Goebel Reeves

about

Goebel Leon Reeves (October 9, 1899 – January 26, 1959) was an American folk singer. His most famous song is "Hobo's Lullaby," which has been covered by numerous singers, notably Woody Guthrie. Born October 9, 1899 in Sherman, Texas, Reeves grew up in Austin while his father was a shoe salesmen. His father rose from selling shoes to become a member of the Texas State Legislature. His mother taught the voice and piano. In 1917 he enlisted in the army, as a bugler he was wounded in frontline action. He was discharged and in 1921 adopted the life of a hobo, writing and singing songs as he travelled. It was from this time that an aura of mystery surround the life of the Texas Drifter. He travelled to Italy as a merchant seaman in the mid twenties and toured Europe. But Europe was not ready for the Drifter and so, broke and hungry he stowed his way back. He arrived in Galveston in 1929 and the first sound he heard was a Jimmy Rodgers record playing from a record store. Making records seemed like a good idea so he swung upon the next fast freight for New York practicing yodels in the box car straw. Reeves walked into Long Island recording studio of the Gennett Record Co. and told George Keats, the manager, that he was an important recording artist from Texas. His first recordings were issued as Goeble Reeves, but that was too mundane; at all later sessions for Gennett, Okeh, and A.R.C he used a variety of pseudonyms including: The Texas Drifter; The Yodelling Wrangler; George Ril

top songs

albums

similar artists