Western Swing Revival

The heyday of Western Swing came in the 1930s and '40s. But popular interest in it was revived a couple of decades later, partly thanks to albums like country legend Merle Haggard's celebration of Bob Wills, A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World, and Wills' induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. During the '70s, Asleep at the Wheel was at the forefront of a full-on revival, bringing the Western Swing sound to a whole new generation of rock and country fans who took a shine to the music's mix of hot swing and dance-friendly rhythms. Today, Western Swing artists like Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys keep the tradition alive for a new generation of retro cool poodle-skirted girls and duck-tailed boys.