David Stout Stogner (May 15, 1920 – May 17, 1989) was an American musician, who was one of the premier Western swing musicians playing on the West Coast. Known as the "West Coast King of Western Swing", Stogner moved to California to pursue a musical career with the encouragement from fellow Texan, Milton Brown.[1]
Dave Stogner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Stout Stogner |
| Also known as | West Coast King of Western Swing |
| Born | May 15, 1920 St. Jo, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | May 17, 1989 (aged 69) Fresno, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Western swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Bandleader, Radio & TV host |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin |
| Years active | 1940s-1980s |
| Labels | 4 Star - Decca |
Although famous for his long-time big band, The Western Rhythmaires, his first band was called The Arkansawyers.[2] Dave Stogner and The Western Rhythmairs hosted a show at the Big Fresno Barn Dance for more than ten years.[3]
At least one author described Stogner's sound as "hard driving hillbilly".[4]
Throughout his long career, in addition to his many hit recordings, Stogner wrote, and co-wrote, several songs including "Hard Top Race" in 1953. Stogner was elected to the Western Swing Hall of Fame in Sacramento in 1988.
National and regional sponsors
editDuring the 1950s, Dave Stogner and his band hosted TV shows in Fresno. His show on the ABC affiliate station was sponsored by Coca-Cola exclusively. During that time Coke sponsored Stogner's show on the west coast and The Eddie Fisher Show on the east coast. Regional sponsors included Stogner's own brand of western style boots, "The Official Dave Stogner Boot".
Recordings
editA compilation album of many of Stogner's recordings for Decca and 4Star are available online.[5]
References
edit- ^ Ginell, Milton Brown and the Founding of Western Swing, p. 254: "Dave Stogner did indeed become a musician. With Milton Brown as his idol and inspiration, Stogner moved to central California, where he formed a popular western swing band in Fresno."
- ^ Haslam, Workin' Man Blues, p. 90: "Elwin Cross and the Arizona Ramblers was an important band in part because Cross hired to future stalwarts, Bill Wood and Dave Stogner. Woods later formed his own Texas Stars and Stogner started the Arkansawyers."
- ^ "KCSOS : KC Museum : Dave Stogner". Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Workin' Man Blues - Country Music in California. Gerald W. Haslan. University of California Press. 1999. p. 97
- ^ "Sell Music Online". Cdbaby.com. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
Bibliography
edit- Ginell, Gary; Roy Lee Brown. Milton Brown and the Founding of Western Swing. University of Illinois Press, 1994. ISBN 0-252-02041-3
- Haslam, Gerald W.; Alexandra R. Haslam; Richard Chon. Workin' Man Blues: Country Music in California. University of California Press, 1999. ISBN 0-520-21800-0
External links
edit- Dave Stogner[usurped]—Kern County Museum.
- Dave Stogner Archived 2007-12-15 at the Wayback Machine—Sponsored by Viola Stogner.
- Only A Memory Away - The Dave and Vi Stogner Story—Corralitos California History.
- National Big Fresno Barn Dance—KFSR FM 90.7.