April 30: Tyler’s Johnny Gimble reigned as country music’s top fiddler

Published 5:00 am Thursday, April 30, 2020

Tyler native Johnny Gimble was named Fiddle Player of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards held on this date in both 1981 and 1982. 

He was known for a lively style of playing and is often credited as one of the creators of Western swing music. For many years, he performed with the influential Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and is heard in recordings by some of country music’s biggest stars including Loretta Lynn, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price and Willie Nelson.

Gimble was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame.

In the Spotlight

— 2019: Brady Smith, who attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, is a guest on “Today.”

— 2018: Congressman and Tyler native Louie Gohmert is a guest on “Fox and Friends.” 

— 2016: Cody Pottkotter, a native of Tyler, Irma P. Hall, a graduate of Texas College in Tyler, and Telvin Griffin, a native of Texarkana, all have roles in “Jerico.”

— 2011: Dustin Ybarra, who lived in Daingerfield as a youth, stars in the comedy “Balls to the Walls.”

— 2003: Marshall native George Foreman is featured on an episode of “HBO Legendary Nights” highlighted his boxing match with Michael Moorer.

— 1997: Honey Grove native Bill Erwin has a guest role on “The Drew Carey Show.”

— 1993: “Gimme All Your Lovin” by ZZ Top, with Frankston native Frank Beard on drums, peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. 

— 1985: Tony Frank, who was born in Nacogdoches, and Mineola native Noble Willingham have guest roles on “Hail to the Chief.”

— 1982: At the Academy of Country Music Awards:

• Tyler native Johnny Gimble is named top fiddle player
• The Oak Ridge Boys, featuring Lamar County native Duane Allen, wins Single of the Year (“Eliva”) and is a nominee for Album of the Year (“Fancy Free”), Entertainer of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year. 

— 1981: At the Academy of Country Music Awards:

• Rodney Crowell, who attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, is nominated for his work as producer on Rosanne Cash’s single and album “Seven Year Ache.” 
• Tyler native  Johnny Gimble wins Fiddle Player of the Year.

— 1978: Irma Hall, a graduate of Texas College in Tyler, has a guest role on “Dallas.”

— 1966: The Temptations, featuring Texarkana native Otis Williams, score the No. 1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart with “Get Ready.”

— 1963: DeKalb native Dan Blocker is a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

— 1962: Honey Grove native Bill Erwin is seen in an episode of “87th Precinct.”

— 1960: Panola County native Jim Reeves is a guest on “Ozark Jubilee.”

— 1960: “Sink the Bismarck” by Johnny Horton, who was raised in Rusk, peaks at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

— 1958: Whitewright native Guy Wilkerson appears in an episode of “Tombstone Territory.”

— 1943: Whitewright native Guy Wilkerson appears in “Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour.”

— 1935: “To See Ourselves,” a comedy produced by Texarkana native Joshua Logan, opens on Broadway for a short run.

— 1925: Corsicana native Jacqueline Logan stars in “Playing With Souls” with Mary Astor.