The Lone Star Cowboys

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Born Horace Leon Chappelear, Gilmer, Texas, 1 August 1909 - 23 October 1962, Gladewater, Texas. One of the founders of what would become known as "Western Swing", Leon Chappel's career began when he teamed up with two friends, Bob and Joe Attlesey, as The Lone Star Cowboys in 1929, where they played local shows and radio slots on KGKB and, after moving to Shrevenport in the early 30's, on radio station KWKH. Leon Chappel's first solo recordings came about in 1932 when, without Bob and Joe Attlesey, he recorded some sides for the Gennett label based in Indianna. Leon's Lone Star Cowboys cut their first sides for the Victor (Bluebird?) label in 1933 when they were asked to accompany Jimmie Davis, and recorded further tracks under their own name, including versions of Deep Elem Blues and Just Because. With musical differences becoming apparent, the Lone Star Cowboys split up, with the Attlesey's adopting their mother's maiden name before resurecting their careers as The Shelton Brothers. The split with Joe and Bob seems to have given Chappel the momentum to adopt a much higher charged, jazzed up, version of traditional music pioneered by Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies, while still retaining the name of (Leon's) Lone Star Cowboys and holding a regular spot on KWKH; certainly, by the time the Cowboys recorded for Decca in August 1935, the transition to what is commonly known as Western Swing was complete. With the chance of success seeming tantalisingly close, returning fro

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