Slim Willet
Slim Willet (born December 1, 1919 in Dublin , Texas as Winston Lee Moore , † July 1, 1966 ) was an American country musician , composer and radio host . Willet wrote the piece Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes , which became a hit with Skeets McDonald , among others .
Life
Childhood and youth
Born in Texas, studied Willet at the Hardin Simmons University in Abilene journalism . Willet later said that he was influenced by the Spanish style of singing because when he was 16 he was in a CCC camp in Arizona that also had some Mexicans who sang every night. After a short job in the aviation industry, he got a job as a presenter at the KRBC broadcaster in Abilene.
Career
There Willet moderated the KRBC Big State Jamboree on Saturday evening . In 1950 he received a recording contract with the small label Star Talent Records and played the title Toolpusher From Snyder , which achieved good sales in Texas. In 1952 he switched to the 4 Star Records , where he released his most famous song Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes . The track was actually just the B-side of another number that the radio stations played much less. After that, the song also became a hit with Skeets McDonald, Red Foley and Ray Price . Willet took advantage of his popularity and formed the band The Hired Hands , with whom he appeared on various radio shows such as the Big D Jamboree , the Louisiana Hayride and the Saturday Night Shindig . In 1954 Willet opened his own label, Winston Records, on which he occasionally recorded. Other tracks by him include Red Rose , No Love Song To You and his last single in 1966, You're The Only Woman .
Until 1956 he stayed at the station KRBC, after which he worked at the radio station KCAD in Abilene, in which he was a shareholder.
Willet died of a heart attack . He was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 1994 .
Discography
Singles
| year | title | Record company |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Hadacol Corners / Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes | 4 Star Records |
| 1953 | Let Me Know / My Love Song For You | 4 Star Records |
| 1953 | Red Rose / Live While You're Young | 4 Star Records |
| 1953 | Hungry Slim / Villa Cuna | 4 Star Records |
| 1953 | Hard To Love Just One / A Little Bluebird Keeps Singin ' | 4 Star Records |
| 1953 | Shibuya / Don't Waste Your Heart | 4 Star Records |
| 1954 | Star Light Waltz /? | Winston Records |
| 1954 | Will There Be Stars In My Crown / Life Today As You Know | 4 Star Records |
| 1954 | Leave Me Alone /? | Winston Records |
| 1954 | Leave Me Alone Now / Starlight Waltz | Decca Records |
| 1954 | Lonely Tide / Don't Laugh At me Now | 4 Star Records |
| 1955 | Love Me Baby / When Lovers Go By | 4 Star Records |
| 1955 | Mati Hari / Tell Me Now | 4 Star Records |
| 1955 | When Nobody Cares / Tall Men | 4 Star Records |
| 1956 | It ain't gonna rain /? | 4 Star Records |
| 1957 | Ain't Goin 'Home / My Sad Heart (as "Telli-W-MILS, The FAT CAT") | Winston Records |
| 1957 | Pandemonium (Instr.) / Crazy, Crazy (Over You) | Winston Records |
| 1958 | Benguela / Sneaky Pete (as "Telli-W-MILS, The FAT CAT") | Winston Records |
| 1958 | Benguela / Sneaky Pete | Carlton Records |
| 1959 | Abilene Waltz /? | Winston Records |
| 1966 | You're The Only Woman /? | Winston Records |
Albums
- 1959: Slim Willet
- 1962: Texas Oil Patch Songs
- 2003: Boppin 'Hillbilly Series - Slim Willet (NL)
Web links
- Slim Willet at Allmusic (English)
- Slim Willet on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Willet, Slim |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Moore, Winston Lee |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 1, 1919 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Dublin, Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 1, 1966 |