Muscatine

Tom Owen and His Cowboys

Posted in: Muscatine
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  • hiroad
  • Respected Neighbor
  • The Hilltop
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How many of you are old enough to remember listening to the Tom Owen western band on WMT radio back in the 40's and 50's?  Not many I guess.  I think my folks used to tune them in on Sundays?  or maybe it was Saturday night?   I also remember going to outdoor dances a couple of times with my folks when this band played.  I thought they were pretty good at the time, but can't find any old recordings to check that out now that I've gotten "sophisticated".

http://stevensorchestra.tripod.com/id28.html

 

 

I remember. I am younger than some of you, but I remember my parents listening. He was actually called Sheriff Tom Owens. Interesting note; the link you provided goes to a site with some photos. There is a 1943 photo of the Cowboys that lists Don Wachal standing in the back row.

I knew he was a member of that band; but do any of you remember that he was the owner of the COL Ballroom (Coliseum) in Davenport for many, many years, then turning that over to his son in the late eighties. What a history of concerts they held there! In the nineties, his son sold it to a hispanic family. Not even sure what the status of that is anymore.

Did you also know that T.O and His C. were Mercury Records first country recording act that was recorded and sold on their label? That was 1945.

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  • kenn
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  • Muscatine Ia
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How many of you are old enough to remember listening to the Tom Owen western band on WMT radio back in the 40's and 50's?  Not many I guess.  I think my folks used to tune them in on Sundays?  or maybe it was Saturday night?   I also remember going to outdoor dances a couple of times with my folks when this band played.  I thought they were pretty good at the time, but can't find any old recordings to check that out now that I've gotten "sophisticated".

http://stevensorchestra.tripod.com/id28.html

 

 


Yes I remember Tom Owens cowboys and my older brother had the picture of them in his room. it seems to me that one of them was killed in WW 2 if memory serves me right.

Glenn Cook was in my high school class and was a good trumpet player. I have not seen him in 35 years, but he lived in Tayor Ridge Illinois and I have no idea where he is now.

I do, kenn...if it's the same Glen Cook. It likely is though. He is still there and is the Taylor Ridge baseball coach.

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