Although this is probably not news to anyone I thought I'd pass along that Tiny Moore is being inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in Mineral Wells TX this coming May. I believe Mineral Wells is close to Dallas. There are alot of "Western Swing Societies," and Tiny has been inducted into many of them. Still it's good to know many people still love this music. Here's the bio his daughter Kim wrote for the ceremony.
Billie (Tiny) Moore was a native of Hamilton County, Texas, spending his childhood in Energy, Port Arthur, Houston, and Dallas, Texas.
Tiny Moore was a renowned Fiddle and Mandolin player, as well as a soulful singer with the Bob Wills’ band from 1946-1950, making many recordings: notably the Tiffany Transcriptions. His fiddling was developed through often substituting for Joe Holley or Luis Tierney during his time with Bob Wills. He assisted in the development of the first 5 string electric mandolin, built for him by Paul Bisgby, after serving his country in World War ll.
His career moved out to California, where he managed Wills’ Point and Plunge with his wife Dean (McKinney) Moore and Bob’s brother Billy Jack Wills from 1950-1955.
Tiny hosted a children’s Television show as “Ranger Roy” (Kartoon Karnival) and opened his “Tiny Moore Music” store in 1961. During this time he played in nightclubs around Sacramento.
In 1970 he started a 13 year stint with Merle Haggard, beginning with the making of “A Tribute to the best Damn Fiddle player in the World”, and continuing with receiving many awards including a Gold Album for “Big City” while the country with Haggard and the Strangers.
Tiny, thereafter, created albums of his own: “Back to Back” with Jethro Burns, and “Tiny Moore Music”, both productions of Mandolin great David Grossmann. He continued to appear with the likes of David Grismann, Stephan Grappelli, and Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, to name a few. Over the years, he performed for President Reagan, at Carnegie Hall (with Haggard) and countless appearances throughout the United States and Europe.
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