Louise Massey

Louise Massey (born Victoria Louise Massey; 10 August 1902 – 20 June 1983, in San Angelo, Texas), American singer and songwriter born in Midland, Texas. The Massey family left Texas while Louise Massey was very young and she grew up near Roswell in Lincoln County, New Mexico. In 1918, Louise's father, Henry Massey, started a band that featured himself and three of his eight children singing and playing musical instruments. Most of the children were able to play several instruments while dressed in “elaborate cowboy outfits as their stage attire,” Louise played piano and sang. The Massey’s music career began in 1920s, when they played and sang at local shows and church socials. At the age of 15, Louise married Milton Mabie, who also joined the group.

In 1930, the quintet known as "the Westerners" included Louise, Curt and Allen Massey, Milton Mabie, and Larry Wellington, who had replaced Henry Massey. Louise, with her flamboyant Spanish-style costumes, became the focal point of the act and received lead billing. The Westerners' first radio performance was on KMBC in Kansas City. They moved to WLS Radio in Chicago in 1933. In 1934, the song "When the White Azaleas Start Blooming" was released by the band and sold three million copies. In 1936, they moved to New York where they continued their radio work on NBC. In 1938, Louise Massey and the Westerners appeared in the Tex Ritter movie Where the Buffalo Roam. The group returned to WLS Radio in 1939 and did a morning broadcast on NBC called "Reveille Roundup."

In the early 1940s, the Westerners were "well known for numerous radio appearances" and were appearing on Plantation Party broadcasts three nights a week. Louise Massey recorded for several record labels including Vocalion Records, OKeh Records, and Conqueror Records.

Massey's house in Roswell is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Birth and Death Data: Born Midland, Died June 20, 1983 (San Angelo)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, harmony vocal, songwriter, guitar, piano

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-39 of 39 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia WC2933 10-in. 2/20/1940 Mary had a little lamb Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia WC2951 10-in. 2/22/1940 Rock and rye polka Louise Massey ; Westerners String band leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia WC2952 10-in. 2/22/1940 Little brown jug Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] String band leader  
Columbia WC2953 10-in. 2/22/1940 Put your little foot right out Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] String band, with mixed vocal trio leader, vocalist  
Columbia WC2954 10-in. 2/22/1940 Ye olde rye waltz Louise Massey ; Westerners String band leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia C3415 10-in. 10/11/1940 Beer and skittles Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] String band leader  
Columbia C3423 10-in. 10/12/1940 Tears on my pillow Louise Massey ; Westerners String band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia C3426 10-in. 10/12/1940 Mistakes Louise Massey ; Westerners String band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia C3579 10-in. 1/27/1941 My adobe hacienda Louise Massey ; Westerners String band, with female vocal solo vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia C3822 10-in. 5/29/1941 Mama Inez (Oh! Mom-e-nez) Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] String band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist, harmony vocal  
Columbia C4147 10-in. 1/22/1942 There'll come a day Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] String band, with female vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Columbia C4164 10-in. 1/26/1942 I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] String band, with female vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Columbia C4168 10-in. 1/26/1942 Squeeze box polka The Westerners [Massey Family] String band leader  
ARC 19415 10-in. 6/8/1936 Nobody to love Louise Massey ; The Westerners [Massey Family] String band, with female vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 26-39 of 39 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Massey, Louise," accessed December 15, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359237.

Massey, Louise. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359237.

"Massey, Louise." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 15 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359237

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