Boyd, Bill, 1910-1977

Bill Boyd was born September 29, 1913, and grew up on a ranch in Fannin County, Texas. He began his radio career as a teenager at radio station WRR in Dallas, Texas, performing as a Lone Singing Cowboy and His Guitar, until he formed a band, Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers. The group performed a very popular live program for the station and made frequent personal appearances at dances, concerts, and fairs throughout Texas.

In 1934, Boyd contracted to record on RCA's Bluebird label and later on the more prestigious Victor label. He eventually made over 300 records for RCA alone. He published hundreds of songs,usually with the M.M. Cole Publishing Company. Collaborators included Leon Payne and Bill Nettles.

Boyd's popularity as a singer led to the contract with Producers Recording Corporation for thirty-six films, of which only six were produced before the advent of World War II. Casts in these B Westerns included Charlie King, Kermit Maynard, Glenn Strange, and Eddie Dean.

Bill Boyd enjoyed the height of his popularity in the 1940's. When television became popular and live radio performances were eliminated, Boyd disbanded the Cowboy Ramblers and worked as a popular disc jockey on WRR, KTER and KSKY. A stroke ended his radio career, which had spanned forty-four years, from 1932 until 1976. Boyd died in 1977 in Dallas.

From the guide to the Bill Boyd Papers, 1930-1966, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Bill Boyd (1910-1977) grew up on a ranch in Fannin County, Texas.

He began his radio career as a teenager at radio station WRR in Dallas, Texas, performing as a "Lone Singing Cowboy and His Guitar," until he formed a band, "Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers." The group performed a very popular live program for the station and made frequent personal appearances at dances, concerts, and fairs throughout Texas. Boyd made over 300 records for RCA alone and published hundreds of songs, usually with the M.M. Cole Publishing Company. Boyd's popularity as a singer led to the contract with Producers Recording Corporation for thirty-six films. When television became popular, Boyd worked as a popular disc jockey on WRR, KTER and KSKY. A stroke ended his radio career, which had spanned forty-four years, from 1932 until 1976.

From the description of Boyd, Bill, papers, 1930-1966. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 458318001