THE LIGHT CRUST DOUGHBOYS
The Doughboys About 1935
Listen everybody from near and far,
If you want to know who we are.
We're the Light Crust Doughboys
From Burrus Mills.
(The opening lines of the Doughboy's theme song.)
Listen everybody from near and far,
If you want to know who we are.
We're the Light Crust Doughboys
From Burrus Mills.
(The opening lines of the Doughboy's theme song.)
The bands that play what is called western swing became popular in the Fort Worth-Dallas area in the 1930's. The Light Crust Doughboys is the band that has enjoyed the greatest and longest success. Its history begin in 1929 when Bob Wills moved from West Texas to Fort Worth and formed the Wills Fiddle Band which featured Wills as the fiddler and Herman Arnspiger as the guitarist.
Bob WillsMilton Brown was requited as the vocalist for the band in 1930. In 1931, the Wills Fiddle Band consisting of Wills, Arnspiger, and Brown became the Light Crust Doughboys. Friends and fans in Fort Worth, persuaded W. Lee O'Daniel, President of Burrus Mill,the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company to sponsor the band on a radio show by advertising the mill's Light Crust Flour.
Milton BrownAfter they Doughboys had been making the broadcasts for two weeks Mr. O'Daniel, the President of Burrus Mill, canceled the show because he did not like "their hillbilly music". That was a big mistake. Burrus Mill's was inundated by thousands of letters from fans who listened while eating the noon meal and housewives who used Light Crust Flour. They demanded that the Light Crust Doughboys should be brought back and that the Burrus Mill should sponsor their radio show. Although W. Lee O'Daniel didn't like their music he was enough After they Doughboys had been making the broadcasts for two weeks Mr. O'Daniel, the President of Burrus Mill, canceled the show because he did not like "their hillbilly music." That was a big mistake. Burrus Mill's was inundated by thousands of fans who listened while eating the noon meal and housewives who used Light Crust Flour, demanded that the Light Crust Doughboys should be brought back and that the Burrus Mill should sponsor their radio show. Although W. Lee O'Daniel didn't like their music he was enough of a business man to know when to reassess his decision and hire the band back.
It was one of his better decisions, as the "Light Crust Doughboys" were one of his biggest assets in the campaign that won "Pappy" Lee O'Danials the election for Texas Governor.
