Biography
William Leon McAuliffe, 1 March 1917, Houston, Texas, USA, d. 20 August 1988, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. McAuliffe learned both guitar and steel guitar while at school, and when aged 16 joined the Light Crust Doughboys. In March 1935, he joined Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys as steel guitarist, remaining with him until December 1942, when military service intervened. Wills’ entreaties of ‘Take It Away Leon’ became an expected shout, both on live and recorded performances. He formed his own band, the Western Swing Band, in 1946, but after becoming the owner of the Cimarron Ballroom, Tulsa, in the early 50s, changed the band’s name to the Cimarron Boys. He recorded for Majestic, Columbia, Dot and Starday, finding success with numbers such as ‘Steel Guitar Rag’ and ‘Panhandle Rag’, and played regularly on KVOO and KRMG, Tulsa. In the late 50s and for most of the 60s, McAuliffe and his band toured extensively in...
Read the Full Biography of Leon McAuliffe & His Cimmaron Boys
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