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Floyd Tillman

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Floyd Tillman (1914 – 2003) country musician who in the 1930s-40s helped create the western swing and honky tonk styles of music. Tillman was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984.

Born in Ryan, Oklahoma December 8th, 1914 and died in Bacliff, Texas August 22nd, 2003.

Tillman grew up in the cotton-mill town of Post, Texas as a sharecropper's son. One of his early jobs was with Western Union as a telegraph operator. In the early 30s He played mandolin at local dances and eventually took up the guitar.

Floyd moved to San Antonio played lead guitar with Adolph Hofner, a western swing bandleader and soon developed into a songwriter and singer.

He then took a job with Houston pop bandleader Mack Clark in 1938, with western swing groups fronted by Leon “Pappy” Selph and Cliff Bruner. He also worked with Ted Daffan and singer-piano player Moon Mullican.

Tillman recorded as a featured vocalist with Selph’s Blue Ridge Playboys in 1938 and that same year Floyd's scored his first major songwriting hit, "It Makes No Difference Now," giving him his own Decca recording contract. Jimmie Davis purchased the song from Floyd for $300, the rights to which he got back 28 years later.

Floyd's only number one song as a singer was "They Took The Stars Out of Heaven." It reached the top of the charts in 1942.

His 1944 hit, "Each Night At Nine," struck a cord with lonely servicemen during World War II. Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose played it heavily to encourage desertion.

A big hit for Floyd and also for Jimmy Wakely was 1948's "I Love You So Much It Hurts". His 1949 "Slippin' Around," one of the first country western "cheating" songs, was a hit for Tillman as well as Ernest Tubb, Texas Jim Robertson and the duo of Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely. Tillman had another successful song with his own answer, "I'll Never Slip Around Again," as did the Whiting/Wakely duo.

Floyd slowed down on his performing in the early 1950's.

Floyd's final album recorded in 2002-2003 titled "The Influence" paired Floyd with some Country Music artists that were influenced by his style and performing. Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Leona Williams, Dolly Parton, Justin Trevino, Ray Price, Frankie Miller, Hank Thompson, Connie Smith, Lawton Williams, Mel Tillis, Darrell McCall, Johnny Bush and George Jones recorded some of Floyd Tillman's hit songs with the him.

The project, released in April of 2004, features liner notes by Dr. Bill Malone, Bill Mack, Hank Thompson and Willie Nelson. It was produced by Justin Trevino on Heart of Texas Records.

"'Catalog Highlights'"

  • "'A Precious Memory'" (Master no. 65158)

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded March 6th, 1939 in Houston Original Issue: Decca 5696

  • "'Why Do I Love You'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded March 6th, 1939 in Houston Original Issue: Decca 5696

  • "'I'm Always Dreaming of You'" (66327)

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded August 29th, 1939 in Houston Original Issue: Decca 5801

  • "'Don't Be Blue'" (66328)

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded March 6th, 1939 in Houston Original Issue: Decca 5741

  • "'Maybe I'll Get By Without You'" (66330)

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded March 6th, 1939 in Houston Original Issue: Decca 5801

  • "'I Love You So Much It Hurts'"

Artists: Vic Damone, Red Foley, Ernest Tubb, Ray Charles, Ray Price, Mickey Gilley, Andy Williams, Marie Osmond, Eddy Arnold, Floyd Tillman,Jimmy Wakely Original Issue: RCA Victor 20-7157 A-side

  • "'Slipping Around'"

Artists: Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely, Ernest Tubb, Floyd Tillman, Texas Jim Robertson, Marion Worth and George Morgan, Roy Drusky and Priscilla Mitchell, Mack Abernathy, Ray Anthony Original Issue: RCA Victor 20-7157 B-side

  • "'I Gotta Have My Baby Back'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman, Justin Tubb, Ray Price, Red Foley, Glen Campbell

  • "'I Am Music (Song of Music)'"

Artists: Skeets McDonald

  • "'It Makes No Difference Now'"

Co-writer: Jimmie Davis Artists: Eddy Arnold, Bing Crosby, The Supremes, Gene Autry, Ray Charles,Jimmie Davis, Willie Nelson & Hank Snow, Ray Pennington & Buddy Emmons, Hank Thompson, Burl Ives Original Issue: Musicor 1355 A-side

  • "'They Took the Stars Out Of Heaven'" (93739)

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded April 30, 1941 in Dallas Original Issue: Decca 6090

  • "'This Cold War With You'"

Artist: Floyd Tillman Original Issue: Columbia 20615

  • "'Why Do You Treat Me This Way'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded April 30, 1941 in Dallas Original Issue:Decca 6090

  • "'Each Night At Nine'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman Recorded April 20, 1944 in New York Original Issue: Decca 6104

  • "'G.I. Blues'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman

  • "'I Gotta Have My Baby Back'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman, Red Foley, Glen Campbell, Justin Tubb, Ray Price

  • "'Some Other World'"

Artist: Floyd Tillman Original Issue: Columbia 20026

  • "'Daisy May'"

Artists: Ernest Tubb, Floyd Tillman Recorded April 11, 1940 in Houston Original Issue: Decca 5845

  • "'Please Don't Pass Me By'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman

  • "'I'll Never Slip Around Again'"

Artists: Floyd Tillman, Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely Original Issue: Columbia 20615


"Nashville Songwriters Foundation". Floyd Tillman.

"Country Music Hall of Fame". Floyd Tillman.

"Floyd Tillman". Floyd Tillman.

"Hillbilly Music". Floyd Tillman.

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