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Hillbilly Boys

Wilbert Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel (March 11, 1890 – May 11, 1969) was an American Democratic Party politician from Texas, who came to prominence by hosting a popular radio program. Known for his populist appeal and support of Texas's business community, O'Daniel served as the 34th governor of Texas (1939–1941) and later its junior United States senator (1941–1949). O'Daniel chose not to run for reelection to the Senate in 1948 and was succeeded by his 1941 Democratic primary opponent and future U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson.

O'Daniel was also a songwriter who composed "Beautiful Texas".

Birth and Death Data: Born Malta, Died May 11, 1969 (Dallas)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, lyricist, speaker

Notes: It is questionable whether or not W. Lee O'Daniel was present at sessions made by his band, the Hillbilly Boys. In his stead, it is assumed that Leon Huff led the band at sessions.

See Also: O’Daniel, Pappy

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 116 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-76873 10-in. 8/5/1933 Beautiful Texas Jimmie Davis Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
Columbia C621 10-in. 10/10/1933 Beautiful Texas Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Columbia C622 10-in. 10/10/1933 Blue bonnet waltz Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band leader, composer  
Columbia C623 10-in. 10/10/1933 Your own sweet darling wife Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Columbia C624 10-in. 10/10/1933 On to victory Mr. Roosevelt Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Columbia C625 10-in. 10/10/1933 I want somebody to cry over me Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Columbia C626 10-in. 10/10/1933 Put me in your pocket Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, lyricist  
Columbia C627 10-in. 10/10/1933 Texas breakdown Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band leader  
Columbia C628 10-in. 10/11/1933 In the fall of '29 Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, speaker  
Columbia C629 10-in. 10/11/1933 Please come back to me Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Columbia C630 10-in. 10/11/1933 Memories of Jimmy Rodgers Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, lyricist  
Columbia C631 10-in. 10/11/1933 Roll up the carpet Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia C632 10-in. 10/11/1933 One more river to cross Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia C633 10-in. 10/11/1933 That city for shut-ins Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia C634 10-in. 10/11/1933 Doughboy rag Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band leader  
Columbia C787 10-in. 11/6/1934 Beautiful Texas Westerners (Massey Family) String band, with female vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Columbia WC2763 10-in. 9/25/1939 My million dollar smile Patsy Montana ; Prairie Ramblers Female vocal solo, with string band composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C1559 10-in. 10/13/1936 Your own sweet darling wife Patsy Montana ; Prairie Ramblers Female vocal solo, with string band composer, lyricist  
Brunswick SA-Test #4 10-in. April 1934 Doughboys theme song #1 & #2 Light Crust Doughboys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick DAL160 10-in. 9/26/1935 Hillbilly stomp Hillbilly Boys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band leader  
Brunswick DAL161 10-in. 9/26/1935 In that vine covered chapel (In the valley) Hillbilly Boys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal duet leader  
Brunswick DAL162 10-in. 9/26/1935 Mothers crazy quilt Hillbilly Boys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal duet leader  
Brunswick DAL163 10-in. 9/26/1935 Our little dream house in Lullaby Lane Hillbilly Boys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick DAL164 10-in. 9/26/1935 I like bananas (because they have no bones) Hillbilly Boys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick DAL165 10-in. 9/26/1935 A jug of wine and you Hillbilly Boys ; W. Lee O'Daniel String band, with male vocal solo leader  
(Results 1-25 of 116 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hillbilly Boys," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111588.

Hillbilly Boys. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111588.

"Hillbilly Boys." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111588

External Sources

Wikipedia: W. Lee O'Daniel

Discogs: Hillbilly Boys

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: O'Daniel, W. Lee (Wilbert Lee), 1890-1969 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001047677

Wikidata: W. Lee O'Daniel - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q676664

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/24250190

MusicBrainz: W. Lee O'Daniel - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cc4ff2ff-6acb-45d3-b228-50848e9efcff

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/464443 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/464443

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