King and Queen (King) Songs: Bob Wills is Still the King (#6)

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Along with songs that have “queen” in the title I’m counting down favorites that have “king” in the title. With apologies to Linda (who knew her luck had to run out after a month of no country music thanks to that Motown month ), here’s today’s “king” song. #6: Bob Wills is Still the King - Waylon Jennings Ooh. The fiddles playing “Faded Love” at the end of this song still give me goose bumps. Waylon Jennings didn’t have to clarify it. Most people wouldn’t argue this song’s point. However, back in the 40s there was a pretender to the throne, a man named Spade Cooley. He even dubbed himself “the King of Western Swing.” And if you’ve heard of Cooley, it’s probably more for his criminal record (he murdered his wife in 1962) than his music. (Ironically, his biggest hit was “Shame On You.”) Bob Wills, on the other hand? Heck, he was on a U.S. postage stamp! You may not care the least about country music or Western swing, but you’re familiar with his name. Wills’ career stretched from the mid-30s until he was silenced by a stroke after a recording session in 1973. So enjoy this salute to one of the great icons in American music, sung by a pretty fair icon of American music himself. This won’t be Waylon’s only appearance…. Bob Wills is Still the King Written by Waylon Jennings Recorded by Waylon Jennings From Dreaming My Dreams, 1975 He’d be the first to tell you: