Bob White Papers
Scope and Contents
The Bob White Collection contains letters, articles, clippings, personal effects, promotional materials, souvenirs, and personal correspondence documenting his career as a fiddle player. The collection spans the years 1970 to 1990 and reflects Bob White’s musical talent -- including accolades and awards he received throughout his musical career.
The collection is arranged into seven series according to document type: Personal Documents, Correspondence, Music Career, Printed Materials (1974-1990), Clippings by Date (1975-1990), Photographs, and Oversized Items. The first two series, Personal Documents and Correspondence, contain biographies, obituaries, family birth certificates, awards, music contracts and personal letters to and from White’s family, friends, and business associates. Most of these items document White’s musical career and personal life as well as his wife’s involvement in the music business as talent agent/manager.
The third series, Music Career, documents White’s music career with Bob Willis and the Texas Playboys, The River Road Boys, The Brazos Valley Band, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Series four and five, Printed Materials and Clippings, form a substantial part of the collection, consisting of programs, articles, clippings, and promotional flyers documenting White’s career and his interests in other Country Western and Swing musicians.
The sixth series, Photographs, is extensive and includes photographs of Bob White as a child as well as negatives and black and white images of White playing fiddle as soloist and band member, casual snapshots of friends and family as well as other country music artists.
The last series is Oversized Items and includes framed memorabilia, clothing, and accessories worn by Bob White during his career. Of interest is a performance costume worn by Laura Lee McBride and a photo collage of White and other artists with whom he performed.
Dates
- 1970 - 1990
Creator
- White, Bob (Fiddler) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Materials from the Wittliff Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user assumes responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish, and abiding by U.S. copyright laws. https://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/research/visit/policies/publication.html
Biographical Sketch
Western Swing fiddler, Robert Bernard White was born in Cedro Wooley, Washington on June 12, 1920 to Edward and Dolores White. Mr. White’s music career began with violin lessons at the age of seven, and he subsequently studied at the Los Angeles Conservatory of music with Lawrence Singer. White was playing professionally by the time he was twelve with groups in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California.
While in his twenties, White traveled with Frank Thompson and the Brazos Boys Band as featured fiddler and did some acting on Band Stand and other TV shows. He later joined western swing pioneer Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, with whom he played and recorded the memorable “For the Last Time” album, which lists him as “unidentified player fiddler.”
In 1960, White played background music for the TV shows Bonanza and The Beverly Hillbillies and played with stars such as Mel Tillis, Dottie West and Marty Robbins, Bill Cosby, Willie Nelson, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, and Roy Clark. By 1970, Mr. White toured extensively as featured violinist/fiddle player with Ray Price, and met and married his wife Helen. White’s talent agent and manager, Helen was also good friends with Laura Lee McBride, vocalist with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
White moved to Houston, Texas and formed the River Road Boys, which featured White and good friend Clyde Brewer as fiddlers. After eight years and six albums, White left the River Road Boys and joined the National #2 Company, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” (1978-1982) where he was featured fiddle player for four years. The company toured extensively and played one year in Las Vegas at the Desert Inn Crystal room. After the movie, White returned to Magnolia, Texas, where he continued to perform locally and teach.
A versatile musician comfortable with playing western swing, jazz, ballad, Dixieland, classical, and folk, White also wrote the song Fiddle Boogie and was recording artists for BMI, Capitol, Delta and Stoneway Labels.
After battling a long illness, White died on September 16, 1991 in Colorado Springs.
Extent
8 Linear Feet
5 boxes (5 archival boxes, 5 framed items, and 2 artifacts)
Language of Materials
English
Metadata Rights Declarations
- The descriptive data created for this finding aid is licensed under the CC0 Creative Commons license and is free for use without restriction.
Abstract
The Bob White Collection contains letters, articles, clippings, personal effects, promotional materials, souvenirs, and personal correspondence documenting his career as a fiddle player. The collection spans the years 1970 to 1990 and reflects Bob White’s musical talent -- including accolades and awards he received throughout his musical career.
Physical Location
Materials may be stored off-site. Advance notice is required for use: https://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/research/makearesearchappointment.html.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Al Dressen
- Title
- Guide to the Bob White Papers
- Author
- Kelli Simon and Rosalba Cortez-Concha
- Date
- 2007
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2022: Revised for ArchivesSpace by Katie Salzmann
Repository Details
Part of the The Wittliff Collections Repository
