the eldest of thirteen children in a sharecropping family. Growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, he spent his youth working on ranches and in oil fields, which deeply influenced his later musical themes. Owens began his musical journey as a self-taught guitarist and singer, performing at traveling tent shows and later on radio, where his tall stature and authentic cowboy persona made him a natural entertainer.

In 1931, encouraged by friends, Owens transitioned to radio, co-hosting the popular 'Brush Creek Follies' on KMBC in Kansas City with his group, the Original Texas Rangers, and his daughters. He signed with Decca Records in 1934 and wrote his most enduring song, 'Cattle Call,' in 1935—a tune that would later become a major hit for Eddy Arnold. While Owens' own recordings were modestly received, his influence was felt through his radio performances, songwriting, and his leadership of groups like the Texas Rangers and the Prairie Pioneers. He continued to perform on radio and in live appearances, and even worked in film until a serious injury in 1950 curtailed his career. Owens died in Baden, Texas, in 1962, and was posthumously inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971, cementing his legacy as a foundational figure in early country and western music.

Fun Facts

• Tex Owens wrote more than 100 songs, but 'Cattle Call' was by far his most successful and enduring composition.
• He was declared an honorary Texas Ranger by the governor of Texas in 1939, along with his band.
• Owens suffered a broken back when a horse fell on him during the filming of the classic western 'Red River' with John Wayne.
• His siblings were also musically inclined: his brother Charles (Chuck) was a songwriter, and his sister Ruby had a long career as a country singer.

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• The Original Texas Rangers - Owens' primary backing group on radio and recordings (Brush Creek Follies, Decca recordings) [1930s-1940s]
• Prairie Pioneers - Radio and live performance group (Radio shows, live appearances) [1940s]
• Prairie Pirates - Later backing group for recordings (Wrightman label sessions) [1953-1954]
• Dolpha (Jane) and Laura Lee (Joy) Owens - His daughters, performed with him on radio (Brush Creek Follies) [1930s-1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Eddy Arnold - Recorded and popularized 'Cattle Call', making it a country standard ('Cattle Call' (multiple versions)) [1940s-1950s]
• Laura Lee Owens - His daughter, became the first female vocalist hired by Bob Wills (Performances with Bob Wills) [1950s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Cattle Call (Singing in the Saddle)
2. Porcupine Serenade (Slew Foot Boppin' Billies)
3. Porcupine Serenade - inst. (Wheeling Boogie)
4. Porcupine Serenade (Slew Foot Boppin' Billies)
5. The Cattle call (America, Vol. 9: Country - Country & Western)
6. Cattle Call (Cowboy Classics, Vol. 2)
7. Cattle Call (Maverick Country)
8. Cattle Call (101 Country Hits)
9. Cattle Call (101 Country)
10. Cattle Call (Yodeller's Dream)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia