Cowboy Slim Rinehart
Encyclopedia
Cowboy Slim Rinehart was born Nolan Alfred Rinehart on March 11, 1911, in Comanche County, Texas
. He died October 28, 1948 in Michigan
(car accident).
He was among the first of the "Singing cowboys"
of the 1930s and 40s (whose ranks included Jimmie Rodgers
, Gene Autry
, and Roy Rogers
among others), and gained notoriety and national recognition as a broadcaster and singer on the infamous border radio
station XEG during that time period. Rinehart was and is regarded among many as the original "King of Border Radio," preceding Dallas "Nevada Slim" Turner, and "Wolfman Jack
," who were also famous for broadcasting from these stations." "Border Radio," also called "Border Blasters" were names applied to several super powered radio stations that broadcast out of Mexico, and therefore, were not regulated by the U.S. broadcasting laws. They were extreme media powerhouses from the '30's through the '70's. These stations had towers so powerful that they were capable of transmitting their signals to a very large portion of the United States
. Rinehart had his own radio program on XEG where he would sing and play guitar, as well as make infamous Border Radio product pitches for various items. The original "cowboy's sweetheart," Patsy Montana
, was often featured on the program with him.
Cowboy Slim Rinehart had a notable influence on many future musician's careers. In addition to having an influence on Big Bill Lister and others, Rinehart helped shape Ernest Tubb
's career. After Tubb signed onto Decca Records
, he tried in vain to get Rinehart to do the same. Rinehart was wary of the recording industry, and feared a record deal would hurt his music book sales through XEG.
During the '40's, his persona
had become notorious enough that Hollywood studios approached him to be featured in early singing cowboy westerns, but he vehemenently declined the proposals after he was told he would have to change his surname to something less "German sounding." Rinehart had very good potential for a solid and legendary career in the country music
scene, but tragically, his life came to an early end when he was killed in a car accident while on the way to finally record his first commercial record.
Although the world has no commercial recordings available of Cowboy Slim Rinehart, recorded tapes of his radio program on XEG are still widely available through collectors and traders, and several of his songs can be found on country music compilation albums.
Rinehart was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
in October 1996, in recognition of his being a pioneer of the Texas music scene.
Comanche County, Texas
Comanche County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 14,026. Comanche was founded in 1856. Comanche is named for the Comanche Native American tribe...
. He died October 28, 1948 in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(car accident).
He was among the first of the "Singing cowboys"
Cowboy Songs
Cowboy Songs is a compilation recording released by the Western band Riders in the Sky in 1996. It is available as a single CD.This album is a collection of 12 of the most famous and beloved songs of the west—performed in the great tradition of the Sons of the Pioneers and the Riders of the Purple...
of the 1930s and 40s (whose ranks included Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)
James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
, Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, and Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
among others), and gained notoriety and national recognition as a broadcaster and singer on the infamous border radio
Border blaster
A border blaster is a licensed commercial radio station that transmits at very high power from one nation to another. Border blasters should not be confused with international broadcast stations...
station XEG during that time period. Rinehart was and is regarded among many as the original "King of Border Radio," preceding Dallas "Nevada Slim" Turner, and "Wolfman Jack
Wolfman Jack
Robert Weston Smith, known commonly as Wolfman Jack was a gravelly voiced US disc jockey who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early career:...
," who were also famous for broadcasting from these stations." "Border Radio," also called "Border Blasters" were names applied to several super powered radio stations that broadcast out of Mexico, and therefore, were not regulated by the U.S. broadcasting laws. They were extreme media powerhouses from the '30's through the '70's. These stations had towers so powerful that they were capable of transmitting their signals to a very large portion of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Rinehart had his own radio program on XEG where he would sing and play guitar, as well as make infamous Border Radio product pitches for various items. The original "cowboy's sweetheart," Patsy Montana
Patsy Montana
Ruby Rose Blevins , known professionally as Patsy Montana, was an American country music singer-songwriter and the first female country performer to have a million-selling single...
, was often featured on the program with him.
Cowboy Slim Rinehart had a notable influence on many future musician's careers. In addition to having an influence on Big Bill Lister and others, Rinehart helped shape Ernest Tubb
Ernest Tubb
Ernest Dale Tubb , nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" , marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music...
's career. After Tubb signed onto 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....
, he tried in vain to get Rinehart to do the same. Rinehart was wary of the recording industry, and feared a record deal would hurt his music book sales through XEG.
During the '40's, his persona
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
had become notorious enough that Hollywood studios approached him to be featured in early singing cowboy westerns, but he vehemenently declined the proposals after he was told he would have to change his surname to something less "German sounding." Rinehart had very good potential for a solid and legendary career in the country music
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...
scene, but tragically, his life came to an early end when he was killed in a car accident while on the way to finally record his first commercial record.
Although the world has no commercial recordings available of Cowboy Slim Rinehart, recorded tapes of his radio program on XEG are still widely available through collectors and traders, and several of his songs can be found on country music compilation albums.
Rinehart was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame/Tex Ritter Museum, located in Carthage in Panola County in East Texas honors those who have made outstanding contributions to country music and were born in the state of Texas. This includes singers, songwriters, disc jockeys and others.A museum, a large...
in October 1996, in recognition of his being a pioneer of the Texas music scene.
External links
- Texas Music Pioneers
- Interview with Dallas Turner (Dallas speaks of Slim Rinehart, who was his inspiration)