THE TIME WARP TOPHANDS

And

Born: Charles Thomas Morrell

"Wolf" (RIP)

Born: October 31, 1938  -  Died: January 29, 2007

STEEL GUITAR, PEDAL STEEL, ELECTRIC GUITAR,

ACOUSTIC GUITAR, DOBRO, TROMBONE, CHARTS

Bandleader - All Volumes, I thru XV

Texas Western Swing Hall Of Fame, 1997

Although nothing can say it quite like his music does, you will find on this web site a plethora of material that will help you to understand how Tom Morrell came to be one of the most respected and sought after western swing arrangers and non-pedal steel guitar players in America. It is only fitting that we start this list with Tommy himself. Even though his fame did not reach that of many of the people in this list, they are all here because Tom generated the extraordinary relationships which led them all to become a part of his legendary "Time Warp Tophands." Tom subsequently dubbed each of them with 'official' nicknames (usually of the animal kingdom) and affectionately referred to them as his "Zoo Inhabitants." With their talent, Morrell arranged and recorded some of the finest Western Swing in modern times, while honoring the jazz and swing traditions of the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

<See Tom Morrell's 1995 interview w/Steel Guitar World>

May Tom rest in peace and may his music never be forgotten.

"Quarterhorse"

ACOUSTIC GUITAR, LEAD VOCAL, HARMONY VOCAL

Volume II, III, V, VI, VIII, X, XIII, XV

(Plus, Craig's own CDs, also found on this site)

Texas Western Swing Hall Of Fame, 2002

By all rights, Craig's photo should be listed down under the category of "Vocalists." However, since Craig is the only other person to be recorded by WR Records, here you have him... right next to Tom Morrell, with whom he shared both stage and studio for better than 20 years. Craig's history in Western and Western Swing music is at least as long as Morrell's, and he's considered to be one of the last of the singing Cowboys. Appearing as a singer and acoustic guitarist on many of the Time Warp Tophands recordings is just a small part of Craig's equally long career in the music business. His first success story came out of the mid 70s when after moving to Nashville and touring with Dottie West, he founded the "Rio Grande Band" and continued touring the nation for Rounder Records. Then, it was on to New York, where he laid roots for 5 years serving as leader of the house band and 'emcee' voice for the Broadway production of, "Best Little Whorehouse In Texas." Keep an eye on the new Craig Chambers pages of this web site for upcoming stories on the Rio Grande Band, Craig's list of available CDs, and more of his unique history with traditional Cowboy, Western, and Western Swing music.

"Badger"

ACOUSTIC & ELECTRIC GUITAR, BANJO, MANDOLIN

Volume I, II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XV

Texas Western Swing Hall Of Fame, 1998

There's just not enough space here to do justice to "Tophand" Rich O'Brien. Only missing out on 2 of Morrell's 15 CDs, "Badger" was busy making his own mark on the Western and Western Swing music industry. In 2009 Rich was inducted into the Western Music Association’s Hall of Fame. In addition, he is the recipient of over a dozen prestigious Wrangler Awards from Oklahoma City’s National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, a record for any recipient in any category in the Museum’s history. He was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall Of Fame in 1998. Famous for his Western guitar, his playing spans a variety of influences, from swing and jazz, to tejano, folk and classical. His talents have led to two White House performances, visits to The Grand Ol' Opry, Prairie Home Companion, Boys In The Bunkhouse, and more. Rich has now played on or produced over six hundred recordings for such players as Don Edwards, Riders in the Sky, Waddie Mitchell, Sons of the San Joaquin, Red Steagall and Marty Stuart. O'Brien has toured with Country stars Moe Bandy, Gene Watson and Ray Price. While not touring or doing commercials for Southwest Airlines, Wal Mart or Dairy Queen, Rich is arranging a good percentage of the upcoming new "Tophands" CD, in tribute to Tom Morrell. Rich's own recordings are on Western Jubilee Recording, and he's now represented by Scott O'Malley and Associates.

"Fingers" / "The Mantis"

GRAND PIANO, VIBRAPHONE, BELLS

All Volumes, I thru XV

Pianist and producer Johnny Case created what would eventually become the 15 volume series of "How The West Was Swung" by Tom Morrell. He did this by making Morrell a unique offer... if Tom would play on Johnny's 1989 production for Roy Lee Brown in tribute to his deceased brother, Milton Brown, Johnny would then finance Tom's first opportunity to record under his own name. And so it was. Tom hand-picked the performers, named the troupe "The Time Warp Tophands," chose the songs, created the arrangements, helped mix the recordings, and even did the original cover art... thanks to the backing of our own Johnny Case. It was Johnny who titled the cassette album, "How the West Was Swung". As an afterthought, the "Volume 1" designation on the cover was added by Morrell - which, as the years came to prove, was indeed a decision of genius foresight.

<Read Johnny's story on Morrell's first recording session>

Johnny participated to varying degrees on every subsequent record that Morrell made, and will be featured on the upcoming Time Warp Tophands CD release in tribute to the late Tom Morrell. Johnny is truly a "top" Tophand. There's far more about the man and his music than we can mention here, but as you continue your visit, Johnny's contributions become obvious.

www.johnnycasejazz.com

"Sea Dog"

ACOUSTIC & ELECTRIC GUITAR, BANJO, MANDOLIN

DBL BASS, ELECTRIC BASS & GUITAR, FIDDLE, VIOLIN

Volume II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV

"Wiley Coyote" (RIP)

Born: Dec. 15, 1933  -  Died: Oct. 06, 2009

ELECTRIC GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR, VOCALS

Volume I, II, III, V, VI, VIII, X, XII, XIV, XV

Leon was twelve years old when he began playing with Blackie Crawford and the Western Cherokees. He played the Longhorn Ballroom, the Aragon, and Cain’s Academy with Bob Wills, Leon Rausch, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers, Marty Robbins and other musical greats. Leon’s familiar face and his Fender Jazzmaster have made friends and western swing fans in places all over the world. His unique style makes him stand out in a small crowd of great western swing guitarists.  Leon is proud and honored to be a 1996 inductee of the Wyoming Country Music Foundation, an inductee of the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame 2001; a Western Swing Hero of the Cowtown Society of Western Music; Instrumentalist of the Year 2001 with the Academy of Western Artists; an inductee of the California Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in 2001; and a recipient of the 1997 Texas Steel Guitar Association President's Award. But, Leon is most proud of the fellowship and treasured friendships enjoyed over the years with his “family” of Western Swing enthusiasts. Leon had been with Morrell since the very beginning of the "Time Warp Tophands" recording sessions, and continually appeared on tour.

"Bobcat" (RIP)

Bobby Lynn Boatright

September 30, 1939  -  December 28, 2008

FIDDLE, VOCALS, HARMONICA

Volume I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, XII, XIII, XIV, XV

"Godzilla" (Uncle Zilla)

DRUMS and PERCUSSION, LEAD and HARMONY VOCAL

Volume II, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV

Western Swing Society Hall Of Fame, 2000

Greg first met Tommy Morrell in 1980 while working with Lanny Long's “Rush Creek Cowboys”. It was also his introduction to western swing music. Lanny's band, with Tom, Greg, Bob Boatright and Leon Chambers, spent several years afterward as the backup band for Don Edwards. That core band, developed and shaped by Tommy's vision of a modern sounding western swing orchestra, evolved into “The Time Warp Tophands”. Greg appears as a drummer and vocalist on 10 of the 15 CD's in Tommy's anthology, “How the West Was Swung”, and he'll be heard on the upcoming new CD by the Tophands.

Greg has performed with many noted artists including Herb Jeffries, Denise LaSalle, The Drifters, Don Edwards, Leon Rausch & Bob Wills' Texas Playboys, Red Steagall, Noel Haggard, Chuck Rainey, Ray Benson, Leroy Parnell, Darrell McCall, Lynn Anderson, Larry Gatlin, Tommy Morrell and Craig Chambers, with whom he played a 2-week run of “The Best Lil’ Whorehouse in Texas” at Ft. Worth's prestigious Bass Hall.

Greg's Union Website

"El Ritmo Raton" (RIP)

March 20, 1926  -  Sept. 17, 2005

RHYTHM GUITAR

Volume I, IV

Benny Garcia had already left a mark on the music and film industry before Tom Morrell demanded that he be a part of his first solo, self-produced recording session. Benny began playing with bands around Oklahoma City at an early age. In 1948 he joined the Tex Williams Band which led him across the country and facilitated his appearance in six western movies between 1948 and 1952. Following his years with Tex, Benny joined yet another western swing band led by Hank Penny. For a brief time Benny served his country during the Korean war. Afterward he joined the Johnnie Wills band and was subsequently hired by Johnnie's brother, Bob Wills, of the famous Texas Playboys - this put Benny back on the road to almost every major city in America. Through subsequent years he played with a variety of artists from Benny Goodman to Patsy Cline. In 1990, Tom Morrell convinced Benny to travel to Dallas and be a part of his first solo recording, and though his work schedule prevented his appearance on but two of Tom's records, Benny will always be remembered as helping to light a fire under Morrell's "How The West Was Swung" series, earning his place as a Time Warp Tophand and joining Tom in live performances across the country many, many times over the years.

"The Owl"

FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, VIOLIN, VIOLA,

ACOUSTIC and ELECTRIC GUITAR

Volume V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XV

Texas Western Swing Hall Of Fame, 1998

"The Tapir" / "Anteater"

GRAND PIANO, KEYBOARDS, ACCORDION

BAJOCESTO, ACOUSTIC GUITAR, HARMONICA

Volume VI, X, XI, XII, XIII, XV

"Mastodon"

FIDDLE, DOUBLE BASS, ELECTRIC BASS, VOCALS

Volume, VIII, X, XI, XIII, XIV

TOMMY PERKINS

"Brunswick" (RIP)

Born: May 10, 1934  -  Died: June 07, 2003

DRUMS

Volume I, II, III, IV

Tommy Perkins spent most of his career playing for the famous Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, making western swing his focus as a lifelong, working drummer. Perkins, a dedicated drummer from an early age, recorded "Faded Love" with Bob Wills when he was only 15 years old. Tommy totalled more than 58 years as a professional drummer. When Bob Wills left the Playboys, Tommy continued on to perform with the "Texas Playboys II", who had a regular radio broadcast carried on over 60 stations called, "The Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium." Until his last day, he kept his own band band busy in the Oklahoma City area, called "Talk Of The Town." His demand as a western and western swing session drummer put him on the records of many more artists... including Dayna Wills, Lefty Frizzell, Herb Ellis, Billy Contreras, Leon Rausch, Billy Jack Wills, Tom Morrell and others. Perkins once cited in an interview with "Modern Drummer" magazine that his influences included Buddy Rich, Smokey Dacus, Mel Lewis and Gene Krupa. There is little doubt as to why Tom Morrell asked this man to be on his first 4 solo recordings. He passed away in an automobile accident returning home to Oklahoma from a performance at the 16th Annual "Legends Of Western Swing" music festival in Wichita Falls, TX. Perkins was inducted into the Western Swing Society's Hall Of Fame in 1987.

"Bird" (RIP)

ACOUSTIC BASS

Volume I, II, III

"The Minotaur"

TENOR and ALTO SAXOPHONES

Volume XI, XII, XIII, XV

"The Roadhog"

TRUMPET, FLUGELHORN

Volume I, II, III, V, VI, IX, XI, XII, XV

"Ground Squirrel"

TRUMPET, FLUGELHORN, ARRANGEMENTS

Volume X, XI, XII

"Bad Boy"

TENOR and ALTO SAXOPHONES

Volume V, VI

"The Rodent"

CLARINET, ALTO & TENOR SAXOPHONE

Volume X, XV

"Brontosaurus"

TENOR SAXOPHONE, CLARINET

Volume VII, IX

"The Antelope"

TRUMPET

Volume V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X

"Longhorn"

TENOR SAX / CLARINET

Volume I, II, III, V, VI

"The Kraut"

TENOR SAXOPHONE / CHARTS

Volume II, III, V, VI

"Bighorn"

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Volume II, III, V, VI, XII

"The Ox"

TROMBONE

Volume II, III, IX

"Marvin The Martian"

RECORD and CD - DIGITAL MASTERING ENGINEER

Re-mastered for CD, Volumes I thru VII between 1996 and 1999

Mastered Volume VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV

"Mississippi Mudcat"

RECORDING, MIXING, PRE-MASTERING ENGINEER

Morgan has been in audio since his high school days of the late 60s, moving to Texas in 1979 after a stint in the Marine Corps, several years in Los Angeles, and back to college. Lusting to return to the audio business, Morgan went to work for Honey Bee Records in Houston, later moving to Dallas and continuing his work in a variety of recording studios. He also served as 'house engineer' for the oldest music showcase room in Dallas for over 20 years. David finally met Morrell personally when taking over management of the small studio in Garland where Morrell had already been recording for 10 years. It was here where Morgan talked Tom Morrell into leaving analog tape and recording by using a digital tape machine, in March of 2000. They enjoyed a long work relationship until Morrell's untimely passing.

For what would turn out to be Tom Morrell's final two records, Morgan moved Morrell from the little Garland studio to January Sound, one of the oldest professionally designed and equipped studios in the southwest. Much to Tom's chagrin, his last 4 studio recorded CDs - which critics purport to say are audibly his best sounding releases - were tracked and mixed using a hybrid analog front end and mix environment, along with digital storage mediums; tools Tom once vowed never to use, believing that they would alter the traditional sound of the genre. Morgan provided Morrell with the best of both worlds, maintaining the tonal quality standard Tom demanded, using digital storage. However, no digital editing 'tricks', as in 'auto-tune', beat correction, sound replacer, or the like, were ever used.

Morgan still makes his home near Dallas and teaches live sound and recording for the DISD's High Schools for the Performing and Visual Arts.

A-2, House Engineer, Advisor (asleep on couch), Volume X

Recorded and Mixed Volume XI, XII, XIII, XV

Post Production Editing and Pre-master on Volume XIV (Live)

Now Engineering the new Morrell tribute CD... Volume XVI

http://www.m-a-m-s.com

"The Puma"

RECORDING AND MIXING ENGINEER

(Representing "ASC Summet" - formerly "Summet/Burnett" Studios)

Split Recording and mixing with Morgan, Volume XIII

"Polar Bear" (RIP)

Donald Gene McDuff, son of c/w musician Eddie McDuff

April 5, 1954  - August 20, 2002

RECORDING and MIXING ENGINEER

Mastered Volume VI,

Recorded & Mixed Volume VII, VIII, IX, X

"Gila Monster" (RIP)

RECORDING and MIXING ENGINEER

Recorded and Mixed: Volume I, II, III, IV, V, VI

"Neanderthal"

RECORDING and MIXING ENGINEER

A-2 Recording Engineer on Volume II, III

"Swamp Gator"

MASTERING ENG. FROM THE DAYS OF ANALOG TAPE

A-2 Mixing & Mastering of Volumes I, II, III