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Bar 'O' Ranch Boys
WKRT Cortland, NY

About The Group

Back in 1954, Tex Rabarge was leading this group over the airwaves of radio station WKRT in Cortland, New York. The band received many accolades and appear to have had quite a following.

The Bar 'O' Ranch Boys played in the New York State Square Dance Championships and wona gold cup for being the "Best Square Dance Band" in 1953 in New York. Over 5,000 folks were on hand to hear their performance at the Cortland Fair grounds.

The groups personal appearances also included taking the time to do work for charitable causes. These included USO Tours, the Red Feather campaigns and infatile paralyusis drives.

The band was seeking a recording contract in 1954 to gain a bit of exposure for a song they were getting good reviews on, "Santa Claus".

While we may not have a recording to hear what they sounded like, we do have the article's description that gives us an idea of who the fans thought they sounded like. It was said that Tex Rabarge was the "second Hank Williams" and the band caused the fans to think they were hearing Hank's band, the Drifting Cowboys.

Credits & Sources

  • Cowboy Songs No. 32; March-April 1954; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT.

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