Famous Folks from Sebastian County

Gene Cleaver Gasaway (1931-2006) Gene Gasaway with Bob Wills Submitted by Dusty Helbling GENE GASAWAY, born 1931 in Huntington, Arkansas passed on in 2006 in Huntington. When you read this it sounds like he never got far from home. Lets take another look between those years. I never met Gene, but seems like every musician I have known all knew a lot about his work. One friend of mine took a few guitar lessons from him. After that when music was the subject he had this standard line he gave, "if you want to learn about music you gatta go to Gene!" That statement today has been confirmed by Robert Huston, of The Western Swing Rules Band. So where do I go to find reliable info about Gene Gasaway? I found it at the Western Swing Music Society's Hall of Fame! After all Robert Huston was inducted into their Hall of Fame, so it has to be the real thing. Gene started his career playing the fiddle for Hank Thompson and The Brazos Valley Boys at age 17. Not a bad place to start out with a band ranked number one for 14 or so years by Billboard Magazine. Next he was with Ray Price, then The Red Folly Show from Springfield, MO. Then with Leon McAuliffe band at Tulsa, then Bob Wills asked Gene to join the Texas Playboys in 1962, then 1967 finds him back with Ray Price. Then we have a real change in 1969, Gene got married and decided to stay home with family. When 1976 rolls around Gene goes back on the road this time with Mel Tillis band. When Leon McAuliffe reorganized the Original Texas Playboys, Gene spent about 20 years with them. Then from 1985 - 2003 he finished his road career with Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys. If Gene never played in your band during his life time it must not have been all that great! But like they say on the TV Commercial....... "BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE! YOU GET TWICE AS MUCH TO READ WITH JUST THIS ONE STOP !" Gene played for three U.S. Presidents, in Carnegie Hall, at the Smithsonian, in Geneva, Switzerland, and Russia. He also entertained U.S. Troops in Germany, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, and in the Middle East! He also did several movie sound tracks including the Academy Award winner "Places in the Heart". He performed with a number of the Grand Ole Opry Stars. The Amazing thing is he did it all in only one life time! Anyone know another local musician that has accomplished anything close to this? As one would expect he is in a number of Hall of Fames! Then I think looked what I missed not knowing him!