Hadaway, Mrs Jewel and Mrs F O Ham 1969-06-04
Mrs. Ham and Mrs. Hadaway give their personal recollections of Bob Wills and his relationship with F. O. Ham and Dr. Joe Garner (Mrs. Hadaway’s father). On the second tape, Mrs. Ham’s son Harold and other who wander into the Ham Barber Shop recall Wills, his career in that same barber shop, and his musical career.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Mrs. Jewel Hadaway and Mrs. F. O. Ham
Additional Parties Recorded: Harold Ham (and anonymous barber shop patrons)
Interview Name Note: sometimes listed as "Ham, F.O. (Mrs.) & Harold and Jewel Hadaway"
Date: June 4, 1969
Location: Turkey, Texas
Interviewer: Charles Townsend
Length: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Interview with Mrs. Ham,
Personal biography,
Born in Kansas,
Bob Wills worked for F. O. Ham,
Barbered from 1926-1927,
Six barbers in the shop,
Went to barber school in Amarillo,
Good barber but kept fiddle on hand and played
when not busy,
Bob Wills played for country dances,
Often played on front porch until late,
Smallpox vaccination—sore arm,
Personality,
Reasons for leaving Turkey,
Jailed for noise,
Joined Medicine Show,
Last visit to Turkey 16 years ago,
Close friendship between Wills and F. O. Ham,
Music of the "common people",
Wills just a "country boy" himself.
Tape 1, Side 2: Interview with Mrs. Hadaway,
Dr. Joe E. Garner father,
Bob Wills visited Dr. Garner often,
Gift of record player and records,
"Taters in the Sandy Land",
Doc encouraged Bob’s musical career,
Bob’s personality,
Close friendship between Bob and Doc. Garner,
Doc Garner’s biography,
Friendship between Garner boys and Bob Wills.
Tape 2, Side 1: Bob Wills’ career as a barber,
Worked for F. O. Ham,
Lived with Mr. and Mrs. Ham,
W. Lee O’Daniel and the Light Crust Doughboys,
Bob Wills played fiddle between haircuts,
Bob’s personality,
Learned barbering from F. O. Ham,
Bailed out of jail by Ham,
Turkey in the 1920s and 1930s,
Interview with Otho Stuck,
Bob Wills was a fiddler,
Dances in Wills house,
Dances at Otho’s house,
Crowded dance floors,
Tunes—waltzes and break-downs,
Wills’ music,
A new sound—break-down fiddle with jazz,
Bob Wills’ activities today (1969),
World War II reception of Bob Wills,
Interview with Ken Carey,
Bob Wills was gone when he arrived in Turkey.
Tape 2, Side 2: Interview with Harold Ham (continued),
Doc Garner,
Bob Wills requested by dying folks,
Biography of Bob Wills by Ruth Shelton,
Bob Wills on the radio,
New album,
Bob Wills’ movie career,
Last appearance in the area,
Performance on Turkey streets,
Last performance in Turkey,
First time Harold Ham met Bob Wills,
Wills family all musicians,
Interview with Jim Major,
Bob Wills cut his hair (1946).
Range Dates: 1926-1969
Bulk Dates: 1926-1969
Access Information
Original Recording Format: open reel tape
Recording Format Notes: digitized December 2016; CD available in Reading Room
Transcript: none
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