Adolph Hofner
Adolph Hofner (born June 8, 1916 in Moulton , Texas , † June 2, 2000 ) was an American country musician and orchestra conductor. Hofner was one of the best known and most successful representatives of Western Swing in South Texas .
Life
Childhood and youth
Adolph Hofner grew up in Lavaca County , Texas . His ancestors were of German and Czech origins, so it was not surprising that Hofner grew up playing polkas and other Central European dance music. In 1928 he and his family moved to San Antonio , where Hofner and his brother Emil, who played steel guitar , began performing in clubs.
Career
After the two Hofner brothers first heard Bob Wills and Milton Brown with their new jazz- influenced style, they also changed their music in this direction. Hofner later said: “ Now that's what sold me on western music - because they had a band. “Before that, they mainly played Cajun , Hillbilly and Hawaiian music . During the day Hofner worked as a mechanic, in the evening he played with brother Emil and the fiddler Jimmie Revard in various local bands. Together with Emil and Revard, Hofner founded the western swing band Jimmie Revard's Oklahoma Playboys , which quickly became a popular show group around San Antonio. At this time Hofner recorded his first records with various other bands.
Inspired by Hofner's friend Floyd Tillman , he formed his own band, Adolph Hofner and his Texans , which would later be renamed The San Antonians . In the early 1940s Hofner got a record deal with Okeh Records and Columbia Records . Two of his most famous titles from this period were Maria Elena and the Alamo Rag . Hofner's biggest hit followed in 1941, a version of the traditional Cotton-Eyed Joe . In the meantime Hofner and his band had changed their location and moved to California . During this time Hofner worked under names such as “Dub Hofner” and “Dolph Hofner” in order to avoid associating his first name with Adolf Hitler .
After the Second World War - Hofner had returned to Texas - he played under his real name again and, in addition to popular western swing, now also recorded traditional Czech-language dance music. His pieces The Shiner Song and The Prune Waltz are now considered classics of Texan music. In 1949 the name of his band changed to Pearl Wranglers for radio appearances , but were still called San Antionians for recordings. Hofner continued to perform and record for the Sarg records label for the next several years, but his most successful period was over, even though Hofner and his San Antonians remained a popular band until the 1980s. Finally Hofner had to give up his music career due to a serious illness and died in 2000.
Adolph Hofner left a musical legacy that would influence later country musicians, from Willie Nelson to Charlie & Bruce Robison.
Discography
Singles
| year | title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Ward | |||
| 194? | Dreaming Waltz / I'll Keep My Old Guitar | ||
| 194? | That Little Town / Little Brown Eyed Lady | ||
| 194? | Someone Is Alone / It's All My Fault | ||
| 194? | Because I Have Lost You / Why Should I Cry Over You | ||
| 194? | Strashidio Polka / Dis Yes love Spim | ||
| 194? | Sam The Old Accordion Man / Joe Turner's Blues | ||
| 194? | Maria Elena Waltz / Spanish Two Step | ||
| Columbia Records | |||
| 1947 | Sweetheart, This Is Goodbye / Sage Brush Shuffle | ||
| 1947 | Sometimes / Waiting For You Dear | ||
| 1947 | You Don't Love Me Anymore / Will You Think of Me | ||
| 1947 | There's A Star In The Heavens / Alamo Rag | ||
| 1947 | Paul Jones / Cotton-Eyed Joe | ||
| 1947 | Swing With The Music / Alamo Steel Serenade | ||
| 1948 | Tickle Toe Polka / Jessie Polka | ||
| 1950 | Life Passed Me By / Heska Holska Scottish | ||
| 1950 | Cotton-Eyed Joe / Put Your Little Foot Out | ||
| 1950 | Dude Ranch Scottish / Seven Step Polka | ||
| 1950 | Rye Waltz / Little Brown Jug | ||
| 1950 | Mr. Schmidt / Ten Pretty Girls | ||
| 1950 | Please Don't Take That Bottle From Me / In My Heart And On My Mind | ||
| Bluebird Records | |||
| 19 ?? | Sam, The Old Accordion Man / Joe Turner's Blues | Republication | |
| 19 ?? | You're Always On My Mind /? | ||
| Coffin records | |||
| 1962 | Pipeliner Blues / Over The Waves (instr.) | with Smokey Sweat | |
Albums
- 1955: Dance-O-Rama
- 1980: South Texas Swing ( Arhoolie Records ) LP, sampler
Individual evidence
Web links
- Entry in the All Music Guide
- Adolph Hofner on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Hofner, Adolph |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Hofner, Dub; Hofner, Dolph |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country musician and orchestra conductor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 8, 1916 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Moulton , Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 2, 2000 |
| Place of death | San Antonio , Texas |