T. Texas Tyler
Encyclopedia
David Luke Myrick known professionally as T. Texas Tyler, was an American country music
singer and songwriter primarily known for his 1948 hit, "The Deck of Cards
".
. He recorded first for Black & White Records
as a member of The Six Westernaires, and for 4 Star Records
(Hollywood) from September 1945 until the end of the 1950s. Some now-legendary recordings in the country boogie (or pre-rockabilly
) style were produced for the label with top session musicians on steel and electric guitar, e.g. the driving instrumental "Guitar Boogie Woogie" (4 Star-1114; recorded in May 1946). The accompanying musicians were billed as The Oklahoma Melody Boys on the record labels.
Tyler wrote and recorded "The Deck of Cards" in 1948. The spoken-word hit single, which was his biggest hit, tells the story of a World War II
soldier who explains how a deck of playing cards serves him as a Bible, an almanac and a prayer book. He followed that smash with another recitation, the tear-wrenching Mary Jean Shurtz composition "Dad Gave My Dog Away". His popularity resulted in a booking at New York City's Carnegie Hall.
He was a frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry
and Louisiana Hayride
, as well as hosting his own television show in Los Angeles, California
in 1950. Some of his 4 Star recordings were leased to US-Decca Records
from 1952–1955. His career was hampered at the end of the 1950s because of personal problems, although some albums on King Records (USA)
with 4 Star material and hymns have been released. In the 1960s Tyler enjoyed a revival when he recorded two albums (one containing hymns) for Capitol Records
and in 1966 another for Starday Records.
Following the death of his first wife, Claudia, in 1968, Tyler remarried and settled down in Springfield, Missouri
, where he preached to a local congregation and occasionally performed. He died in Springfield on January 28, 1972 of stomach cancer.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer and songwriter primarily known for his 1948 hit, "The Deck of Cards
The Deck of Cards
"The Deck of Cards" is a recitative that was popularized in both the country and popular music fields, first during the late 1940s. This religious, touching tale of a young American soldier arrested and charged with playing cards during a church service first became a hit in the U.S. in 1948 by...
".
Biography
Myrick was born just outside Mena, ArkansasMena, Arkansas
Mena is a city in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Polk County.It was founded by Arthur Edward Stilwell during the building of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad . It was Stilwell who decided Mena would be the name of this new town along the route to...
. He recorded first for Black & White Records
Black & White Records
Black & White Records was a Los Angeles, California based record company, active in recording blues and country and Western artists during the 1940s and 1950s. It also had offices at 2117 Foster Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. It was acquired by Capitol Records....
as a member of The Six Westernaires, and for 4 Star Records
Four Star Records
4 Star Records is the name of a record label that recorded many well-known country music acts in the 1950s. The label, founded after World War II, was home to singers such as Hank Locklin, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Rose Maddox, Webb Pierce and T. Texas Tyler...
(Hollywood) from September 1945 until the end of the 1950s. Some now-legendary recordings in the country boogie (or pre-rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
) style were produced for the label with top session musicians on steel and electric guitar, e.g. the driving instrumental "Guitar Boogie Woogie" (4 Star-1114; recorded in May 1946). The accompanying musicians were billed as The Oklahoma Melody Boys on the record labels.
Tyler wrote and recorded "The Deck of Cards" in 1948. The spoken-word hit single, which was his biggest hit, tells the story of a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
soldier who explains how a deck of playing cards serves him as a Bible, an almanac and a prayer book. He followed that smash with another recitation, the tear-wrenching Mary Jean Shurtz composition "Dad Gave My Dog Away". His popularity resulted in a booking at New York City's Carnegie Hall.
He was a frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
and Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
, as well as hosting his own television show in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1950. Some of his 4 Star recordings were leased to US-Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
from 1952–1955. His career was hampered at the end of the 1950s because of personal problems, although some albums on King Records (USA)
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
with 4 Star material and hymns have been released. In the 1960s Tyler enjoyed a revival when he recorded two albums (one containing hymns) for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and in 1966 another for Starday Records.
Following the death of his first wife, Claudia, in 1968, Tyler remarried and settled down in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, where he preached to a local congregation and occasionally performed. He died in Springfield on January 28, 1972 of stomach cancer.
Tributes
"T-Texas Tyler", a ballad on songwriter and recording artist Bucky Halker's 2008 CD Wisconsin 2.13.63, Volume 2, recalls Tyler's performances in Burley, Idaho in the early 1950s when he struggled with alcohol and drugs and barely made it through his set many nights, but still managed moments of skillful performance.Singles
| Year | Single | US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | "Filipino Baby" | 5 |
| 1948 | "The Deck of Cards The Deck of Cards "The Deck of Cards" is a recitative that was popularized in both the country and popular music fields, first during the late 1940s. This religious, touching tale of a young American soldier arrested and charged with playing cards during a church service first became a hit in the U.S. in 1948 by... " |
2 |
| "Dad Gave My Dog Away" | 10 | |
| "Memories of France" | 9 | |
| "Honky Tonk Gal" | 11 | |
| 1949 | "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" | 4 |
| 1953 | "Bumming Around" | 5 |
| 1954 | "Courtin' in the Rain" | 3 |