Moe Bandy
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Moe Bandy | |
---|---|
San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
Genres | Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1964–present |
Labels | GRC, Columbia, Curb |
Website | moebandy |
Marion Franklin "Moe" Bandy Jr. (born February 12, 1944) is an American country music singer.[2] He was most popular during the 1970s, when he had several hit songs, both alone and as part of a duo with Joe Stampley.
Early life and recordings
Marion Bandy was born in
He was nicknamed Moe by his father when he was a child.[2] The Bandy family moved to San Antonio, Texas, when Moe was six. His mother played piano and sang. Bandy was taught to play the guitar by his father who had a country band called the Mission City Playboys, but made little use of the ability until he was in his teens. His father's wish that Moe also play the fiddle never materialized.[2]
He made some appearances with the Mission City Playboys but during his high school years he showed little interest in music and a great deal of interest in
Career success
In 1962, he began to pursue a career in country music. He assembled a band that he called Moe and the Mavericks and found work playing small beer joints, honky-tonks, and clubs over a wide area around San Antonio. When he was young he tried to sound like Hank Williams and George Jones – "I even had my hair cut short like his."[2]
During the day he worked for his father as a sheet metal worker, a job that lasted for 12 years, during which time he made a few recordings for various small labels.[2] In 1964, his first single, "Lonely Girl", made little impression. In 1973, he went solo when record producer Ray Baker, who had listened to his demos, suggested that he come to Nashville, Tennessee.[2] Bandy's song "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today" was initially released on Footprint Records but it came to the attention of the GRC record label. In March 1974, it entered the US country chart, eventually peaking at number 17. Other minor hits followed, including "It Was Always So Easy To Find An Unhappy Woman (Till I Started Looking For Mine)" and "Don't Anyone Make Love at Home Anymore".[2]
In 1975, a song written by his friend Lefty Frizzell and Whitey Shaffer gave him a number 7 country hit. "Bandy The Rodeo Clown" was to become not only one of his own favorites but also one of his most popular recordings. Bandy found success at Columbia Records with Paul Craft's "Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life" and added further hits, including "Here I Am Drunk Again".[2] From 1977 through 1979, he was a country chart regular with singles such as "I'm Sorry For You, My Friend", "Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry", "That's What Makes The Jukebox Play", and a duet with Janie Fricke, "It's A Cheating Situation". In 1979, he achieved his first solo number 1 with "I Cheated Me Right Out of You".[2]
Duets
That same year, in 1979, Bandy joined forces with
During the 1980s, Bandy maintained a steady line of solo successes, including "Yesterday Once More", "Rodeo Romeo", "She's Not Really Cheatin' (She's Just Gettin' Even)", and "Till I'm Too Old To Die Young". Bandy also registered duet successes with Judy Bailey ("Following The Feeling") and Becky Hobbs ("Let's Get Over Them Together"). Over the years, he maintained a regular touring schedule and appeared on television shows. In later years, he cut back on his touring schedule.[2]
Later life
Bandy summed up his music when he said, "I really think my songs are about life. There's cheating, drinking and divorcing going on everywhere and that's what hardcore country music is all about." He added: "If I'd done all the things I sing about, I'd be dead."[2]
Bandy opened his popular Americana Theatre in Branson, Missouri, in 1991 and performs frequently there.
Moe and his brother Mike Bandy, a six-time NFR bull-riding qualifier, were inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2007.[3]
Discography
References
- ^ ISBN 0-8230-7632-6
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ "Past Inductees". Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.