For many listeners during the 1940s, Texas Jim Robertson (1909-1966) defined cowboy and western music, his resonant bass-baritone voice booming out of juke boxes and radio receivers coast-to-coast. A native of tiny Batesville, Texas, Robertson made his radio debut around 1925 when an aunt brought him to a Charlotte, NC, station. By the late thirties, he was singing western songs over New York’s WJZ, flagship station of NBC’s Blue Network.
In June 1941 Robertson recorded an album of western standards backed by such New York musicians as accordionist Charles Magnante, guitarist Ken Binford, guitar/banjo virtuoso John Cali, pianist Jack Shilkret, and jazz bassist Gene Traxler. The supporting vocal quartet included tenor Walter Van Brunt, whose recording career dated back to 1909. ‘Round the Campfire: Famous American Favorite Cowboy Songs was released in September 1941.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, Robertson returned to WJZ and RCA Victor. Despite chart action covering hits by other country artists, his career was in decline by the end of the forties. Robertson continued to record sporadically into the 1960s.
Dave Samuelson
Camden, Indiana
August 2019
01 Home On The Range Texas Jim Robertson
02 The Cowboy’s Dream Texas Jim Robertson
03 O Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie (The Dying Cowboy) (traditional)() Texas Jim Robertson
04 In Texas For The Round-Up In The Spring Texas Jim Robertson
05 Red River Valley Texas Jim Robertson
06 The Border Affair (Mi amor, mi corazón) Texas Jim Robertson
07 Ridin’ Old Paint (And Leadin’ Old Dan) Texas Jim Robertson
08 The Texas Song (A Cowboy Lament) Texas Jim Robertson
