Al Clauser
Al Clauser | |
---|---|
Born | Henry Alfred Clauser 1911 Manito, Illinois |
Died | March 3, 1989 Tulsa, Oklahoma |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Musician (guitarist), actor |
Years active | 1928โ1989 |
Known for | Western swing style |
Notable work | Oklahoma Outlaws (band) |
Henry Alfred Clauser (1911โ1989) was a
Early years
Clauser was born in Manito, Illinois, on February 23, 1911. While still in high school in Illinois, he formed a trio that played in various clubs. He may have originated the term "Western swing," since he used it as early as 1928. The group was invited to play on the Peoria Illinois radio station, WMBD, where it added two more players.[a] Although Clauser had never been in Oklahoma, he named his band the Oklahoma Outlaws, later explaining that the style of music they played needed a Western tone and a name to express it.[2]
In 1934, Clauser and the Oklahoma Outlaws moved to Des Moines, Iowa, which had a popular radio show on station WHO, where they were regulars until 1937.[2]
The band specialized in Western swing, playing the popular songs of the day, with Clauser's original songs added in. Al Clauser & His Oklahoma Outlaws appeared in an early
After finishing the movie assignment in 1938, Clauser and his band moved to WCKY in
Move to Tulsa
In 1942, Clauser moved the band to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and began a regular weekly program on KTUL Radio.[2] While at KTUL, Clauser added a teenager singer from Claremore, Oklahoma, Clara Ann Fowler, to his band, which was then called the Oklahoma Outlaws. Fowler later achieved international fame using the stage name Patti Page.[2]
Clauser disbanded the Oklahoma Outlaws in the 1950s, but continued to work for KTUL Radio. In the 1970s, he played the role of "Uncle Zeke" on a local kids' television show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Uncle Zeb's Cartoon Camp, on KTUL TV, where Clauser was also Chief Engineer at the time.[2]
During the 1970s and early '80s, Clauser had a recording studio at Prue, Oklahoma, called Alvera Records, the name being a combination of Al and Vera, his wife's name. His assistant recording engineer was Rocky Frisco, a local musician who, in 1994, became the pianist with the J. J. Cale Band.[2]
Clauser died on March 3, 1989, in Tulsa.[2] The surviving ARC sides, along with several radio transcriptions, were collected and released by Krazy Kat Records in 2004 under the title Hot Western Swing 1937-48.
Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm (1937 Republic)
Gene Autry and
Notes
References
- ^ "Clauser, Al," of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 3, 2010)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Logsdon, Guy. "Clauser, Henry Alfred (1911-1989)." The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed March 16, 2019.
External links
- "Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm". Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2007. on Tulsa TV Memories
- "Uncle Zeb's Cartoon Camp". Archived from the original on May 22, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2019. on Tulsa TV Memories
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Clauser, Al