20 Facts About Eldon Shamblin

Eldon Shamblin was an American guitarist and arranger, particularly important to the development of Western swing music as one of the first electric guitarists in a popular dance band.

Eldon Shamblin was a member of the Strangers during the 1970s and 1980s and was the last surviving member of Bob Wills' band the Texas Playboys.

Eldon Shamblin performed in clubs in Oklahoma City and on his radio show as singer and guitarist.

Eldon Shamblin recorded with Merle Haggard on a tribute album to Bob Wills which was released in 1970, then worked intermittently with Haggard on tours during the next five years.

Eldon Shamblin told him to imitate Junior Barnard, who had been part of the band and had a bluesy style.

Eldon Shamblin incorporated a big band style similar to Freddie Green's with the Count Basie Orchestra.

In 1941 Metronome magazine called Eldon Shamblin the most inventive guitarist since Charlie Christian, who was a native of Oklahoma.

Eldon Shamblin served for four years and was a lieutenant in the Service Battery 924th Field Artillery 99th Infantry Division Third Army in the European Theater of War and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

Eldon Shamblin spent ten years with the band before joining Hoyle Nix and the West Texas Cowboys in Big Spring, Texas, where they played at the Stampede Ballroom.

Eldon Shamblin decided the accounting business was not for him and began teaching guitar at the Guitar House music store.

Eldon Shamblin became a piano tuner and electronic organ serviceman.

In 1970, Eldon Shamblin returned to music when he was asked to help organize a tribute to Bob Wills and played on Merle Haggard's album A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World.

Eldon Shamblin then became a member of Haggard's band, the Strangers.

In 1983 Eldon Shamblin left the Strangers because he was tired of the touring.

Eldon Shamblin returned to Tulsa and joined a late version of the Texas Playboys in 1983 led by Leon McAuliffe, who led the Original Texas Playboys band which had been reassembled in 1971 for the first occasion of Bob Wills Days in Turkey, Texas.

Eldon Shamblin is noted for being one of the earliest adopters of the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar.

Eldon Shamblin played the guitar with the Texas Playboys in what became the final Bob Wills recording session for MGM Records, later taking it on the road with Bob Wills on a month and half long tour of the great Northwest.

Eldon Shamblin died in a nursing home in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, on August 5,1998.

Eldon Shamblin was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 with Bob Wills and a select group of Texas Playboys.

Eldon Shamblin was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2006.