Description

Brother Al Stricklin Now: Memories of a Texas Playboy depicts both high points and struggles in the life of Al Stricklin, one of the most popular members of one of the most important bands in U.S. musical history, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. It describes the development of Al's musical talent and skill, the odd series of coincidences that got him the attention of Bob Wills, and how they worked together to help develop the style of music known as western swing, which the Texas Legislature designated the "State Music of Texas" in 2011. The memories related in the book come from unpublished interviews conducted with Al in the 1970s and '80s, interviews with other members of the Texas Playboys, and stories from Al's family. The book provides a firsthand account of the enduring popularity of western swing and Bob Wills, including many stories that capture the infectious personality of Wills's favorite piano player. Brother Al Stricklin Now depicts something very important to people: the joy they got--and still get--from the music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, the blending of musical styles that led to its creation, and the ways it shaped much of the cultural landscape of Texas and the Southwest. The book also describes how the experience of playing with Wills and the Playboys helped Al overcome a series of heartbreaking disappointments and become a beloved figure to music fans far and wide.